Column: Smile--You're always on Camera

Letter From Silicon Valley

Burlingame, Calif. -Last week, I got a glimpse of the future--and even captured a couple of minutes of it on video.

It happened during the opening dinner of a three-day powwow on media and entertainment, convened by the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio) and the technology governors of the World Economic Forum. The event glittered with executives and political wonks: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke; so did Google's Eric Schmidt and Yahoo Chief Terry Semel.

Even more memorable than the speakers, however, were the scores of guests holding up little white boxes, about the size of a BlackBerry, videotaping the event. Each dinner guest had been given a "Flip" video camcorder--and instantly put it to use.

Sitting next to me, Jonathan Kaplan, the spirit and chief executive behind the company that developed the Flip, beamed--and pointed his Flip toward center stage as well.

Welcome to a world where everything you do may well be recorded. Flip clips bring special significance to the phrase "global village." Just like several generations ago, when the old ladies of the village kept a sharp eye on everyone, today an electronic eye will do that for us.

Every event. Any time. Anywhere. This thing fits into a purse or pocket. The quality of the video? Not as great as your high-end camcorder, for sure, but sweet enough--and certainly handy. It took my 10-year old about two seconds to find the "on" button and start filming breakfast the next morning.

It won't all be great video. (OK, my Arnold footage isn't brilliant. I did get a shot of the green snakeskin boots, though.) There will be plenty of chances to accidentally delete footage. (Yeah, I did that too.)

Kaplan's company, Pure Digital Technologies, based in San Francisco, is at the front of this wave. In May, it rolled out two models: one captures 30 minutes of video, the other 60 minutes. Prices range from roughly $120 to $150--maybe less, depending on where you shop.

Such technology is essentially software, wrapped up in a package of plastic and metal. Kaplan says Pure Digital spent about six years building the software inside the Flip. At first, the start-up licensed its technology to a number of companies: RCA, for instance, makes "Small Wonder," a similar camcorder. These plug into your computer or your television directly. Drugstore chain CVS/pharmacy sells a one-time use camcorder, based on Pure Digital's technology, that sells for $30. (Those video clips have to transferred to a DVD at CVS, a $13 operation.)

But the opportunity seemed too juicy to leave to everyone else. About six months ago, Pure Digital, which has a raft of high-stakes financial backers including Mike Moritz of Sequoia Capital and Benchmark Capital, decided to go for broke by selling Flip video devices itself. "Designed in America, made in China," Kaplan says.

Expect to see these kinds of recorders--whether using Pure Digital's technology or someone elses'--everywhere. In your cellphone too.

There's enormous power to the technology. I saw video footage from China last year, taken by a journalism student who did an internship with Forbes, documenting appalling working conditions in factories that are making high-tech products. Imagine if the Chinese workers who build the Flip hand out a few boxfuls of devices to their friends--and share with the rest of the world some of the heartbreaking images of the human and environment cost of economic progress.

Imagine how a Flip would have changed the history of Watergate--if either Woodward and Bernstein had used them, or if Nixon's gang did.

Imagine how schooling changes: Will my boys videotape future classes instead of taking notes?

Jonathan Schwartz, the pony-tailed chief executive of Sun Microsystems, got his five minutes of stage time too. He described how he had recently asked a fresh-faced new hire at Sun what he thought of the company.

"Well, it's kind of an old-fashioned company," the 20-something conceded.

"Old-fashioned?" fumed Schwartz. "In what way?"

"You use e-mail," replied the younger man.

"What's wrong with that?" demanded Schwartz.

"My parents send me e-mail," he answered.

So uncool, so 1990s.

Just keep your nose powdered.

Your comments are most welcome. Write to me at ecorcoran@forbes.com. Please also note whether I can share your comments with readers.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2007/06/15/flip-camera-video-tech-cx_ec_0618valleyletter.html

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