THE WEBCAM
The idea of the “video phone” has been a fixture of science fiction for the better part of a century. But the technology was introduced and normalized by Skype and Apple so quickly and so unceremoniously that talking face-to-face over the internet seemed commonplace almost the moment the possibility arrived.
Now that we have all been ordered to self- isolate and commanded to do our jobs remotely, we take for granted that we can see our loved ones, hang out with our friends and conduct business meetings more or less without interruption thanks to webcams and smartphones and indispensable video-conferencing and group- chat apps such as Zoom, House Party, Facetime, Google Hangouts and Skype. Now that our socializing is being carried out almost exclusively by camera, it seems that whimsical sci-fi future is now.
One of the strangest consequences of this is its oddly democratizing effect. We’re all languishing in self- isolation together, and suddenly we are seeing everyone holed up at home, broadcasting themselves into the ether from the comfort of their home office or living room couch.
Over the past few weeks, many millions of people have been afforded precious, perhaps even shocking glimpses into the lives of their colleagues and peers, as co-workers and acquaintances we’ve only ever seen at the office, the coffee shop or the gym invite us into their homes by way of candid video chat. That’s John’s idea of interior decorating? That’s what Joanne’s cat looks like? The revelations keep coming, and the relationships will never be the same again.
Nor are the revelations limited strictly to the lives of people we know. We’re also now finding ourselves invited into the ( usually much more spacious) homes of the famous and wealthy, as world leaders, Instagram influencers, movie stars and pop idols are likewise beaming images of themselves out into the world from the confines of their frustratingly glamorous quarantines. The other day, I watched Jake Gyllenhall put on a Russ and Daughters t- shirt while doing a handstand in his living room, as part of some viral Instagram challenge that also roped in Tom Holland and Ryan Reynolds.
Whose houses are bigger than expected? Who seems to be taking social distancing hard? These are the questions webcams and smartphone cameras are answering, and thanks to Skype, Facetime and Zoom, among other apps, our idea of celebrities will never be the same as well.