Entries in the Category "ipodworld"
The potential of the Internet for Nonprofit Organizations
This is the begninning of a paper I am writing for my Nonprofit class...this is just a draft and it is not even finished, yet I thought the ideas were interesting...
Envisioning technology through film
Continue reading "Envisioning technology through film"
Laptop Experiment
A few years ago, my cousin told me that in her middle school they tried a pilot program where everyone in her grade were given laptops for the schoolyear so they could integrate their learning techniques with the goals of the courses. She told me that this program wasn't very successful, maily because it was disorganized the the teachers had a lack of control over the usage of the laptops.
It is surprising that they would try a pilot program such as this on such a young age group, middleschoolers, as opposed to trying it out with high school seniors or in college classrooms. On the other hand, starting at such a young age may help those children get used to the technological pace of society today. I have not heard of any other programs similar to this since then.
I do not believe that programs like this are very realistic, at least for the next few decades. Although wealthier school systems may be able to supply their students with laptops on lend, the majority of schools are already lacking funds to buy necessities such as books and teachers, let alone laptops. In addition, if laptops are to be used in the classroom, teaching programs and student learning aids on the computer must be very structured in order to keep the student on task. There must be accredited standards that go along with the laptop programs if introduced in a school system.
In the future, when the cost of laptops decrease, these laptop programs may prove efficient. Students may eventually be able to learn at home from their laptops (using chat rooms with fellow students and teacher) to create a more centralized learning environment. Student centered learning would still be possible, yet will take on a different form because students will be interacting more online than in person. What do people think about this...having laptops to aid in the learning process?
Social Networking and Social Groups
Monday evenings at 10pm, my friend Amanda and I go to the gym located in the new apartments so we can work out while watching MTV's Laguna Beach. It is interesting that during this time, about 5 or 6 other girls have the same idea. Although we do not know eachother outside of the gym, we have come to know eachother through our weekly Laguna Beach evenings and have become a social network with the commonality of liking the same TV show.
Social networking is the first step to creating and maintaining social groups. Whether you are at school, at work, at a movie, at a party, or at the gym, you are forming conscience and unconscience social groups. These social groups may be strong or weak; usually school and work groups being stronger than groups formed at the movies, at parties, or at the gym. The more frequently you visit and interact at these places, the stronger social bonds tend to be. Without networks, it would be very hard to have social relationships, or any kind of relationships at all. Imagine going to work everyday, not talking to a single person throughout the day, and going home silently to your house. You would have no network and no social life at work.
University Hospitals to go Digital
Currently I work at UH in the Pulmonary Office. I was told the other day from one of my coworkers that UH is in the process of transferring their entire system to computers...this means any new patients will have an "e-file" rather than the traditional manilla folders. Now, my job is to transpose the doctors shorthand to something more formal, so I have no idea how this is going to impact my job.
If technology eliminates the need for pens and pencils completely, many jobs are to be lost. There will be no "middle-man" job, instead information will be directly sent to computers automatically by the source. How do you think this will effect the economy? With an increase in more technical jobs and more education necessary, with the digital divide create yet another, deeper separation within the labor force?
Ladder of Degrees of Separation
Myself. 0 degrees of separation.
Micheal Phelps (olympic swimmer, butterfly), attended same high school as I did and used to be my friend, 1 degree of separation.
Tom Selleck (actor), my mom's first cousin. 2 degrees of separation.
Nicole Miller (designer), my sister's roomates cousin. 3 degrees of separation.
It is strange how after the 1st degree of separation there is little to no communication between myself and that particular person. Even though we are all "linked," we really do not know as many people as we think we do. So maybe this world isn't as small after all...
Got Tattoo?
Yes, there are obvious networks existing everywhere...business ties, social events, family reunions. But what are some less obvious examples of networks?
Tattoos present an individual with the opportunity to express himself through body art. Similar tattoos can convey similar values and beliefs, forming an underlying network of commonality. My sister Katrin has a total of four tattoos, varying in size and color. On her ankle she has an artistic stick figure about 4 inches high, on her arm she has an aboriginal design depicting a skeleton of a dragonfly in black and red hues, on her other arm she has a matisse painting of the human figure, and finally she has a tribal symbol on her forearm. No, she's not a member of a motorcycle gang, but she believes that her tattoos are beautiful works of art and she is proud of them. Often when we go out together, people will stop and ask her what her various tattoos mean. She is always happy to take her time and explain each one. This is a strange metaphor, but it is almost like when senior citizens stop one another and ask about photos of one anothers grandchildren.
Historically, tattoos have been used both negatively and positively to identify similar groups of people. Cults used tattoos to brand their members and to initiate them into their family. Minority groups were often tattooed to further divide them from the community in which they were immersed and discriminated within. These examples both support the idea that groups, who held the same beliefs whether religious or spiritual, were physically identified with tattoos, creating an isolated network of individuals.
Extending this idea to the animal kingdom and research, animals are often tattooed or "tagged" to create a network in which research can take place. Here, each individual can be linked to another animal and a conceptual map of individual interactions can be observed and recorded.
