Stanford workshop examines video revolution's impact on journalism, government, education and business

Have you ever watched a live news event on your computer? Have you chatted with a family member on Skype? Held a videoconference with colleagues online? All of these uses of streaming video are just the beginning of what some see as a "live video revolution," where virtually any scene can be seen live on any screen.

Media X at Stanford is holding a half-day workshop on Friday, April 16, to examine how the ability to share real-time video will change journalism, education, government and business.

"The Live Video Revolution: How Every Event Could Soon Have an Infinite Audience" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at 124 Wallenberg Hall, 450 Serra Mall, on the Stanford campus. The workshop is free and open to the public. It will be streamed live at http://mediax.stanford.edu/video_revolution/MediaXLive.mov. The Twitter hashtag for this event is #MediaxStanford.

"This will be a lively discussion of rapidly emerging issues that will fundamentally change how we communicate with each other," said Martha Russell, assistant director of Media X, the academic-industry partnership at Stanford University that explores the impact of information and technology on society.

The workshop will feature a one-hour discussion and demonstration focusing on journalism and live video streaming. Speakers will explore how new technology makes it possible for almost anyone to be a broadcaster from almost any event.

"If the Web 2.0 made everyone a publisher, this live video revolution is making everyone a broadcaster," said Andrew Finlayson, a Knight Fellow and moderator of the journalism panel. "This has significant implications for journalism, as anyone with a cell phone will be not only be an eyewitness but will be capable of sharing video of news while it happens with the world."

The discussion will focus on the ethical issues, challenges and opportunities that arise when live streaming can be done from any computer or cell phone connected to a network.

The second hour of the workshop will explore the future of this technology and address questions about verification, privacy, security, trust and collaboration, as well as how emerging telepresence technologies will leave the laboratory and the workplace and enter our schools and homes.

"Is the old-fashioned telephone doomed? Will we want or need to do business face-to-face via computer? Can live video streaming help more quickly build collaboration inside organizations?" said Chuck House, executive director of Media X. "These are some of the important questions we want to explore."

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