Vlogs

The linked article is about Video + Blogging. I first heard of vlogs in May 2005 when I subscribed to a podcast by Make Magazine. The podcast was an interview with the creator of Rocket Boom (mentioned in this article). He outlined the process involved with creating the daily vlog. Needless to say, it is a VERY involved process to get the 3 minutes or so of content he produces each day. Here are a few of the highlights (what I recall, anyway) from the podcast:

• Run Time: 3 minutes is average segment time as it appears to be the max attention span of internet viewers - any less and you can't get your point across.
• Content: Stories came from sources around the internet - suggestions from viewers, his blog, searches, etc.
• Taping: The taping of the show appeared to be the LEAST involved part. Equipment was relatively inexpensive to buy and his "set" was a large map as a backdrop and a desk.
• "Reporters" and "Anchor": The news reporting was limited to a small group and read each day by the same anchor - not him, but a not-so-bad looking blonde (Amanda Congdon) - I guess in vlogging, looks count more than in traditional blogging : )
• Editing and Posting: The editing and posting appeared to be the MOST involved part (posting due to the need to save it under multiple file formats - video is not nearly as standardized as written word, pictures or music).

While I found Rocketboom to be a fun novelty of the internet (and quite well done), I really haven't kept up as a viewer nor have I tried vlogging on my own site. Even the creator was stumped when asked how it could be made into a commercial endeavor or how long he thought people would stay interested in his site.

I think vlogging will become just another feature to traditional blogs (pictures, music and now video) as more and more cell phones are sold with video capture capabilities and the advent of the new iPod with video playback capability. As more people have access to the capture and play technology, the more they will want to "do" something with it. Vlogs just may be the answer.

. . . and last, but not least . . . from an educational perspective, the video will enhance the value of all types of time shifted content. It is often more engaging to see moving content than to read it. However, quality production and editing is important in vlogging as we are all used to pretty slick video on TV. It would be hard to engage a learner with video that looks "homemade".