So what is the point of all this tagging and linking? To observe the patterns of interaction? Maybe. But it is my belief that humans are trying to understand the concepts of tagging and linking to create networks because they are fascinated with the idea of simplifying the world around them. By mapping out seemingly random encounters and decisions, humans believe they can unravel the world down to networks until they understand the very fabric of existence, or something very close.
Already, we have computer chips in pets so we can play lost and found when a pet goes astray. We hear of scientists and researchers presenting the idea of placing small computer chips in newborn babies for identification and tracking purposes in the future. Now I am not sure exactly how the data would be compiled and tracked, yet I have a mental image of a large computer displaying a map with small blinking dots, each representing a human being. People would be standing around this giant screen pointing to certain clusters wondering why and how this or that particular network formed. Since when did technology reduce us from being "numbers" to simply just "dots?" I am very interested in further educating myself concerning networks and how they affect society today and in the future.
The Internet...is it really the freedom we've been looking for?
Lately i've been wondering if the Internet has indeed brought upon our society more freedom...
On a personal level, I feel that the Internet has given me many more opportunities to communicate with others, to educate myself, and to entertain myself than the experience of the "real world" alone could have provided me. Without the internet, information about other countries, cultures, etc. would be very inconvient to become familiar with being limited to books, television, and other people. Communicating with people in other countries and cultures would be even more difficult; limitations exist such as cost (phone bills, postage fees) and delayed time in the real world that do not exist in the virtual world...a snailmail letter would not be recieved until days later whereas an email would be electronically sent immediately, not to mention at no cost whatsoever. In addition, entertainment is mostly free via the internet (movies, music videos, music files, online books and magazines, computer games) whereas many of these would have some sort of direct or indirect costs in real life.
Upon reading The Internet Galaxy, it caused me to reflect on whether these freedoms are actually freedoms, being combined with the surviellence techniques prevelent throughout the internet and being under the watchful eye of the government. I guess the main question that comes to my mind is this: Are we willing to be given all of these new and convienent opportunities and experiences at the cost of our privacy?? Yes, we do have the freedom to surf the net, exploring whatever kind of webpages we care to, but we are also being monitored. Monitored by companies and the government alike, for reasons both "legitimate" (to form habits of customers to better serve them) and "illegitimate" (identity theft, etc). Where is the line drawn between legitimate purposes and illegitimate purposes? Where will the government stop? Where will the public draw the line?
I believe in order to address and solve these problems of privacy, both the government and the public need to agree on what and what is not appropriote. I do not find the idea of being watched attractive at any level or by any means. Yet the Internet will not exist totally unsupervised, especially by the government. Terrorism and other black market dealings could use the internet to aid in their missions. While I do not like the idea of surviellence, I must admit that a certain degree is "healthy," yet there needs to be a definate change in the way companies and the goverment address the issues of public privacy that satisfies everyone.
Halloween @ OU
This weekend I went on a roadtrip to OU with 11 of my friends for their famous Halloween Street Party. This entry is not about the crazy partying that took place that night however, it is about communication and technology.
We all crammed into 3 cars and drove down Friday afternoon, with the third car an hour behind. About 7 miles from OU, the last car got pulled over for going 15 miles over the speed limit. Oops. The police reported that their airplane had caught them speeding and that they had contacted the ground police to come pick them up. On Saturday night, one of my friends got taken aside by a group of police while walking on Court St. The police asked to see my friends ID and asked for his social security number. He radio transmitted this information to the base to get further information about him.
Modern technology is being used to make law enforcement more effective. Without the quick use of technology communications as demonstrated this weekend at OU, the police may not have been able to catch my heavy-footed friend on the highway and the police may not have been able to correctly authorize the identify my friend on Court Street. Will technology get to the point where no crime, no matter how small or large, goes undetected by authorities?
Fall Break @ my grandparent's house...
My grandparents live in a beautiful lakefront home in Oakland County and I always enjoy going there. Yet, as it goes with many grandparents these days, they are very technologically behind in the times. No dishwasher...no clothes dryer. My mom and I have constantly tried to adapt them to the technologically turbulant world by getting them a cell phone and a DVD/video, but the cell phone lays unused and my grandparents still rent and buy VHS tapes, even after we tell them they can now get DVD's. For the lake, we suggested updating my grandparents dock and seawall from their old-fashioned wood to those steel and plastic docks, yet they didn't seem to like the idea.
I find it is frustrating watching my grandmother take a half hour out of her day to hang clothing on a clothing line with clothes pins because I know having a dryer would free up a great deal of time. And it's almost like watching some mid twentieth century movie watching my grandfather make mashed potatos with the old-fashion handheld beater set. There is something quite remarkable and nostolgic about the lack of technology and tradition subsisting within the walls of my grandparents house, yet I can't help wondering what it would be like if my grandparents were technologically savvy...
