Here is what I wrote to ‘Dr Dave’ about his collection:

Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:03:39 +1100
To: Dr David Alciatore – Mech. Eng. Associate Professor
CC: Dr Allan Kirkpatrick – Mech. Eng. Head,
Dr Sandra Woods – Eng. Dean,
Aaron Benally – WEMP Coordinator
Subject: Inappropriate violence in published high-speed video clips

Dr Alciatore,

I have just viewed your collection of high-speed videos (found at http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/high_speed_video/) after reading about a new camera by Casio (EX-F1) with high-speed video capability.

It is unfortunate that some of the videos suffer from poor lighting, are out of focus, etc, but I’m mostly disappointed by the poor subject material in a lot of them. Okay, show bouncing bowling pins, cue balls, a leg stomping on the ground, a water balloon bursting… Why things like people being shot at? A woman being slapped on the face? An egg in an animal trap? A firecracker in a marshmallow? Clean up your act, and show some editorial control. It is unfortunate that one of the better videos in the whole collection was the bb-pellet striking someone’s chest. Was this filmed on university campus – someone being shot? (Even if it is ‘only’ with a bb gun). Overall, the predominance of violence is somewhat questionable. Inappropriate and irresponsible.

I hope you review what has been posted and encourage a different direction for students’ (and possibly your own) studies in the future. This collection of videos reflects poorly on yourself and the university. I might also say on US culture as a whole, but that is somewhat beyond your control, and if bb guns and other weapons are legal in your jurisdiction, it is perhaps unfair to expect students to not involve them in their experiments.

You should note that this message has been copied to other parties I think should take note of my concern: the head of Mechanical Engineering, The Engineering College Dean, and the Women and Minorities in Engineering Coordinator – too many of the clips are perfect examples of boys being boys, and (I expect) dissuade women taking an interest in the field. I studied electrical engineering myself at university around 10 years ago, and of course noticed the distinct lack of numbers of women in the course. I did also notice, though, that they were intelligent, capable, hard-working and dedicated students. I think the field could do with more women, hopefully resulting in developments more socially responsible than blowing things up, beatings and killing people.

[name witheld]
Sydney, Australia

I’m quite interested in checking out the camera I mentioned, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1. It isn’t due for release until this month, so it might be a while before it appears in Australia. The main attraction: 60fps continuous shooting (at HD video resolution), and up to 1200fps second video!.. at a dodgy resolution, but even so – wow! 512 × 384 (300 fps), 432 × 192 (600 fps), 336 × 96 (1200 fps). Check out some of the sample high-speed video clips.

-G.