2009-04-07 Online video explained
From Walkerpedia
This was originally sent to my email subscribers as part of my Tuesday emails series.
The internet (as far as most people knew) was pretty dull before video came along. Reading text on a computer was only fun for geeks. And even when Napster and friends arrived and we could all have free cheeky downloads of great music most people only read about it in the paper.
But suddenly everyone had broadband and it was fast enough to watch video without waiting hours for it to load. And that's when it got exciting.
Ben's email newsletter goes super-hi-tech!
To prove it to you, I'm going to give you this week's social media lesson on video. Just click the link:
I know half of you won't click it. And that's ok. That's the joy of today's internet. There's an abundance of interesting, entertaining and educational material out there, and you get to choose how to spend your attention.
Low-tech news: Ben uses paper
For those of you who can't handle the pace of watching video online (and those who can't remember how to plug the speakers in, so never quite get round to watching anything), I have some low-tech news: I'm using paper.
- My good friend Nick works at a traditional letterpress printer in London, and he's making a limited run of hand-printed posters. Hand-printed as in each letter is wedged into a wooden rack to make words. Old school. I'm going to stick a load up around Oxford (obviously) to delight the locals, and I'm also going to sell a handful on Etsy (an online shop for crafty stuff) for £10, each with a free ticket to Ben's Big Gig. Do you see what I did there? They don't call me Ben "Market Ears" Walker for nothing.
- I'm getting a stack of real-life printed tickets with which I will stuff my pockets each morning for the next few weeks. So if you're still not convinced about PayPal and co., don't worry. You can buy tickets from me!
Video production begins
In a feat of time-travelling genius, I will now record the video that I linked to up there. I know. It's like watching Terminator 2 for the first time. I'm challenging your preconceptions of time and space. I've heard rumours that I might be the next Doctor Who. Don't tell anyone.
Until next time. Be good to yourselves. And each other. And me. And bring all your friends to the Big Gig. Tickets at the usual address (or in my pockets!).
Bye,
Ben
PS. if you want another great video to watch, check out this one that I uploaded the other day. It's a 4-minute documentary of me, Oli and Mr Summers working out how to de-Boltonise the Ballad of the I.T. Guy. ;)
