The only time I’m happier than when I’m learning interesting new words is when I’m reading about new technologies; the only time I’m happier than that is when I hear about something we could all be doing that may very soon be declared illegal (but apparently isn’t yet).
The first time all three nodes have joy have intersected in my Venn diagram of delerium is this week, when I heard of the majestic world of video sniffing.
I know it sounds wrong in a dubious-sexual-practice kind of way, but it’s not about that. Although someone has probably combined many a dubious sexual practice with video sniffing – which is the intercepting of wireless CCTV signals, which can be captured and recorded on hand-held devices by wily members of the public.
That is, recording actual security camera footage.
Now, you may be like a female colleague of mine who, when she overheard some of us talking about this, said: “Why would you want to do that?” The answer, sung as a male-voice chorus, was, obviously: “Because you can.”
Other, more legitimate excuses you could use may be:
- “I am reclaiming public spaces from those oppressively monitoring us.”
- “I am making a vague, more general political statement, sticking it to The Man” – especially here in the UK, where we’re told we are the most surveilled society on the planet.
- “I am a serious artist!”
- “I can’t afford to pay for actors in my new movie!”
- “I am a peeping Tom with too much disposable income.”
- “I am a nerd who is not afraid to venture out into the world.”
But mostly, if you have a go it will be for the fine, specific reason of “Because I can”.
Good use has been made of this technology, with films made using footage captured this way. And this is just new technology, so efforts in this area can only improve. It seems easy enough, technologically, to do as well. Except the stuff seems a bit pricey. And I’m saving up for a new life.
So, you have a go, if you like and it really is legal, and come back here to talk about it.
I look forward to hearing about you.
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