Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Evaluation of Live-Blogging from Audio
Yesterday's experiment with the world's first live-blogging event from audio had mixed results.
Traffic from the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend resulted in a delay by about 45 min. after the event officially started, but it was still before the main speakers arrived.
One of the best features of the minimal lag time for the text conversion, usually within a minute or two from calling in the message. There were absolutely no problems getting through to the line to the service. Updates were made hours in advance to any mainstream media coverage, except possibly live television.
But the biggest limitation appeared to be recognizing the text, despite efforts to speak slowly and clearly. Specifically, names were frequently missed and dropped out entirely, especially if they were in any way unique. Stéphane Dion and Jean Chrétien were obviously missed, even with (and perhaps because of) a French enunciation.
Situational factors also intervened. There was no telephone reception in the main room, meaning real-time play-by-play developments could not be posted as planned. A considerable amount of background noise, including the live pounding of dhol drummers easily drowned out attempts to call in.
The utility of this call in technique was still demonstrated. Telephone reception is usually better than laptop reception would be anyways. Most events will not have such an overwhelming amount of background noise, and a Bluetooth attachment would easily allow hands-free updates in frequent intervals. Word recognition could use some work, but as long as names are avoided it generally seems to do a decent job. Even this issue can be addressed by the option to attach a link to a voice file for each post, which would clarify any ambiguities present.
Aside from media personnel using this for covering events, voice to blog applications can be used in meetings, conferences, or even emergent situations ("I need help ASAP for ____ Please contact me if available). It's definitely easier than trying to text or open a laptop for quick status updates, especially since the service provides a (free) local telephone number to call in to.
Text of posts that did manage to get posted are below, with some edits indicating where text was lost.
Traffic from the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend resulted in a delay by about 45 min. after the event officially started, but it was still before the main speakers arrived.
One of the best features of the minimal lag time for the text conversion, usually within a minute or two from calling in the message. There were absolutely no problems getting through to the line to the service. Updates were made hours in advance to any mainstream media coverage, except possibly live television.
But the biggest limitation appeared to be recognizing the text, despite efforts to speak slowly and clearly. Specifically, names were frequently missed and dropped out entirely, especially if they were in any way unique. Stéphane Dion and Jean Chrétien were obviously missed, even with (and perhaps because of) a French enunciation.
Situational factors also intervened. There was no telephone reception in the main room, meaning real-time play-by-play developments could not be posted as planned. A considerable amount of background noise, including the live pounding of dhol drummers easily drowned out attempts to call in.
The utility of this call in technique was still demonstrated. Telephone reception is usually better than laptop reception would be anyways. Most events will not have such an overwhelming amount of background noise, and a Bluetooth attachment would easily allow hands-free updates in frequent intervals. Word recognition could use some work, but as long as names are avoided it generally seems to do a decent job. Even this issue can be addressed by the option to attach a link to a voice file for each post, which would clarify any ambiguities present.
Aside from media personnel using this for covering events, voice to blog applications can be used in meetings, conferences, or even emergent situations ("I need help ASAP for ____ Please contact me if available). It's definitely easier than trying to text or open a laptop for quick status updates, especially since the service provides a (free) local telephone number to call in to.
Text of posts that did manage to get posted are below, with some edits indicating where text was lost.
Friday, October 10, 2008 9:18 PM(continue reading &aquo;)
"Summary of today's talk, a vote for Harper is a vote for more lies."
Friday, October 10, 2008 9:07 PM
"Finally got out. There was no reception in the building at all so I couldn't update anything."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:46 PM
"[With} Andrew Cam[p]bell of the Ontario [Young Liberals] Liberal's and talking about how incredibly packed this place is and what a wonderful turnout we have."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:43 PM
" [Jean Chrétien,] former Prime Minister of Canada has arrived to large applause by the crowd."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:37 PM
"Adam Isa [, a] leader [in] of the Somali community is also here[.] [The atmosphere is] staff are exciting. [Jean Chrétien is] are expected to arrive shortly."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:27 PM
"Just supposed to daily area. [ran into ______, a Toronto] Lawyer, the [ in the Toronto area. The] mood is upbeat."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:20 PM
"Just land [ran] into Ryan [Singh} of the Ontario young Liberals right here in the street. So, [it] seams like every body is having hard time finding parking."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:16 PM
"There's so many people here to see Deon [Dion] here today there's not even [any] parking left, so we [will] have to find parking some where else."
Friday, October 10, 2008 7:13 PM
"Arriving at saint un, Edmond Campion Secondary School about 45 mins after the event has started. Let['s] see what I can catch."
Friday, October 10, 2008 6:36 PM
"Between the four accidents on the highway and long weekend traffic, it looks like I might be a little bit late."
Friday, October 10, 2008 5:46 PM
"Shelley [Filling] up gas in kitchner. Vault [Vote] Liberal for cheaper gas."
Friday, October 10, 2008 4:38 PM
"[...] The first micro blog in history to cover a political event live."
Friday, October 10, 2008 4:37 PM
"I'm leaving London Ontario for Brampton while doing the first audible micro blog in history."
Friday, October 10, 2008
Live-blogging Dion in Brampton Using SpinVox
Live-blogging is a strange beast.
That's what Ivor Tossell's headline said in yesterday's Globe.
Live-blogging is definitely not something new, but it does seem to be catching on in Canada.
Tossell said,
It seems like every news organization that has something to prove (and there are none that don't) has spontaneously taken up the practice of live-blogging. It might have something to do with election season, which has spread live blogs the way the fall weather gives everyone the same cold at once.
