Comcast Interactive Media (CIM) is a division of Comcast focusing on online media. CIM was created in 2005 and is headed by President, Amy Banse, and Executive Vice President, Samuel Schwartz. Comcast Interactive Media products include: Comcast.net (portal), Game Invasion (video games), Fandango (movie ticketing), thePlatform (media management), StreamSage (video search and indexing), and xfinityTV.com (entertainment).

On May 15, 2008 Comcast Interactive Media acquired social-networking site Plaxo for between $150 and $170 million dollars.^{[citation needed]} On August 5, 2008 Comcast Interactive Media acquired newsletter service site DailyCandy for a rumored $125 million dollars.^{[citation needed]}

External links[link]

• Official website
• Joseph Weisenthal (29 May 2008). "Comcast Interactive Media: Profitability on track in '08; more purchases ahead". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052902332.html. 
• Comcast Interactive Media Labs
• Comcast.net
• Game Invasion
• Fandango
• thePlatform
• StreamSage
• Fancast.com
• Plaxo
• DailyCandy

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, etc.

Terminology[link]

Though the word media is plural, the term is often used as a singular noun.

Interactive media is related to the concepts interaction design, new media, interactivity, human computer interaction, cyberculture, digital culture, and includes specific cases such as, for example, interactive television, interactive narrative, interactive advertising, algorithmic art, videogames, social media, ambient intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality.

An essential feature of interactivity is that it is mutual: user and machine each take a more or less active role (see interaction). Most interactive computing systems are for some human purpose and interact with humans in human contexts.^[1] Manovich complains that ‘In relation to computer-based media, the concept of interactivity is a tautology. .... Therefore, to call computer media “interactive” is meaningless – it simply means stating the most basic fact about computers.’.^[2] Nevertheless the term is useful to denote an identifiable body of practices and technologies.

Interactive media are an instance of a computational method influenced by the sciences of cybernetics, autopoeisis and system theories, and challenging notions of reason and cognition, perception and memory, emotions and affection.

Any form of interface between the end user/audience and the medium may be considered interactive. Interactive media is not limited to electronic media or digital media. Board games, pop-up books, gamebooks, flip books and constellation wheels are all examples of printed interactive media. Books with a simple table of contents or index may be considered interactive due to the non-linear control mechanism in the medium, but are usually considered non-interactive since the majority of the user experience is non-interactive sequential reading.^[3]

Academics[link]

Interactive Media Communications is quickly becoming a sought-after university degree.^{[citation needed]} Seen in both undergraduate and masters programs (such as Quinnipiac University's Master of Science in Interactive Media), these programs offer an academic path that is focused on new media theories and practices in a changing digital and media consumption landscape.

See also[link]

• Collective intelligence
• Digital art
• Digital media
• Information theory
• Immersive virtual reality
• Interactive advertising
• Interactive art
• Interactive PR
• Internet think tanks
• International Interactive Communications Society
• Mass collaboration
• Mass media
• Media Psychology
• Media theory
• Multimedia
• New media art
• Social media
• User-generated content
• Video Game
• Artmedia

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bill Buxton: The three mirrors of interaction

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2010)

Kara Swisher
Born	(1962-05-09) May 9, 1962 (age 50)
Occupation	Columnist
Spouse	Megan Smith
Website
http://www.kara.allthingsd.com

Kara Swisher (born May 9, 1962) is an American technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal and an author and commentator on the Internet. She created and wrote Boom Town, a column which appeared on the front page of the Marketplace section and online, and now appears on All Things Digital, which she founded and currently serves as the co-executive editor of with Walt Mossberg.

Career[link]

Swisher wrote many stories about the World Wide Web and Internet policy issues and wrote feature articles on technology for the paper. During that period, she was cited as the most influential reporter covering the Internet by the Industry Standard magazine.^[1] She is the author of aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web, published by Times Business Print Books in July 1998. The sequel, There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future, was published in the fall of 2003 by Crown Business Print Books.

