One of the earliest presentations I did at the MobileActive08 event in Johannesburg about how we were experimenting with mobiles and reporting when we were starting to see broadcast quality camera's in mobile devices.

1. Safdar Mustafa
Head of Mobile Media Unit
safdar.mustafa@aljazeera.net

2. Text
*interbrand

4. TV QualityVideo
5 mega pixel camera
High Speed Data
Integrated GPS
Small & Always with you
Non-intrusive
Not just a phone...

5. 3 Key Features
= exciting possibilities for Reporters
+ +
Camera GPS Data

6. Mobile Trials
1. The Sahara Journey
[Reporting from Mali & Niger]
2. Mobile Breaking News
[The Chad Explosion]

7. The Sahara Journey
[The images you are about to see
were taken on a Mobile Phone]

8. Equipping our Reporters
Nokia N95
Location
Tagger
Application
Nokia
Sportstracker
Application

10. The Mobile Phone
DOES NOT REPLACE
the usual broadcast equipment
but rather compliments it

13. Why?
• Show the story, not just tell it (Maps with routes)
• More depth to stories possible
• High Quality images & GPS
• Works where there is no phone signal
• Standard inexpensive tools (Mobile Phones)

15. Then we took the data
and told the story ‘visually’
with some ‘interactivity’

16. labs.aljazeera.net

18. The Chad Explosion!
•Al Jazeera Cameraman in Chad
•Video captured on his mobile phone
• Sent to newsroom from the mobile
• Breaking News report on-air

19. Al Jazeera’s Chad Report

20. The Idea
...to get Breaking News
from the mobile to the
newsroom as quickly as
possible

21. Tools Needed
1. Mobile Phone
2. AJ Reporter Application

22. Getting Data Home...
1. Using mobile network
(GPRS / 3G / HSDPA)
(depends which country)
2. WIFI (home / work / public)
3. Transfer to laptop

23. Challenges
• Phone Durability
• Network connection
• Training

24. Possible Use Cases
• Where usual camera is not there.
e.g. left in hotel (the case with Chad)
• Where camera equipment cannot be
taken
• Where a camera will be obtrusive

25. Questions?