San Francisco Bars Are Streaming Online Footage of You Getting Drunk - live footage online -

San Francisco Bars Are Streaming Online Footage of You Getting Drunk - live footage online - 



The East Bay Express had an excellent and eye-opening item this week about an iPhone app called BarSpace. 

According to Express writer Ellen Cushing:

Founded by a handful of Sonoma County entrepreneurs, the app, BarSpace, and its related Website, BarSpace.tv, employ a simple concept: Install cameras in bars and nightclubs and then streams that video live through a free iPhone app, as well as through the company's Website. The cameras are installed and paid for by BarSpace; each bar decided the hours between which they'd like to transmit a video stream.

It's ostensibly designed so users can check out the scene at a bar while still at home. Your favorite dive too crowded? Maybe there's an open table somewhere else. Still, we feel a little creeped out by the entire concept -- especially when we saw how many bars in San Francisco are already streaming live drunks.

Just a few of the nearly 50 watering holes that are participating in the BarSpace appinclude:

• Abbey Tavern
• The Ambassador
• Atmosphere
• Bar None
• The Boardroom
• MoMo's
• Make Out Room
• Milk Bar
• Noble
• The Republic
• Rockit Room
• Valley Tavern
• Vessel

The app developers claim the cameras are mainly placed at a high, wide angle, which means individual faces are hard to pick out. Still the idea that some creeper could be watching streaming footage -- however grainy and indistinct -- of us dancing at the Make Out Room after a beer (or seven) gives us the serious heebie-jeebies.

Read more - 

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/07/these_san_francisco_bars_are_s.php