Star of ‘geek porn’ strips away mystique of high-tech gear
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 | 4:31 PM ET
CBC News
Jason Dunn unpacks, handles and reviews new gadgets in low-production online videos.
(CBC)A Calgary man who opens up boxes of the latest high-tech gear online admits some might find his videos "vaguely sensual," but that's not why he is part of the new internet phenomenon known as unboxing.
Jason Dunn unpacks, handles and reviews new gadgets in low-production online videos.
The practice was dubbed "geek porn" by the head of an unboxing website recently interviewed by the British newspaper the Independent.
"There is something, maybe, vaguely sensual to some people," Dunn said in an interview with CBC News. "I don't get turned on by gadgets. I get excited by them because they are really cool."
Since 2007, Dunn has been posting his videos on sites like YouTube. He isn't alone. Search "unboxing" on YouTube and more than 62,000 videos pop up.
So popular are Dunn's videos that companies like Hewlett-Packard are sending their pre-released products straight to his home. But he rarely gets to keep any of the gear.
He makes money by promoting his website, which carries advertising, in the videos.
But with popularity always comes feedback, said Dunn.
"I've had people insult me, tell me I'm complaining too much if I'm talking about something I don't like about the product," he said.
The videos are just a chance to get his hands all over brand new technology, he said.
"It's always neat to see technology really have an impact if something new comes out that I think is going to be really cool. I'm always eager to tell people about it."
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