- Thursday, 8 January 2009
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Youtube adds vocals to comment
THE PEOPLE at YouTube have decided that it is not bad enough you have to read the moronic comments under each clip, it is now vital you hear the dulcet tones of the moron who spoke them.
The video sharing site has added an Audio Preview button to the comment section. It seems that the outfit was inspired by web comic xkcd, which is a strange way to come up with business ideas.
Most of the comments on Youtube are gibberish, even in comparison to the ones we get here. Those commenting on the idea have wondered what is the advantage of hearing the voice of the banjo-picking, "squeal like a pig", "you sure are perdy," types who seem to post on the site.
Those whacky Youtubesters have stuck the "Audio Preview" button right where the "send post" button used to be so that those posting will discover it by accident.
They will probably sit there for hours working out why when ever they try to send their posts they hear themselves speaking. Such types also sit by the microwave wondering why it is not sending them email. µ
L'Inq
Webmonkey
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The basis of the idea is obvious, only 1% of you tube comments contain spelling that one can decipher somewhat, and by having them yap instead they don't have to go through the terrible ordeal of actually trying to construct readable text. Of course what youtube's staff doesn't realise is that with all the southern and backwater accents those same people speak it won't make it any easier to understand.
I like to think(no proof to this thought, it's just a musing) that if people's voices can be heard, it will reduce the amount of flamewars that are started because of misunderstandings. Text can't express irony very well, but the spoken word does it very well indeed. Of course in my case, I'd write it out, record it separately, and then upload it. (I'm very anal, though I can suppress it when I'm actually aware that I'm annoying people. So, I'm still very dorkish, it's just not as bad in person)
This is a great feature, but maybe this isn't the right product for it. I think speaking text messages could be cool. I would love it if I could hear the news on The Inq and listen to the comments too. The Inquirer, come on, give us a voice comments system!