In partnership with her fellow Journal columnist Walt Mossberg, Swisher created, produces and hosts the Journal's annual D: All Things Digital conference, in which top technology leaders, such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs appear on stage with or without prepared remarks, or slides, and are interviewed by the two columnists.

Personal life[link]

Swisher is married to Google executive Megan Smith.^[2]

Bibliography[link]

• aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web, published by Times Business Books in July 1998.
• There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future
• Twelve things the world should toss out: Computer Keyboards published in the Washington Post online, May 7, 2010.

References[link]

External links[link]

• a recording of Kara talking at a Beta Gamma Sigma event in San Francisco
• Kara Swisher on Twitter

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2011)

Brian Roberts
Roberts with the Baltimore Orioles on September 8, 2006.
Baltimore Orioles – No. 1
Second baseman
Born: (1977-10-09) October 9, 1977 (age 34) Durham, North Carolina, United States
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 14, 2001 for the Baltimore Orioles
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Batting average	.281
Home runs	84
Runs batted in	477
Doubles	339
Stolen bases	274
Teams
Baltimore Orioles (2001–present)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (2005, 2007) AL Player of the Month: April 2005

Brian Michael Roberts (born October 9, 1977) is an American Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob.

He made his Major League debut in 2001 and has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Early life, education and college-baseball career[link]

Born in Durham, North Carolina, Roberts lived in Chapel Hill,, North Carolina, as his father was the baseball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). He graduated from Chapel Hill High School.

College-baseball career[link]

During his freshman year in 1997 at UNC, Roberts hit .427, with 102 hits, 24 doubles, 47 SB and was named to the NCBWA Second Team and the Collegiate Baseball Third Team. His sophomore year, he hit .353, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 21 doubles, 63 SB and was named to the NCBWA 1st Team, The Sporting News 2nd Team and the Collegiate Baseball 2nd Team.

His 63 stolen bases were more than any player in college baseball that year. He became the first Tar Heel to be named ACC player of the year, and was a first team All-America.

Mike Roberts, Brian's father and coach at UNC, was fired by athletic director Dick Baddour after the 1998 season. After the firing, Brian opted to transfer to play for coach Ray Tanner at the University of South Carolina. Roberts started at shortstop for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was named the best defensive college player by Baseball America. Playing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), he batted .353, hit 12 home runs, and collected 36 RBI. He still owns the school and SEC record for stolen bases in a season with 67. He again was named an All-America and was a member of the All-SEC team.

Professional baseball career[link]

Minor League baseball career[link]

Roberts was drafted by the Orioles in the first round of the 1999 MLB draft. He played Single A baseball with Delmarva in 1999 where he appeared in 47 games and hit .240.

In 2000 he started with the Gulf Coast League Orioles, hitting .310 in nine games. He also played 48 games with Single A Club Frederick hitting .301.

Roberts also spent time with the Rochester Red Wings and Ottawa Lynx.

Major League Baseball career[link]

Breaking into the Majors (2001–02)[link]

He made his Major League debut in 2001 and played 75 games for Baltimore, batting .253. He also played for AAA Rochester and AA Bowie that year.

In 2002, he played 38 games with the Orioles and batted .227. He stole 22 bases on 26 attempts. He also played 78 games with the Orioles AAA affiliate in Rochester.

2003[link]

In 2003, he started for AAA Ottawa, playing 44 games and hitting .315. In late May he was called up for injured second baseman Jerry Hairston, Jr. He hit his first Major League grand slam in his second game (and his first in any sort of professional play) in the 9th inning against the Anaheim Angels to win that game. He finished with a .270 average in 112 games and stole 23 bases on 29 attempts (tied for eighth in American League).

2004[link]

The Orioles season started spring training in 2004 with both Hairston and Roberts on the roster. Hairston fractured his finger in spring training, however, and Roberts became the opening day starter. After Hairston returned from the disabled list, he was moved to right field, leaving Roberts at second base. In August Roberts batted .347 with ten doubles in 107 at-bats. During the second week of August, Roberts was named the American League Player of the Week for hitting .531 over a span of six games. He finished 2004 with a .273 average, collecting 175 hits in 159 games. He also hit 50 doubles, which led the American League and was third-best in the majors. His 50 doubles also broke the Orioles single-season record for doubles (originally set by Cal Ripken, Jr.) and the single-season AL record for doubles by switch hitters.

