Telecommunication Timeline Video

August 24, 2013 5:03 PM

Telecom Timeline downpour This video seems to have been put together by GOOD magazine who dumbly called it "the most insane polyphonic collage you will ever see" whatever that's supposed to mean. The video compiles hundreds of audio and video clips into a timeline of (long distance?) telecommunication. It's an awesome & well edited clip that brings to mind Kraftwerk and OMD's dazzle ships among other things...
posted by scouringpad (12 comments total)

Pretty awesome.

Now, is it just me or is there something kinda of wrong doing a VoIP landline over DSL, like I do?
posted by Samizdata at 5:07 PM on August 24, 2013

(Really summoned some memories too. The glorious joy of finding BBSes that used USR modems so you could get that 9600 baud goodness. Pranks with an acoustic coupler.)
posted by Samizdata at 5:13 PM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

this was great, really enjoyed it
posted by rebent at 5:19 PM on August 24, 2013

I don't know. I enjoyed it, but I have a feeling that some day I will see a polyphonic collage that is even more insane.
posted by trip and a half at 5:27 PM on August 24, 2013 [4 favorites]

it's not that insane! (or rather its insanity is far from the first thing that comes to mind in viewing it) I wonder who came up with that title--I also don't exactly understand since the actual definition of polyphony isn't so appropriate as a description, but wondered if it was a play on 'polyphonic' Vs. 'monophonic' cell phone ringtones-- which also just renders it misleading as a description since cell phone ringtones are only a small component of this ...It feels almost tacked on to the video...
posted by scouringpad at 5:34 PM on August 24, 2013

trip and a half: "I don't know. I enjoyed it, but I have a feeling that some day I will see a polyphonic collage that is even more insane."

It WILL happen.

Welcome to the Internet.
posted by Samizdata at 5:51 PM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Came for the "Bula vinaka, beachside" sample. Was disappointed. :(
posted by sourwookie at 6:07 PM on August 24, 2013 [3 favorites]

Samizdata: Now, is it just me or is there something kinda of wrong doing a VoIP landline over DSL, like I do?

I know what you mean. What's even worse is sending a fax over VoIP landline over DSL. (Yes, some archaic institutions still use fax...)
posted by dylanjames at 6:20 PM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Am I the only one who found the music kind of boring? Especially for the last 30-40 seconds where it seems like it should be building to some sort of climax?

That being said, what was up with the video? So many phone sex ads and myspace pictures of girls in lingerie. And the last clip of a pigeon being targeted in sniper's crosshairs was probably the most confusing of all!
posted by Flashbullzeye at 7:10 PM on August 24, 2013

The pigeon shot was a play on the death of telecommunication theme which immediately preceded it.

I liked the AOL breakdown.

But yeah, the music just wasn't there.
posted by user92371 at 8:02 PM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Was this created by a six year old forty years ago, or is there something else impressive about it that I'm missing?
posted by Sys Rq at 8:16 PM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

This is me lamely plugging a much better use of typewriter sounds.
posted by Quilford at 2:16 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]