Thousands of Americans are gathering in Washington, D.C. this week, either to see President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration or to protest with the Women’s March on Washington. And with the crowds, comes their technology— cell phones, tablets, cameras. Here’s what to expect in D.C. this weekend:
New banned items
There are at least two new banned items at inauguration: selfie sticks and drones.
Selfie sticks have been banned at many large public events — from the Rio Olympics to Pope Francis’s visit to New York City — due to safety concerns. The Trump inauguration and Women’s March join the list of selfie-stick-banning events.
Drones are never allowed in Washington, D.C., but the United States Secret Service wants to make it clear that they’re banned for inauguration weekend. They issued a press release earlier this month, listing fines of up to $1,414 for individuals and up to $32,140 for companies that violate this federal no drone law.
Cell service is a big problem anywhere there are large crowds, like concerts, protests and sporting events.
To prepare for the inauguration and protests in D.C., cell carriers like AT&T and Verizon brought in COWs, an acronym for “cells on wheels.” These temporary mobile infrastructures are designed to boost cell service in crowded areas.
Comcast will also open its 6,800 Wi-Fi hotspots to the public.
Online streaming
Major TV and radio organizations will offer streams of the inauguration. Video will also be available directly from the White House website, Twitter, and Facebook Live. This year viewers can even stream the event in virtual reality and 360-degree video on the USA Today’s YouTube channel.
Virtual reality at the inauguration may be new, but streaming is not. Americans have been able to watch the inauguration online for 20 years. Back in 1997, Bill Clinton’s inaugural speech was the first to be live-streamed.
