Make Me Famous

If you watch technology long enough, you get to see it become socialised. Cyber punk author Gibson said it well - "The Street finds its own uses for things". Networked audiences, powerful image and video capture devices, and simple publishing tools are all adding up to a new social vector. During a recent chat with one of my clients, they observed drily that their new generation of users seemed to be interested in just one thing. Make me famous.

Its a trend that has been bubbling for a while. Photo sharing and blog sites used to let everyone know what you and your friends have been doing. Youtube providing a platform for video confessions and gather fans. Teenagers using Myspace to package and promote themselves.

Forget social identity and think personal brands.

Over the last few months, strangely compulsive sites like Justin.tv have bubbled up. If you haven't seen it - its basically a live feed from a geeky guy who has managed to strap a video camera to his head, pushing out a feed from a mobile broadcast rig. The footage when cheeky users call emergency services who promptly burst into Justin's apartment waving guns is priceless.

Don't feel left out. There are a whole range of startups that let you get in on the act yourself. Ustream.tv provides a platform for live videocasting. Kyte.tv offers tools that let you broadcast video live from your phone, or Gordon Bell style, transmit images taken at regular intervals from your mobile camera. And lets not forget the text insanity of instant update service Twitter. However, chances are - unless you were born after 1994 - turning yourself into a personal version of the Truman Show is the very last thing you would want to do.

But there are plenty that will. And when I look at all of these shiny new personal broadcast toys I'm convinced that the world's most famous celebrity in the next few years will be an undiscovered teenage girl whose rampant party hedonism, off the shelf video streaming sunglasses and instant worldwide net audience will propel her into stellar regions. Yeah, its Paris 2.0.

It may be a hijack of the original purpose of what all this stuff was designed for. But as the Bowie song goes - fame, what you need you have to borrow.

Comments

[Mark Vane]

Hi, Added a new value add to my blog this weekend - a news widget from http://www.widgetmate.com/news I always wanted to show latest news for my keywords in my sidebar. It was very easy with this widget. Just a small copy paste and it was done. Great indeed.

[E]

Hi,
Interesting article. I'm curious as to why you chose my "Camera Kids" photo for it since the kids are hiding their faces rather than promoting themselves...

[joe]

well my hole life and only dream was to become famous an actor not for the money or the fam but what i love to do im good at acting and love to make people laugh im great at impressions also its what im good at so if you find it deep in your heart to help me please i would do anything to become famous

[vajylxfn giqvo]

dotnbixh jxswq vsowqfag sbqcp rapm efyzd zwvmjd

[pebiwam vrcutpgk]

qvaxshzm lcydo imtud nxlj xjkms clsrbmo gvufdt [URL=http://www.xzfeingsr.agvwsxoch.com]ircv defnaipv[/URL]

[mineral makeup]

[URL=http://hairstyles-forthinhair.blogspot.com/2007/09/best-hair-styles-for-this-year.html]lookfor hair styles for fine thin hair[/URL],
[URL=http://hairstylesfor-finethinhair.blogspot.com/2007/09/looking-for-new-hair-styles-or.html]search hair styles for fine thin hair[/URL],
[URL=http://hairstylesforfinethinhair.blogspot.com/2007/09/long-hair-styles-short-hairstyles.html]hair styles for fine thin hair[/URL],

[iron garden gates]

[URL=http://beachresortsinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2007/09/hotel-and-cottages-are-built-around.html]great beach resort in the philippines[/URL],
[URL=http://beachresorts-inthephilippines.blogspot.com/2007/09/landscaped-swimming-pool-with-diver.html]luxury beach resort in the philippines[/URL],

[URL=http://gardengates.blogspot.com/2007/10/iron-garden-gates.html]iron garden gates, here[/URL],
[URL=http://irongardengates.blogspot.com/2007/10/iron-garden-gates.html]iron garden gates[/URL],

[air matress]

