ad info

CNN.com
 MAIN PAGE
 WORLD
 ASIANOW
 U.S.
 LOCAL
 POLITICS
 WEATHER
 BUSINESS
 SPORTS
 TECHNOLOGY
   computing
   personal technology
   space
 NATURE
 ENTERTAINMENT
 BOOKS
 TRAVEL
 FOOD
 HEALTH
 STYLE
 IN-DEPTH

 custom news
 Headline News brief
 daily almanac
 CNN networks
 CNN programs
 on-air transcripts
 news quiz

  CNN WEB SITES:
CNN Websites
 TIME INC. SITES:
 MORE SERVICES:
 video on demand
 video archive
 audio on demand
 news email services
 free email accounts
 desktop headlines
 pointcast
 pagenet

 DISCUSSION:
 message boards
 chat
 feedback

 SITE GUIDES:
 help
 contents
 search

 FASTER ACCESS:
 europe
 japan

 WEB SERVICES:
Computing

Webcams: Voyeur meets exhibitionist

By San Francisco Bureau Chief Greg Lefevre

E-mail: glefevre@CNN.com

June 18, 1998

(CNN) -- Don't have a life?

No problem. Log on the Web. Live vicariously ... or virtually.

We look over Elizabeth's shoulder as she gives birth. We're looking over everyone's shoulders.

If you can't be there, be virtually there with local cameras. People really log onto those sites and watch.

Jennicam follows a woman in her everyday life. Jenny's having a good or bad day, and we all share it. It's voyeur meets exhibitionist.

We can talk to each other or talk to the animals. Koko the gorilla, who knows American Sign Language, hosts Web chats.

Wanna look, too?

Lots of folks keep lists of sites with Web cams. Yahoo sorts by category, including some oddities. Or click on http://www.rt66.com/~ozone/cam.htm Ozone? Is that a smog cam? Try http://whatsonthe.net/webcamks.htm

Tom Abate of the San Francisco Chronicle says we're all invited to the Internet version of "The Truman Show." For the counterattack, visit www.freetruman.com

So, what's next?

Reach out and touch someone ... virtually. With those really cool sensor gloves and a hot modem, you can shake hands without really being there -- safely, anonymously -- or just cuddle the dancing baby that's not really there.

We even parody the wackiness. John's Wallcam stares at his wall (which is what some of us might be doing if we weren't staring at the computer.)

We may think we're ready for this, but do you want the world to see your every move -- with word that Singapore wants to limit Internet access and the Chinese government wants to "filter" what enters the country on the Internet? (Would conservative governments allow a live birth on television?)

Are we enriched by seeing someone's live birth, by seeing Jenni's bathroom or by seeing John's wall?

Do we put these things on the Internet because we should ... or merely because we can?

Surf on...

Related stories:
Latest Headlines

Today on CNN

SEARCH CNN.com
Enter keyword(s)   go    help

  
 

Back to the top
© 2000 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.