I was thrilled to create and present a panel discussion at PodCamp NYC this past weekend on the topic of Video Conversations. In recent months I’ve been an active user of Seesmic, which is both a tool that allows for connecting with friends and strangers via video, and a community. I was lucky to receive an invitation into the alpha (rather, pre-alpha!) testing stage of the site in October 2007, and have been amazed with how quickly and tightly I’ve come to know and bond with other users. Unlike YouTube, which is an all-purpose personal video hosting site, you typically would post to Seesmic a video of yourself, with the intention that viewers will respond and take the conversation further. In fact their tagline is “Join the video conversation.”
A PodCamp is an “unconference”, based around podcasting and podcasters, but also including social media and social networking. The idea is not just to attend but to contribute. I had attended my first PodCamp, in Philadelphia in September 2007, as a sponge, soaking up as much knowledge as I could. This time I felt I had something to offer, and realizing that many of my new “Seesmic friends” would also be attending, I decided to put together this session about Video Conversations. And what better format than a panel, a live version of the type of conversations we were having online? A panel that would hopefully answer the questions What? Who? How? and most importantly- Why?
There are other services that allow you to have a video conversation. Seesmic is the one I’m most familiar with and the community I’m most connected with, but it’s not really about one particular service, it’s about this new way to connect, what it is and where it’s going.
I’d like to thank the people who made this session what it was: Phil Campbell, Seth Eagelfeld, Mike Gaines, Patty Hartwell, Jeff Hinz, Dan Patterson, Christian Payne, and most especially Christine Cavalier who saved me when I had the wrong connection from MacBook to projector and who gave me feedback as I developed the session. Also thank you to the many other Seesmic users who attended the session, provided insight, and helped fill seats ;).
What follows are videos that were sent to Seesmic during the session. The first two were uploaded by Christian Payne (aka Documentally), the remainder by Patty Hartwell. At the end are the slideshow itself and a video I put together of responses to the question “What is the Future of Video Conversation.” If you watch nothing else (and I wouldn’t blame you, it’s a lot!) I encourage you to watch the video at the end.
Seesmic is still in testing and you can become a member by invite only. If you would like to join, register by leaving a video comment here, contact me at annie@pixelcurrents.com, or if you are on twitter you can follow getseesmic and send a DM request for an invitation.
Above image originally uploaded to flickr by Filmosity, aka ChrisCavs, used with permission.
Documentally Part One
Documentally Part Two
Patty Hartwell Part One
Patty Hartwell Part Two
Patty Hartwell Part Three
Patty Hartwell Part Four
Patty Hartwell Part Five
Patty Hartwell Part Six
Presentation slideshow
What is the future of Video Conversation?
