You can reach me at swedlow@itvt.com or 415-824-5806
I am the founder, CEO, publisher, and editor-in-chief of InteractiveTV Today [itvt], which I founded in 1998.
My writing has appeared in many leading newspapers and trade publications, including the New York Times, the San Francisco Examiner, PC World, Multimedia World and VR World. Topics I have covered in the past include virtual reality, email communities, privacy and technology, online gravesite memorials, and, of course, interactive television. My work has received awards from the Computer Press Association and the Western Regional Magazine Association.
Prior to founding [itvt] I was chief evangelist at eGroups.com (now Yahoo! Groups); new media editor at PC World; a producer and director for Telemorphix, a pioneering interactive TV company, and a video producer at Steve Michelson Productions in San Francisco.
A regular presenter at ITV industry conferences and panels, and a frequent guest on television and radio shows, I actively communicate my understanding of the history of interactive TV; its current trends, technologies, content innovations and applications; the complexities of executive leadership and industrial dynamics; and where I think the medium and the ITV industry will and must go in the future to audiences around the world. I have served as the founding chairperson and judge of the "Television" and the "Broadband" categories respectively for The Webby Awards since its inception and regularly produce editorial events and awards programs benefiting the ITV industry (e.g. The annual TV of Tomorrow Show).
Other experiences include voiceovers on many feature films while at Sound One in New York City (e.g. "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "9 1/2 Weeks"); participation in the Director/Playwright Workshop at Playwright's Horizons in New York City with founder, Bob Moss; participation on various experimental technology multimedia theater showcases directed by the visionary George Coates in San Francisco; conceiving, producing, directing the first 3 fashion shows (as interactive theater) on the Black Rock Desert in the early years of the Burning Man project, and directing an episode of the Twlight Zone called "The Obsolete Man" at the Dark Room in San Francisco. In August 2005, I created and directed a politically-charged multimedia "blogtheater" (my word) piece that focused on post-election America called "Fuck That!: The Political Science Show." In my non-spare time, I produce and edit the occasional book such as "Desert to Dream" (a photography book) and "Train of Thought" (a children's book), improve my art car (see below), train as a traditional boxer, and pretend to be a painter. I also am also a mother to a wonderful little girl named Hannah.
My education includes a Ph.D fellowship in directing at the University of California, Berkeley; a Masters degree in Dramatic Criticism from Northwestern University; a certificate in French and French Literature from the Université de Cannes; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater History from Tulane University; studies in Drama at the Royal Holloway College at the University of London; as well as a high school degree from Culver Military Academy in Indiana.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, I witnessed the birth of QUBE, the first commercially deployed interactive television platform, and CompuServe, the first commercial online service. I am also the proud creator of an artcar.
Our [itvt] free industry database called The [i]Database contains many listings of operators, broadcasters, software developers, design firms, manufacturers, Web sites, consultancies and many more organizations and people working in the interactive multiplatform TV industry. Upload your company or yourself!