New technology from Switzerland will bring an end to compromising photos at domain conferences
After an incident involving a young, buxom domainer whose husband recognized her in photos from the TRAFFIC, New York conference – all while she proclaimed she had been at her mother’s in New Jersey, at the time – a new set of photography technology will be implemented.
Starting in TRAFFIC 2010 – the big domain “fest” of the year – all photos depicting domainers will be blurred out, using technology developed by a Swiss company. The concept is currently being used to blur out Swiss car plates and faces of unsuspecting Swiss bystanders; caught by Google Earth’s vehicle that roams the countryside.
“We thought that it’s embarrassing to claim you’re at one place and be found at another, said Rick Latona. “Domainers want to have some safe fun and trade without pressure from others. We had two options: issue face masks or to process all photos and blur the faces using military grade technology. So we opted for the most high-tech of the two – because at TRAFFIC we are the tech guys”, added Latona, smiling.
The technology will bring an end to the type of journalistic photography we’re used to seeing from domain conferences such as TRAFFIC, where domainers often under the influence of alcohol and the euphoria of mingling forget at times to be professionally presentable.
“At TRAFFIC New York this guy with a camera walks in the bathroom, clearly drunk, and starts taking pictures of everyone. There’s a pic of me somewhere, anxiously zipping up my fly”, said Thomas Garrins – a domainer from Portland. “Then I realized that Ron Jackson had one martini too many at the opening ceremony.”
The new technology will be partially funded by monetizing .tel domains as virtual business ads with the TRAFFIC logo instead of the current ugly purple button.
Man is that picture a sample of the technology? Because I can identify Rick Schwartz, Frank Schilling and Kevin Ham in that picture 😀 LOL they need to up it a bit.
One thing comes to my mind instantly, if photographs are blurred than what is the purpose of such photos.
Rick Latona knows best. I am sure they will tell us more details in the next TRAFFIC conference.
Bad news for me. I was looking forward to wearing my brand new Hank Alvarez face mask on the next T.R.A.F.F.I.C. show. 🙁
I would have thought they Playboy mansion would have been brought up…… so to speak.
I detect a bug in the software. I just had 8 beers and now the pictures are clear as a bell. Their smug smiles are coming through particularly well.
Are you saying the software has a fundamental flaw that exposes private data to drunk domainers? OMG.
“Rick Latona” knows best…” Whew…I respect the man, but instead of trying to bury things in yet more obfuscation–here’s an even more radical concept regarding the solution to the problem: How about people learning how to speak with others (spouses included) face-to-face and TELLING EACH OTHER THE TRUTH! [Sorry, but I have no italics] Wow! Now there’s a Concept! That would be One Giant Leap for 21st Century communication–a little standing/sitting face-to-face and sussing things out. How very bold
Emjael, would you object to your photos being blurred out? Or you’d rather be seen in the TRAFFIC pictures?
Emjael: I think the reason the blurring issue came about is because too many attendees were sitting while sussing in someone’s face. That should be mentioned.
“Man is that picture a sample of the technology? Because I can identify Rick Schwartz, Frank Schilling and Kevin Ham in that picture”
John,
That’s an example of the basic blurring technology which will be included free in the conference
registration fee.
For an additional fee, the enhanced blurring technology will be offered.
By the way, Rick says the enhanced blurring technology will be offered free to any conference attendee who buys a domain from his newsletter.
Patrick, as always you take a simple idea and dress it with a viable business plan! Now we know what Rick had in mind!