2005[link]

Prior to the 2005 season, Hairston was traded to the Chicago Cubs (along with Oriole prospects Mike Fontenot and David Crouthers) for Sammy Sosa, thereby cementing Roberts's position as the Orioles' starting second baseman.

In 2005, Roberts rewarded Orioles management for their faith in him by beginning the season red-hot, leading the AL in batting average for the first several months of the season. In addition, he showed an incredible increase in power; prior to the 2005 season, he had only 12 career home runs, but by late June, he had already outmatched that total. Fans awarded Roberts explosive offensive first half by voting him the starting second baseman in the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was Roberts' first appearance in the All-Star game. As the season wore on Roberts slumped heavily as the Orioles slipped in the standings.

On September 20, 2005, Roberts dislocated his elbow in a game against the New York Yankees. The injury occurred in a collision with New York's Bubba Crosby at first base in the bottom of the second inning. The injury prevented Roberts from playing the rest of the season.

2006[link]

Roberts rebounded from his 2005 injury with a strong 2006 campaign. He played in 138 games scoring 85 runs with 55 RBI. He stole 36 bases in 43 attempts and finished the season with a .286 average, hitting seven home runs in the last two months of the season. He spent the early part of May on the 15-day DL.

2007[link]

Roberts played in over 150 games for the Orioles. Along with teammate Nick Markakis, he finished in the AL top 10 for at-bats, batting .290 with a .377 OBP on the way to his second All-Star berth. His 50 stolen bases, a career high, was tied with Carl Crawford for the AL lead; Roberts also set career marks in hits and walks. He was rumored in trade talks in the offseason to the Chicago Cubs, but nothing occurred.

2008[link]

On June 24, Roberts went 3 for 5 against the Cubs in a 7–5 victory. His third hit of the game was his 1,000th career base hit. He collected the 250th double of his career on July 28 against the New York Yankees. On September 21, 2008, Roberts grounded into the final out in the history of Old Yankee Stadium.

2009[link]

During home game in April 2009 against the Tampa Bay Rays

The Orioles and Roberts agreed to a contract extension on February 20, 2009. The contract secures Roberts through the 2014 season.^[1]

Following an injury to Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Roberts was added to Team USA's roster for the World Baseball Classic. Roberts batted .438 with one home run, two runs batted in and one stolen base in four games as the United States lost in the semifinals to Japan.

On August 4, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, Roberts hit his 300th career double in the first inning off of Jarrod Washburn. On September 15, he broke his own Orioles franchise record by hitting his 52nd double of the season. According to Spencer Fordin, "the two-time All-Star became one of four players all-time – along with Hall of Famers Tris Speaker, Paul Waner, and Stan Musial – to amass three 50-double seasons in his career." ^[2]

On September 29, Roberts hit his 56th double of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays, setting the all-time single season mark for doubles in a season by a switch-hitter. His 56 doubles led the majors in 2009.^[3]

On October 3, Roberts was named "Most Valuable Oriole" for 2009 and awarded an engraved lead trophy for his accomplishments.

2010[link]

Roberts missed much of training camp with a herniated disc in his lower back. He recovered in time for Opening Day, but started the season 2–14 before suffering an abdominal strain stealing second base and being forced onto the 15-day disabled list, effective as of April 10. On July 12, Roberts began to play in rehab games without having a setback, as it is the first time he has been on the field since April 10. On July 23, Roberts returned to the Orioles' lead off spot for the first time since April 9.

2011[link]

Roberts was injured on May 16 at Fenway Park when he slid into first base headfirst and hit the back of his head. He did not return for the remainder of the season.