Live-blogs are actually micro-blogs, or short status updates that cover an event in frequent intervals.
Seeing how Omar Ha-Redeye's face is currently plastered from coast-to-coast on television defining the basics of technology in politics, it might be wise to demonstrate aptitude one step ahead of the mainstream media.
Omar will be covering an event tonight, live-blogging using entirely new technology. Well, the technology has been there for a while, but it hasn't been used in this way ever before as far as we can tell.
Stéphane Dion is celebrating Canada's multicultural heritage tonight in Brampton. He will be introduced by Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, and accompanied by Andrew J. Kania, Ruby Dhalla, Omar Alghabra, Hon. Navdeep Bains, Bonnie Crombie, Hon. Albina Guarnieri, Hon. Gurbax Malhi and Paul Szabo.
He will call in updates using SpinVox, which will be coverted to text using Ping.fm and posted as a live-blog. You can follow him on Twitter, or one of the many other social network services that support mirroring.There will be a lof of activity on these sites in the next little while, but it will all be over in a few hours. (continue reading &aquo;)
Bob Rae Speaks at Western Law on Foreign Policy
[caption id="attachment_306" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Bob Rae and Omar Ha-Redeye at a fundraiser in 2007"]
[/caption]
Hon. Bob Rae spoke this morning at the University of Western Ontario Law School on A Changing World: New Directions for Canadian Foreign Policy.
He said that Canada needs to find its own voice on the international scene. If we disagree with our American neighbours, this does not mean it is anti-Americanism.
We have our own national interests we need to pursue.
Notes from the talk can be read on Law is Cool. (continue reading &aquo;)
[/caption]Hon. Bob Rae spoke this morning at the University of Western Ontario Law School on A Changing World: New Directions for Canadian Foreign Policy.
He said that Canada needs to find its own voice on the international scene. If we disagree with our American neighbours, this does not mean it is anti-Americanism.
We have our own national interests we need to pursue.
Notes from the talk can be read on Law is Cool. (continue reading &aquo;)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Deb Matthews, MPP, Minister of Children and Youth Services
Some attribute the following quote to Otto van Bismark,
[caption id="attachment_291" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Omar Ha-Redeye and Deb Matthews during the 2007 Provincial election."]
[/caption]
Deb Matthews, MPP, a current member of the provincial cabinet in Ontario, shed some light on the inner workings of legislation.
"The Intention of the Legislature": The Role of Politicians, and process of government in creating social amelioration laws was delivered at Prof. Jeff Schlemmer's class, Law and Social Welfare. They were joined by Prof. Sam Trosow's Urban Law class.
Omar Ha-Redeye sat in.
There are many steps a law has to go through, and many shareholders that provide their input.
Budgetary considerations are consistently paramount, especially when a ruling party has committed not to run a deficit or raise taxes. (continue reading &aquo;)
I have about made up my mind that laws are like sausages — the less you know about how they are made the more respect you have for them.
[caption id="attachment_291" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Omar Ha-Redeye and Deb Matthews during the 2007 Provincial election."]
[/caption]Deb Matthews, MPP, a current member of the provincial cabinet in Ontario, shed some light on the inner workings of legislation.
"The Intention of the Legislature": The Role of Politicians, and process of government in creating social amelioration laws was delivered at Prof. Jeff Schlemmer's class, Law and Social Welfare. They were joined by Prof. Sam Trosow's Urban Law class.
Omar Ha-Redeye sat in.
There are many steps a law has to go through, and many shareholders that provide their input.
Budgetary considerations are consistently paramount, especially when a ruling party has committed not to run a deficit or raise taxes. (continue reading &aquo;)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Interview with CBC Radio on Min. Flaherty
Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, spoke at the University of Western Ontario law school today. Paul Mayne of Western News covered the event.Omar Ha-Redeye was interviewed by CBC Radio over the students' reactions to Min. Flaherty's speech.
Omar responded to Min. Flaherty's comments on his dialogue with Premier McGuinty over taxes in the manufacturing sector.
Flahert's was quoted and highly criticized for his remarks about the economy in Ontario in March 2008,
It discourages investment in the province of Ontario. If you're going to make a new business investment in Canada, and you're concerned about taxes, the last place you will go is the province of Ontario.
When Omar asked him personally about how this could potentially be interpreted internationally and affect investment in Ontario, Min. Flaherty said the statements were taken out of context.
Min. Flaherty also spoke at great length about the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and the state of the Canadian economy. He claimed Canada was highly respected among G7 countries for its economic stability.
Omar told the CBC that the 2007 The Conference Board of Canada report, Mission Possible: Sustainable Prosperity for Canada, predicted the current volatility in American markets. They recommended Canada strengthen its economy by diversifying its trade partners. Omar felt that Canada was not doing enough to strengthen trade ties with the EU, China and India.
Finally, Omar raised the issue of the Afghan mission. The Harper government initially refused to release information about the cost of Canada's role in Afghanistan, only recently succumbing to pressure and agreeing to provide the figures. Omar said that the financial and political cost of an expensive commitment that fails to have clear goals, objectives, or definitive end date, should be evaluated in context of our fragile economic times. (continue reading &aquo;)
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Blogger Interviews On CBC
The "Black Ops of Politics," that's what they're calling blogging.
Omar Ha-Redeye and Devin Johnston were interviewed by the CBC on the use of technology in politics.
You can see one of these clips here. (continue reading &aquo;)
Omar Ha-Redeye and Devin Johnston were interviewed by the CBC on the use of technology in politics.
You can see one of these clips here. (continue reading &aquo;)
