So, KVOA has unveiled one of the TV station news ideas that no one really asked for, but seems to be a big deal anyway called News 4 Tucson SKYNET, a series of HD cameras (or “observation network” as their promo video puts it) around town that allows them to show more clear live footage of rainstorms, traffic jams and homeless people urinating or something.
However, while I’m not thrilled with the idea of a private company setting up cameras around town, the first thing that came to my mind regarding this new initiative was that the name sounded so familiar.
Oh, right, they gave their weird camera system the same name as the self-aware artificial intelligence system that takes over the world in the Terminator movies.
This seems like a peculiar mistake, adopting a name with an existing negative connotation, especially considering the very first Google result is an extensive Wikipedia article about the Terminator series and the first YouTube result is a clip from Terminator 2 about the day when Skynet became aware. It seems worth looking up the name you give your fancy project, but maybe that’s just me.
However, is it possible that KVOA’s new camera system is actually part of a real life take over by our future computer overlords? Maybe the Terminator movies were created to throw humanity off the scent. April 19, 2011 has come and gone without Skynet becoming aware (OR SO WE THINK), so all future references will just seem like poor decision making by a local media outlet and not at all the installation of “eyes” for a self-educating artificial intelligence system.
Either way, the cameras are kind of creepy.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2012.
I was the first to point this out when KVOA first announced it on Facebook. Who ever came up with the name either are too young to remember the Terminator movies or has been in a bubble for a bunch of years! Or maybe just not a scifi fan. Either way a bit of a Google search beforehand would have been a good idea! Too young wouldn’t surprise me considering the faces at the news desk and who’s has been exiled to reporter status!
Well, Dan Gibson, Red Star first experienced KVOA’s News 4 Tucson SKYNET commercial last evening and the first thing that popped into Red Star’s amazing mind is that this is just another reminder that May is sweeps month and the vapid tv money grubbers will try anything to gain viewers and ad revenue.
The next was consideration of motive and practice…whether such news-media-based cams can be considered serious journalism…would a shabby local station go to the wall in court to protect its source and its records should a subpoena duces tecum be issued in the instance of a missing child or in the instance of a trivial beer skip? Based on 1st Amendment principles or based on lurid “we have the exclusive story for you!” motive? Which? What? Is it all to be left up to strange gesticulators (sp?) such as KVOA’s Tom McNamara?
People actually watch KVOA?
I don’t know who runs KVOA but I don’t watch it, don’t like them, as soon as they firgure out how to get rid of humans, they will have robots doing the news. As it is, their employees soon seem to join a KVOA stepford family. No news, just repeat repeat repeat. Oh well, I am not forced to watch so I don’t
I am sure the Republicans will like the cameras, since they are into everyone business and try to control the people.
I returned to watching KVOA ever since Allison Alexander went back to replace Martha Vasquez. She’s been showing ‘more’ of her lately, if you know what I mean. Samantha Ptaskin would make me watch the 5pm and 10pm news at KVOA. Currently, I’m sticking with KOLD’s Heather Rowe, she’s just very ‘informative’ and ‘skilled’ as a news anchor.
KGUN, needs to get rid of Guy and replace him with Jessica Chapin. Jessica, Jennifer and Erin should bring the ratings ‘up’.
Substance in not enough these days. ‘Presentation’ is equally, if not more, important in the news business.
So. How the heck do we watch the cameras? We cant view them 24/7? Is there a link?
you guys think it was an oversight/mistake to call it Skynet… noway … I assure you it was absolutely intentionally named Skynet … where’s your sense of humor, really!?
Giving “the people” 24/7 access would be the proper/right thing to do… but you can be sure you’ll only get to see what they want you to… AND by tuning in.
I hear KOLD just hired John Conner to help keep humanity safe from the likes of “Skynet”.
I was just talking about this yesterday. Like, wait…wasn’t that in The Terminator? Love how everyone is freaking out about privacy issues. Let it go. We got more important things to worry about, like when will the Polar Pop from Circle K will find another way to cram in a few more ounces. Chillax Tucson. 😉