2012[link]

Due to Roberts' injury, he has not played any games as of May 2012. However, he travels with the team, and is an active member of the Orioles' dugout. On May 22, Buck Showalter announced Roberts' would be starting his rehab stint with the Double A Bowie Baysox and would use all 20 rehab games.

Steroid allegations[link]

On September 30, 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported that during a June 6, 2006, federal raid, former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley named Roberts as a user of anabolic steroids. The Times reported that Roberts was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court.^[4] However, on October 3, 2006, The Washington Post reported that San Francisco United States attorney Kevin Ryan said that the Los Angeles Times report contained "significant inaccuracies."^[5] On December 20, 2007, the actual names in the Grimsley search warrant affidavit were revealed to the public. Roberts, Jay Gibbons, Andy Petitte and Roger Clemens were not actually named in the report and Miguel Tejada was named only for having a conversation about amphetamines.^[6] Roberts, along with the other four players named, denounced the story.^[5] Roberts was subsequently named in George Mitchell's report on performance enhancing drugs. According to page 158 of the Mitchell Report, Roberts lived with then-teammate Larry Bigbie in David Segui's house near the end of the 2001 season. Bigbie and Segui were regular steroid users; while they were using the performance enhancing drugs and Roberts was present, he asserted that he did not participate. According to Bigbie's testimony, Roberts told him in 2004 that he had injected himself with steroids "once or twice" in 2003.^[7]

On December 17, 2007, Roberts released a statement in which he admits to using steroids on a single occasion.

“In 2003, when I took one shot of steroids,” he said. “I immediately realized that this was not what I stood for or anything that I wanted to continue doing. I never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs prior to or since that single incident. “I can honestly say before God, myself, my family and all of my fans, that steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs have never had any effect on what I have worked so hard to accomplish in the game of baseball.”

Roberts further stated that he had no ill-will against former Oriole Larry Bigbie whose testimony to the Mitchell Committee was responsible for his inclusion in the report.^[8]

Personal life[link]

In January 2009, he married his long-time girlfriend Diana Chiafair.^{[citation needed]}

See also[link]

	Baseball portal
	Biography portal

List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups List of Major League Baseball doubles champions List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases

List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions

References[link]

1. ^ [1]. The Sports Network.
2. ^ [2]. MLB.com.
3. ^ Database (undated). "MLB Player Batting Stats – 2009". ESPN. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
4. ^ ^{[dead link]} Pugmire, Lance (October 1, 2006). "Clemens Is Named in Drug Affidavit". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clemens1oct01,0,6499528.story?coll=la-home-headlines. Retrieved October 1, 2006. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "U.S. Attorney Says Report Alleging Drug Use Contains 'Inaccuracies'". The Washington Post: p. E02. October 3, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100201054.html. Retrieved October 4, 2006. 
6. ^ ^{[dead link]} "Grimsley Affidavit Unsealed". The Baltimore Sun. December 20, 2007. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-grimsley1220,0,2757225.story. Retrieved December 20, 2007. 
7. ^ ^{[dead link]} "Roberts, Tejada Named in Mitchell Report". The Baltimore Sun. December 13, 2007. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-mitchellfront1213,0,5678929.story?coll=bal_sports_highschool_util. Retrieved December 13, 2007. 
8. ^ ^{[dead link]} "Roberts Admits He Used Steroids". The Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-te.sp.roberts18dec18,0,163568.story. Retrieved December 18, 2007. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brian Roberts

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• brianroberts1.com (requires Adobe Flash Player), Brian Roberts website^{[clarification needed]}

