Obama inauguration: Be there without being there

The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States is arguably one of the biggest -- and certainly most-anticipated -- events in the country's history. It's also one that very few people will be able to attend in person. For those who get to be there, Washington, D.C., will be a madhouse, and the experience will be fraught with hassles (like finding a restroom). Fortunately, the media coverage will be massive and multifaceted, so experiencing the event from afar may not be so bad. I'll suggest some media resources new and old to give you a taste of what it's like to be there.

You still can't beat good old TV for pure visual quality. While many of my suggestions below involve a computer and the Internet, it's a good idea to have a TV on in the background if you can. Turn the sound off, and keep the remote handy. (I'll say a little more about the TV coverage below.)

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For reference, take a look at the entire Inauguration Program, including Tuesday's schedule of events.

CNN and Facebook partnership
Some of the best tools I've found for following political events are the ones that mix video and social-networking features.

The one that I'll start with on inauguration day is a Web 2.0 service created by CNN and Facebook. At the site, you can watch the CNN video feeds and use Facebook to comment on the goings-on and comment on your friends' comments. You can also link to various sources of media coverage, or post images. All of this will happen at CNN.com Live. The CNN/Facebook coverage begins at 8 a.m. EST, with the swearing-in ceremony at 12 p.m. EST, followed immediately by Obama's inauguration speech.

Though broadcasters can air only one video feed at a time on a single TV channel, they will likely have four or five separate crews on the ground in D.C. creating multiple other feeds. Often at sites such as CNN's, you can choose which feed you want to watch at a given time, and switch around. Advantage: Web video.

NBC (through MSNBC), CBS, Fox, and the New York Times also will be providing live video streaming of the inauguration.

Watch it on the big screen

MSNBC and a chain of movie theaters (Screenvision) have arranged for MSNBC's live coverage of the event to be shown on the big screen in select major cities (27 of them in 21 major markets). To find out if your city is among the group, visit MSNBC Events. If you plan on attending, you will need to RSVP at the site. The show will run from 11:30 a.m. EST to 3:30 p.m. EST.

The most "accessible" inauguration ever

Obama's inaugural committee has pledged to make his January 20 inauguration the most "accessible" in U.S. history, but does that apply to those folks who can't (or choose not to) be there, too?