Features / pervasive media studio
The video call’s journey from sci-fi idea to corporate tool
A lunchtime talk hosted by Watershed will explore the history of the video call, and its journey from futuristic idea to corporate tool.
Martin O’Leary, a creative technologist, will host the YouTube incarnation on Watershed’s Friday Lunchtime Talks, discussing failed attempts at the creating the video call and the artists who tried to turn video calls into something more interesting than a Zoom meeting.
“In a short space of time, video calling has gone from a sci-fi joke to a central part of all our lives,” explains Martin. “Lots of us are taking tools which were designed for running business meetings, and turning them into classrooms, pub quizzes, and family meals.
is needed now More than ever
“I want to show people some of the fascinating history behind this technology, why it never really caught on until now, and where it could go in the future.”
Martin O’Leary will hold the Lunchtime Talk. Photo: Martin O’Leary
A People’s History of the Video Call is part of Watershed’s Lunchtime Talks series which, prior to the pandemic, were hosted every Friday at 1pm in the venue’s Pervasive Media Studio.
Since lockdown began, the talks have been broadcast on Wateshed’s YouTube channel instead – still on Friday at 1pm – with the chance to comment and ask questions during the talk, using the live chat function.
“This means you can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or mid-90’s video phone – any video device of your choice,” Martin says. “We love the curious, challenging and unusual questions that our audiences tend to bring.
Once the talks are finished, anyone can rewatch the talk, which is uploaded to the same YouTube channel with captioning.
“We’re still waiting on the flying cars, but video calls are a huge part of all of our lives now,” Martin says. “A technology that once seemed far-fetched has become boring, even irritating. How did this happen? And what can we do about it?”
Find out more at www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/10400/a-peoples-history-of-the-video-call
Main photo: Watershed
Read more: Coronavirus: The view from Bristol’s galleries and artspaces
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