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Vladimir Guerrero	American League Player of the Month April 2005	Succeeded by Alex Rodriguez
Preceded by Carl Crawford	American League Stolen Base Champion 2007 (with Carl Crawford)	Succeeded by Jacoby Ellsbury
Preceded by Dustin Pedroia	American League Doubles Champion 2009	Succeeded by Adrian Beltre

v t e Baltimore Orioles first-round draft picks 1965: McDonald 1966: Parks 1967: Grich 1968: Kennedy 1969: Hood 1970: West 1971: Stein 1972: Thomas 1973: Parrott 1974: Dauer 1975: Ford 1976: D. Williams 1977: Hazewood 1978: Boyce 1979: No first round pick 1980: J. Williams 1981: No first round pick 1982: Kucharski 1983: Wilson 1984: Hoover 1985: No first round pick 1986: No first round pick 1987: Myers, DuVall, Harnisch 1988: Olson, Gutiérrez 1989: B. McDonald 1990: Mussina 1991: M. Smith 1992: Hammonds 1993: Powell 1994: No first round pick 1995: Shepherd 1996: No first round pick 1997: Werth, D. McDonald, Ndungidi 1998: Elder, Tucker 1999: Paradis, Stahl, Bigbie, Reed, Cenate, Rice, Roberts 2000: Hale, Johnson 2001: C. Smith, Fontenot, Bass 2002: Loewen 2003: Markakis 2004: Townsend 2005: Snyder, Olson 2006: Rowell, Beato 2007: Wieters 2008: Matusz 2009: Hobgood 2010: Machado 2011: Bundy

v t e United States 2009 World Baseball Classic roster 1 Jimmy Rollins 2 Derek Jeter 4 David Wright 6 Brian Roberts 7 Mark DeRosa 10 Chipper Jones 13 Evan Longoria 15 Dustin Pedroia 16 Brian McCann 17 Adam Dunn 18 Ryan Braun 21 Kevin Youkilis 22 Jake Peavy 23 J. J. Putz 26 Chris Iannetta 28 Curtis Granderson 29 Matt Lindstrom 31 Brad Ziegler 33 Ted Lilly 34 John Grabow 37 Matt Thornton 38 Joel Hanrahan 39 J. P. Howell 42 LaTroy Hawkins 44 Roy Oswalt 46 Jeremy Guthrie 50 Shane Victorino 51 Jonathan Broxton 62 Scot Shields 99 Heath Bell Manager 5 Davey Johnson Batting Coach 8 Reggie Smith Pitching Coach 27 Marcel Lachemann Coach 11 Barry Larkin Coach 3 Billy Ripken Coach 20 Mike Schmidt Bullpen Coach 30 Mel Stottlemyre

v t e Baltimore Orioles current roster Active roster 2 J. J. Hardy 3 Ryan Flaherty 6 Steve Tolleson 9 Endy Chávez 10 Adam Jones 11 Robert Andino 12 Mark Reynolds 16 Wei-Yin Chen 17 Brian Matusz 19 Chris Davis 21 Nick Markakis 24 Wilson Betemit 28 Ronny Paulino 32 Matt Wieters 34 Jake Arrieta 36 Nick Johnson 37 Dana Eveland 38 Luis Ayala 39 Jason Hammel 40 Troy Patton 43 Jim Johnson 47 Pedro Strop 50 Miguel Gonzalez 56 Darren O'Day 63 Kevin Gregg Inactive roster 6 Ryan Adams 13 Xavier Avery 29 Tommy Hunter 30 Chris Tillman 49 Jason Berken 51 Joe Mahoney 58 Zach Phillips 61 Oliver Drake 82 Dylan Bundy Disabled list 1 Brian Roberts 14 Nolan Reimold 18 Tsuyoshi Wada 27 Matt Lindstrom 31 Taylor Teagarden 53 Zach Britton 55 Stuart Pomeranz Coaching staff Manager 26 Buck Showalter Bench Coach 77 John Russell First Base Coach 23 Wayne Kirby Third Base Coach 45 DeMarlo Hale Hitting Coach 15 Jim Presley Pitching Coach 41 Rick Adair Bullpen Coach 57 Bill Castro Bullpen Catcher 62 Rudy Árias Bullpen Catcher 67 Ronnie Deck

Persondata
Name	Roberts, Brian
Alternative names	Roberts, Brian Michael
Short description	professional baseball player (second baseman)
Date of birth	October 9, 1977
Place of birth	Durham, North Carolina, United States
Date of death
Place of death