All Blog Posts from Tech Talk

"Look, two million Americans lost their homes to foreclosure. Losing your TV signal for a couple of days because you waited too long and didn't get it. This is not the end of the world. There are bigger issues, let's focus on them." That's what the president of the Consumer Electronics Association, Gary Shapiro, said to me in an interview before Congress passed the delay for the analog to digital switchover. And while there are plenty of people who agree with him, there are countless others -- maybe millions -- who could be left without a reliable source of news when as many as 600 broadcasters move ahead with the transition anyway this Tuesday, Feb. 17. We'll have the story tonight on the CBS Evening News.

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It's no secret that young people make mistakes; it's a necessary part of growing up. But the internet -- and specifically the rise of video-sharing Web sites -- opened a new portal for potential pitfalls. On tonight's CBS Evening News with Katie Couric we're looking at how teens are posting controversial videos on sites like YouTube, often in the hopes of getting noticed or showing off. But in the process they may be setting themselves up for real-world consequences in the future.

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Call it the ultimate absentee ballot. The two U.S. astronauts onboard the international space station cast their votes today from 220 miles above Earth, and in the words of ISS commander Michael Fincke: "If we can vote from up here, so can you."

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Ingenious. That’s probably the best word to describe computer programmer John Breen. He’s the man behind Freerice.com, a new Web site with a unique, two-pronged approach to tackling literacy and world hunger. A lofty-sounding goal, I know. But Breen is determined to make it happen, one click at a time.

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If you're a job seeker without any leads, you might want to tear up that 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper, get out your digital camera and find your favorite video-sharing Web site. At least that's the advice from some experts and people like Trent Willis, who used a clever mock ad to land his dream job in politics.

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For those seeking fame, the Internet is the newest pedestal built by the masses, for the masses. No previous experience necessary. It's leveled the playing field and put power in the hands of anyone with access to a computer: soccer moms, armchair pundits, bored students.

You could argue that Andy Warhol's prediction of 15 minutes of fame has gradually morphed into 15 megabytes. Though this achievement can often be fleeting and unaccompanied by accolades or riches, it's a tangible tendency that's made possible by sites like YouTube.com, Revver.com, Metacafe.com, Veoh.com, Blip.tv, Break.com and others. So much so, YouTube organized its first ever YouTube Awards (sorry, the voting closed Friday) with the winners announced Monday. I recently had a chance to hear from three of the nominees.

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The creator remains a mystery but the impact is clear: A "mash-up" ad that virtually pokes Hillary Clinton in the eye (by way of a hammer) is generating plenty of buzz online. It seamlessly blends the old "1984" Apple commercial with updated references (check out the iPod), and it steers viewers to the Web site of Barack Obama. Obama's people have denied any involvement, and could it be from a Republican supporter trying to tie Obama to dirty politics? Will there be more like it?

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I woke up Sunday morning and couldn't stop thinking about how the future of video- and photo-sharing sites could mean cash in your pocket.

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It should come as no surprise that terrorist groups are tapping into the global reach and power of the Internet. They hope to recruit followers with propaganda, often targeting the younger “wired” generation, and instill fear in the process. It’s also become a “digital messenger” by providing a way to coordinate attacks from anywhere in the world. I’ve covered the story of insurgents on the Internet on a few different occasions, but what struck me this time was how sophisticated the terrorists have become, and how much it’s grown.

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