[19864] in APO-L
Re: The WebCam issue
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (bernard.derboven@PS.GE.COM)
Tue Jan 5 18:11:54 1999
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 18:07:32 -0500
Reply-To: bernard.derboven@PS.GE.COM
From: bernard.derboven@PS.GE.COM
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In response to REV's post:
1) The Convention adopts standing rules at the opening session. After
that, interpretations and clarifications are up to the Rules & Credentials
Reference Committee. The Committee last week issued one such interpretation
of the "Communication Devices" rule, concerning laptops. As for cameras on
the floor, I don't remember what voting delegates have done, but in 1996
Printing & Publications requested of Rules & Credentials permission for a
photographer to be on the floor to take pictures for the Lightbearer. We
allowed one access for about an hour. Similar restrictions would apply
here, as the business of the convention shouldn't have to put up with
endless distractions. Would this be a camera stationed out of the way and
zooming in on people, or would someone be running around like an idiot
getting delegates to say "Hi mom!" into the camera (NOTE: this latter
scenario is technically communication)? There's a big difference between
these two, and certainly guidelines would have to be set ahead of time. As
for a camera in the gallery, remember you'd be getting direct or angled
shots of 400 people from behind, not an especially flattering view people
want broadcasted to the world.
2) This is essentially correct, although any technical problems I feel
would be a "tough luck" scenario and shouldn't be cause to interrupt
business.
3) I'll play devil's advocate here, in the form of a hotel sales rep: "So,
you want me to give you a real cheap rate on the phone line in exchange for
letting me put our logo on a broadcast over which we have no editorial
control?"
Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily against the idea (well, yes I am,
until you can satisfy all nagging concerns I would have as a member of Rules
& Credentials or Floor Services), I'm just tossing out things to think
about.
Bernard Derboven
Epsilon Zeta Chapter
> ----------
> From: Richard Edward Vehlow
> Reply To: Richard Edward Vehlow
> Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 5:35 PM
> To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
> Subject: [APO-L] The WebCam issue
>
> I got a few responses to this, so let me discuss a bit further:
>
> 1. "Communication Devices not on the Floor"
> a. I never heard of this rule in the past, and aside from
> eliminating
> the noise of ringing phones and loud side-chatter, cannot see how
> this is supposed to stop communication with each other and the
> outside world especially with the plethora of note passing.
> b. A WebCam is not for delegates to communicate- it is more of a
> recording device, like a camera. People have brought cameras right
> on
> the floor.
> c. The WebCam can be located in the gallery. I am quite sure there
> are
> no rules on what can be brought into the Gallery. I have taken
> both
> still and moving pictures of more than one convention from the
> gallery. In Congress, the C-Span camera is not located on the
> floor.
>
> 2. "Networking issues"
> a. One or two cameras and a tie in to the mic system would be all
> that
> is needed besides a computer and net link.
>
> 3. Cost
> a. True- would need to be researched.
> b. Hotel phone costs: can be negotiated. If the hotel's logo
> appears
> below the feed on the webpage, we can perhaps trade free
> advertising
> for the free link, or something similar.
>
>
> You all can say it's hard now, but who knows what technology will be
> available to us in the next few years at conventions. We should look ahead
> with an open mind.
>
> -REV
>
