Symmetry, not set top:
The settop box is a bad idea!
The information superhighway, with 500 channels going into the home
is a bad idea!
The information supernetwork, with equal amounts of information coming
and going is a good idea. Parents will want to watch their own children
participating in school sporting events, if they have the chance.
And they want to watch a version of the game that emphasizes their
child's point of view, perhaps with images from a camera he or she
is wearing. Even with 500 channels there will not be this level
of specialization. The number of channels should equal or exceed
the number of internet users, with one or more channels tailored
to the interests of each user, and one or more channels originating
from each user.
Symmetry, not surveillance:
Some have claimed that surveillance cameras make the world
into a small town where you loose your anonymity in exchange for
more safety. However, the flaw in this analogy is that of
symmetry, fairness and equality. Symmetry offers the small
town benefits, but instead of having Big Brother look down on
us, we look out for each other. I don't want Big Brother "protecting
me" for big-city evils, but, rather, I want neighbours, friends,
and relatives looking out for me, and me for them.
NetCam could give us the small town, with Government watch
replaced by neighbourhood watch.
And, one way of dealing with video-privacy issues is by
shooting back.
