Oscar Web Site Gets Video and Blog Boost

Feb. 25, 2005 — -- In this week's Cybershake, we take a look at how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is dressing up its official Web site for the Oscar awards show. Plus, we note the bad news that computer viruses are no longer limited to just computers.

Putting on the Tech Ritz

It's been considered the "Super Bowl for women." But the academy will be trying a host of new tricks to attract a wider audience to its 77th Annual Academy Awards event, scheduled to air this Sunday on the ABC television network.

For example, first-time host Chris Rock might bring in a crowd of male viewers to the televised gala with his provocative humor. But for an even younger, hipper crowd, the Academy is adding more digital bells and whistles to its official Oscar.com Web site.

Currently on the Web, Oscar fanatics can see digital videos of the best acceptance speech moments of the past 36 years. Then during the pre-show telecast on Sunday, viewers can submit votes online. The winning "best" moment will be announced live during the televised pre-show.

Prior to the actual award ceremony, visitors can also submit online ballots with their guesses of which actors and films will walk away with golden statuettes. The contestant with the most accurate predictions could win a complete home theater setup, including a new high-definition TV set.

On Sunday, the Web site will also host live digital video footage that supplements the televised coverage.

"We [will] have more video clips than ever before," says Larry Terenzi, producer for Oscar.com. "We're going to have the red carpet [coverage], live on the site, as well as press room interviews and even the Governor's Ball [held after the awards show] as well."

And for the first time, the site has its own "blog," or Web log. Written by Gill Cates, a veteran producer of 11 previous Oscar award shows, the daily online journal highlights some of the behind-the-scenes antics and frantic preparations that have been part of producing this year's event.

"He calls it a three-ring circus," says Terenzi. "He's the ringmaster, so we're given a glimpse into what it takes to put on the Oscar show."

-- Bill Diehl, ABC News

Spreading Security Threats

Spam, viruses and worms are common threats to personal computers and networks. But security experts note that the security risks are beginning to affect other digital devices as well.

Late last week, security experts noted that the first known cell phone virus, Cabir, made its way onto mobile phones in the United States. First discovered in Malaysia eight months ago, the bug infects certain "smart" cell phones and rapidly drains them of battery power.

David Perry, a director for security firm Trend-Micro, says that such threats have been slowly building over the past years. The first cell phone bug, for example, struck Japan in 1998. In that pioneering incident, cell phone users got a piece of junk e-mail that instructed them to click on the message.

"When everybody in Tokyo clicked ... it shut off their [phone's] ringer, it shut off their speaker, it shut off their keypad," says Perry. "And it made the phone start silently dialing emergency phone services."

Experts such as Perry say these new viruses could spread even faster than traditional computer bugs because of their communication links.

Cell phones have their "own e-mail, its own instant messaging system and you have a vulnerability from synchronizing it either wirelessly or through a cable to your computer," says Perry.

And while early bugs such as Cabir don't do any permanent damage, future mobile bugs might have costly hooks.

"It could do anything the virus creators want," says Perry. "It could dial up 900 for-pay porn numbers, we've seen ones that do that."

What's more, as an increasing number of devices become embedded with computer chips and software, the virus evolution is just beginning.

"Your TiVo can be infected with a virus," says Perry. "Look out for a future where your automobile can be infected with a virus and probably eventually your refrigerator as well."

-- Larry Jacobs, ABC News

Cybershake is produced for ABC News Radio by Andrea J. Smith.