Video Vignettes Roundup: March 5

Mar
5

Video Vignettes Roundup: March 5

Posted by Michaela B., VeriSign

4.35MM people use Ustream.tv to watch the Chile Earthquake and Hawaii Tsunami Live: I saw this figure on The Tech Journal and I have to admit I have mixed reactions on this one. On the one hand, it seems a bit voyeuristic. But then when something so terrible happens, it’s nice to know that technology can keep us all in touch and informed. As we’ve said on this blog before, please take a moment to donate or otherwise help out our neighbors in need.

YouTube Launches Auto Caption For All Videos: As reported on this blog back in November, Google started auto captioning their videos. It started with educational videos, but just extended it this week to all English videos. What does this mean for video on the web? Well besides being accessible to the deaf, it also helps immensely with search. If you have the text of the words spoken, then search algorithms can find and sort videos much better. The online video history is only at the beginning, with many more changes to come.

Vote for .tv In the Streamy Awards: No, .tv isn’t up for an award directly. But, the nominations came out this week (streamed live by Ustream.tv) and .tv shows up 14 times in the various awards categories [warning, not all have a "G" rating]. From the Streamy Awards site, here is a description of their work

“The Streamy Awards is the first and most prestigious awards ceremony devoted to honoring excellence in original web television programming and those who create it. The annual ceremony, and its live online broadcast, brings together top talent, decision-makers and influencers shaping the online entertainment industry. Awards are presented for the past years’ finest achievements in a variety of categories spanning multiple disciplines, including Performance, Directing, Writing, Editing, Visual Effects, Sound, and more.”

As they say in that “other” awards show…and the .tv nominees are:

Best Drama Web Series

Compulsions.tv

OzGirl.tv (who I see is using Blip.tv…so another mention)

Best News or Political Web Series

Obama’s War on VBS.tv

Best Foriegn Web Series

OzGirl.tv (representing Australia)

Best Animated Web Series

Ellie’s Dirty Jokes on GoPotato.tv

Best Branded Entertainment Web Series

TheTempLife.tv