By: Russ
Anthony Lilley describes media of the future…
Hey folks, it’s like we are having an Anthony Lilley festival here at OfcomWatch. Last week, I commented on his call for a fresh look at public subsidy in the media marketplace. And yesterday I saw Lilley’s Huw Weldon Lecture (RTS) on the BBC. Here’s my take on his ‘points in the network’ number-crunching. Basically he reminded me of Spotswood from Team America, World Police:
Interesting point Lilley makes, but he’s probably under-counting. My various household devices will soon themselves become points in the network. Aren’t there already fridges that can order more milk when they sense it is empty? Soon, my fridge will not only communicate with Tesco, but every other fridge and device (and person) in the network. My fridge will make the order with Tesco, instruct my bank to pay for the transaction and then text me a reminder to pick up cereal on the way home. So there will be more connection points in the internet than all the atoms in the known universe multiplied by 10!
I have no idea how this relates to television…
Nov 6th 2007
How can there be more of anything than atoms in the universe?
Nov 8th 2007
He is referring to “potential connections”, so there is the potential for more connections than there are in the universe.
Nov 8th 2007
Lilley’s amp goes to 11
Dec 12th 2007
Hello Russ
Nice work with the mash-up of me - It’s completely deserved. I saw it on Youtube when I was away and it made me laugh.
As you (and others) say, I was being hyperbolic to make a point to broadcasting folks - but I was also borrowing, with permission, from a speech I heard in Edinburgh given by Vint Cerf!
Anyway, keep up the good work. I liked the analysis of the public investment piece also - all fair comment and I agree with much of that as well.
Anthony
Dec 12th 2007
Thanks, Anthony —
Your speech reminded me of the time I was in a class and someone mentioned that in a certain part of the world there was only one telephone per 10,000 inhabitants, and then someone remarked ‘well, then there’s really no need to get one, is there?’
The wise folks at YouTube removed the video based on Viacom’s allegation of copyright infringement. I would fight them on fair use/parody (which it is), but I don’t have the energy this time of year — I have too many house guests to feed and entertain!
If you come to the Oxford Media Convention, the beer is on me…
Russ
Jan 1st 2008
How boringly predictable of Viacom. Yes, I’ll be in Oxford - in fact they’ve given me the Visiting Chair of Broadcasting this year so I’ll be around a fair bit in January as well. We should meet up properly?
all the best
anthony