As decades pass, new technologies penetrate the mainstream and transform the way people communicate with one another. From morse code to the first telephone to e-mail to social media, it seems the biggest trend is that these innovative methods allow people to communicate larger volumes of information at quicker speeds. It's hard for me to hide my enthusiasm for Apple products, and so I'd like to share the next potentially revolutionizing technology, the iWatch.While Apple has not hinted at any such product (Apple loves to remain secretive), substantial rumors are beginning to sprout. If such a device is created, its applications would be limitless. A relatively new watch developed by Pebble can display incoming calls, text messages, e-mails, calendar alerts, and Facebook/Twitter notifications. An iWatch would be able to do all this and more. It could serve as a TV remote, a mobile device locator, a blood pressure monitor, a debit card, a GPS, and so on. Apple's famous voice command personal assistant Siri could be integrated into the product so that consumers could speak and interact directly through the watch. With the ability to store essentially my whole life story in a single pocket-sized computer (i.e. the iPhone), I used to think that innovation was reaching its peak. I guess I was wrong.
Google is also poised to release a prototype of Google Glass, a head-mounted display that would "display information in smartphone-like format hands-free and could interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands" (Wikipedia). The short video to the right is worth watching. Warning: it may change the way you think about human interaction.
All of these technologies are fascinating, but at the same time slightly scary. While phones can be disconnected or placed off to the side, both the iWatch and Google Glass would be physically attached to a body. Sure, these devices can still be removed. But when will the infiltration of personal space stop? The human body has become a rich canvas for devices of all shapes and sizes. As a postmodernist would say, everything is a commodity in the 21st century. Corporate giants are now vying for commercial space on our bodies. The bubble of personal space will continue shrinking as tech moguls breach new territories in order to maintain a competitive edge (thank you, capitalism). Who knows, maybe one day we'll all have microprocessor chips inserted into our brains.
These devices are fascinating! While I think technology is a wonderful and interesting thing, this sickens me. As a traditionalist, and a bit of a minimalist, I like the idea that I could simply enjoy the simplicity of living and being. The idea that I am free from distractions and the outside world is truly pleasing to me. Maybe this is a product of the fact that I am a golfer, probably the world's quietest, more serene sport. I bought an iPhone a couple of years ago, primarily out of peer pressure, but I hardly ever use it for purposes other than making calls. I think technology is completely destroying peoples' ability to interact with one another. Phones, social networking, and other devices have infiltrated society so heavily that it is becoming impossible to have conversions without them being mediated by technology. I am scared of the future of this nation because of technology.
ReplyDeleteDo you actually think that all of these new apple products are necessary? Apple seems to be coming out with new products. However, are they all actually new? Today in Calc, we were discussing the concept of infinity. Apple seems to be coming out with products that just get smaller but hold more capacity. If you saw a recent SNL skit portraying former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, they were making a joke how the next apple product will be able to be imbedded in your ear, and then your body, and finally your blood stream. These "inventions" by Apple are not necessarily new. They are just smaller.
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