Internet networks across the country were given a run for their money Tuesday during the inauguration. CNN says it provided as many as 21.3 million streams throughout the morning and afternoon; Facebook announced it had 1.5 million Obama-related status updates. However, the enthusiasm generated by President Barack Obama’s historic inauguration also challenged Internet providers and the nation’s bandwidth. Online video, (see my angry post for more on that below) in particular was problematic. Many people, the NY Times is reporting resorted to old televisions and radios. I was among this crowd: After suffering through a shaky video experience on CNN Live, I didn’t get my first full appreciation for Obama’s speech until I heard it on the NPR as I headed home from work. Sigh. So much for the tech revolution. Continue reading “Inaugural Web traffic breaks Internet”
Tag: inauguration
Inauguration 2.0
The presidential inauguration is upon us, and even if you are not one of the over four million people planning to travel to the nation’s capital, you can still actively participate in the festivities. During the election season, candidates and especially the Obama campaign confirmed the power of emerging media (notably social media) to engage citizens (see our report, Emerging Media, Barack Obama, and the Future of Political Campaigns). Voters enthusiastically shared their experiences on election day and we can expect much more of the same on Tuesday. In true Obama style, new media platforms are being used to promote the inauguration events in unprecedented ways. We can all look forward to an interesting documentation of the events that you won’t get with official news coverage.
So if you didn’t receive a highly coveted invite, skip the crowds and join the festivities from your home town. Here’s how: Continue reading “Inauguration 2.0”
