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Hyperlocal sites such as Patch.com and Outside.In allow users to write news stories about their local communities, however we currently live in a video centric society and for that reason BitFlx was thought up and initiated.
BitFlx is an iPhone app that allows users to shoot videos, geo-tag those videos and then share their videos with other people in their geographical location thanks to the magic of location based servicing.
Developed by Sebastian Andreatta and Gary Geschwind the program was created to power local community events from local Football games to car accidents spotted by citizen journalists. The app developers envision their program being used to review food at local hotspots, capture major news footage and provide general community information in the form of video, essentially creating hyperlocal news video stations.
According to Andreatta:
“Being able to communicate in a more meaningful way with the people around you, the friends that are nearby, the neighborhood, can be pretty powerful.”
While the program and accompanying website can allow for news reporting, the developers also want it to be a community outreach program, helping people find lost pets, letting neighbors know the garbage truck is down the street and just communicating in general. By opening up the platform to interaction and reporting the developers want to create an interactive news experience that brings community to the forefront.
For citizen journalists attempting to find where stories are currently breaking the program offers a map with various pins that include “Your Location” the location of your friends, the location of local merchants (for whom news has been posted) and a location for everyone to check out. The program also allows users to browse local news in a list format and even choose time frames for news they want to check out based on time or date requirements.
Since the program acts as a citizen news site it also allows users to delete their posts if they choose, while viewers can leave comments on videos to create a sense of stronger community.
Currently the program is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users with quick post and Facebook sharing options, while an Android version is currently in the works and will arrive sometime in the future.
Just remember that the program has just recently launched which means community videos are still sparse but it’s definitely worth a closer look.
Visit the official BitFlx website to learn more.
