This essay has its origin in a project on the globalization of science that rediscovered the
wisdom of past research practices through the technology of the future. The main
argument of this essay is that a convergence of digital video technologies with practices
of social surveillance portends a methodological shift towards a new variety of qualitative
methodology. Digital video is changing the way that students of the social world practice
their craft, offering not just new ways of presenting but new ways of practicing field
research. We introduce concepts of the fluid wall and videoactive context to emphasize
that (1) the camera is an actor in the research process, and (2) both behaviour and
observation occur in both directions--in front of and behind the camera. While these
practices and procedures are novel in some ways, they may also be viewed as old
methods in the context of new instruments for recording as well as a new social
understanding of these instruments. Since new technologies interact with the social
context, the digital video methods we discuss in this essay are likely to become
increasingly important for generations to come. We provide an overview of the use of
digital video in research practice and present an account of the use of digital video
methodology in Chile.