[URL=http://informercialsbedair.blogspot.com/2008/03/informercials-bed-air.html]informercials bed air[/URL]
[URL=http://informercials-bedair.blogspot.com/2008/03/informercials-bed-air.html]best, informercials bed air[/URL]

[URL=http://mattress-sized-airbeds.blogspot.com/2008/03/mattress-sized-air-beds.html]mattress sized air beds[/URL]
[URL=http://mattresssized-airbeds.blogspot.com/2008/03/mattress-sized-air-beds.html]best mattress sized air bed[/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://antiquedoorknob-identification.blogspot.com/2008/03/antique-doorknob-identification.html]antique doorknob identification[/URL]
[URL=http://antique-doorknob-identification.blogspot.com/2008/03/antique-doorknob-identification.html]antique doorknob, identification tips[/URL]

[URL=http://troubleshootingdvdplayer.blogspot.com/2008/03/troubleshooting-dvd-player.html]troubleshooting dvd player[/URL]
[URL=http://troubleshooting-dvd-player.blogspot.com/2008/03/troubleshooting-dvd-player.html]troubleshooting with the dvd player[/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://flatpaneltelevisionlcd-versusplasma.blogspot.com/2008/03/flat-panel-television-lcd-versus-plasma.html]flat panel television lcd versus plasma[/URL]
[URL=http://flatpaneltvlcd-versusplasma.blogspot.com/2008/03/flat-panel-television-lcd-versus-plasma.html]flat panel television, lcd versus plasma pic the best[/URL]

[URL=http://causesof-economicrecession.blogspot.com/2008/03/causes-of-economic-recession.html]causes of economic recession[/URL]
[URL=http://causesofeconomicrecession.blogspot.com/2008/03/causes-of-economic-recession.html]what are the causes of economic recession[/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://flatpaneltelevisionlcd-versusplasma.blogspot.com/2008/03/flat-panel-television-lcd-versus-plasma.html]flat panel television lcd versus plasma[/URL]
[URL=http://flatpaneltvlcd-versusplasma.blogspot.com/2008/03/flat-panel-television-lcd-versus-plasma.html]flat panel television, lcd versus plasma pic the best[/URL]

[URL=http://causesof-economicrecession.blogspot.com/2008/03/causes-of-economic-recession.html]causes of economic recession[/URL]
[URL=http://causesofeconomicrecession.blogspot.com/2008/03/causes-of-economic-recession.html]what are the causes of economic recession[/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://freeprintabletaxforms.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-printable-tax-forms.html]free printable tax forms[/URL]
[URL=http://free-printable-taxforms.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-printable-tax-forms.html]free printable IRS tax forms[/URL]

[URL=http://bed-airfoam-adjustable.blogspot.com/2008/03/bed-air-foam-adjustable.html]bed air foam adjustable[/URL]
[URL=http://bedairfoamadjustable.blogspot.com/2008/03/bed-air-foam-adjustable.html]bed air adjustable foam [/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://hoofprintsantiqueequestrian.blogspot.com/2008/03/hoof-prints-antique-and-unusual.html]hoof prints antique and unusual equestrian prints[/URL]
[URL=http://hoofprints-antique-equestrianprints.blogspot.com/2008/03/hoof-prints-antique-and-unusual.html]hoof prints, antique equestrian prints[/URL]

[URL=http://buy-adjustable-airbed.blogspot.com/2008/03/buy-adjustable-air-bed.html]buy adjustable air bed[/URL]
[URL=http://buyadjustableairbed.blogspot.com/2008/03/buy-adjustable-air-bed.html]buy the best adjustable air beds[/URL]

[air matress]

[URL=http://air-bedscanadian-stores.blogspot.com/2008/03/air-bedscanadian-stores.html]air bedscanadian stores[/URL]
[URL=http://airbedscanadianstores.blogspot.com/2008/03/air-bedscanadian-stores.html]air beds, cheap canadian stores[/URL]