Would it be like an 80+ version of Futurama? Would my grandparents live in neon spacesuits and make friends with a talking robot? Okay, okay, this is quite ridiculous, but it is hard imagining a life where my grandparents would be explaining new technology to me, instead of the other way around.
I think this trend has been around for a very long time, and will continue to effect the elderly population in the future. In the past, this trend was not as defined because technology was growing at a slower pace so that the generation gaps in technology was not that far apart. With the exponential growth pace experienced today, the generation gaps are huge and effectually "leave out" the elderly population from new technology. Society has tried to address these problems through senior classes that deal with computing and technology and provide a low-pressure environment for them to learn at their own pace along with their peers. Although many seniors still live without the convience of new technology (whether on purpose or not) even with these classes available, I believe that in the future the government and nonprofits will make continual efforts to increase computing/technological knowledge among the elderly populations in order to make an efficient and less stratified society.
Anyone from NYC?
I'm flying to NYC with Alex for New Years Eve weekend this year and I was wondering if anyone knew anything of interest to do. We're staying in my sister's apartment since she will be away, and I think we're going to go to TAO restaurant in Manhattan for dinner on New Years Eve. We're staying a whole weekend though, and therefore want to have the option to go to different events. I like a more socialWe like the lounging kind of atmosphere...any suggestions?
I guess I need to relate this to technology somehow...hm. Y2K...Y2006? Just kidding, but seriously, there was so much anticipation for the Y2K and how it could potentially cause technological disaster. Forgive my ignorance, but to this day I still do not fully understand what that scare was about. Why was it such a big technological deal to go from 1999 to 2000?
Read This...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/10/17/wireless.overview/index.html
This article is about taking technology with you, literally. In all aspects of life, technology causes the divides between business, leisure, and social times of life to blur.
I think it is important for these divisions to remain somewhat seperate; technology shouldn't completely incorporate vacations with business because the purpose would be lost. Family and work are two of the most common important aspects in the corporate world, and combining these could lead to conflicts within the family and within the work setting. While technology could make things more "efficient" so to speak, it is not what makes sense in reality.
NYC Starbucks
I love Starbucks more than a fat kid loves chocolate cake. The whole experience of getting a beverage there just seems so chic and urban. While taking a trip to New York, however, the experience was even more posh. My sister and I went to the Starbucks on Wall Street and it was a very different experience than what we had normally encountered. Instead of using a black marker to record what kind of drink you want and if you want any "extras" (whipped cream, chocolate, etc) on your cup, they type in your order on a computer a print out a label telling the drink makers exactly what you want. This takes about 10 seconds and it reduces the error when making drinks. Especially when the cafe is busy, the person taking your order tends to scribble down your order on a cup, and then the drink maker cannot read it and has to ask what a certain scribble means. This slows down the process and can get quite annoying when you are late for something and need a fast caffiene fix. Behind the counter, the Starbucks on Wall Street was quieter for this reason.
Technology may speed up a process and increase productivity, yet human interaction may also decrease. With this example from Starbucks, it is clear that technology has many benefits and drawbacks. Many critics of ubiquitous technology claim that technology will eventually create an atmosphere of social isolation. In a way, I agree with this. Take a more familiar example...decades ago, where were the children when they were not at school? Probably playing outside with their peers: indian games, hide-and-go-seek, tag, etc. Even on rainy days, kids usually found something to do. Today, where do you find the children? Inside, playing video games, talking on AIM, and more often than not, alone.
30 gig iPod!
http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html
This has 150 hours of video space...seems pretty cool. But who really needs 15,000 songs except for dj's?
Techonological Control
While ubiquitous computing focuses on building technology into the infrastructure of society and engaging the individual, most technology today is an out-of-body experience, literally. What I mean by this is that there is very little technology involving actually tinkering with the human body. There are smart tags for dogs, tattoos that can be imprinted on pets skins for identification purposes, and small chips that can be placed under an animals skin, yet nothing has been made for human use. Some ideas concerning this concept may have been suggested, but none have been carried out, as far as I know. I believe this is because humans want to be in control of everything...their environment, their lives, and the idea that there is something artificial that could go wrong inside their bodies generally scares them.
In Digital Ground, McCullough makes a comment that technology is very unnatural within itself, while "ground," the infrastructure of society minus technology, is what is natural. I am not sure what this juxtaposition of ironic ideas emphasizes, but I believe this idea parallels the conflict within human beings of control versus result. People want to be able to be in control of everything, yet they are not willing to give up control of themselves even if it means a more desirable result. People do not want to feel that part of them has become "unnatural" because they like to believe that they are part of the societal infrastructure, the "ground," that existed before technology emerged. Society wants to believe that they are in control of technology.
Recall movies based on the idea that technology becomes "smarter" than we can handle and robots, computers, etc take over the world. This innate fear that humans could eventually advance technology so far and actually lose control of it is even in the media. My question...does anyone think that technology will ever, in fact, take over the world as we know it? Personally, I think this idea is rather ridiculous. I think that humans will sooner destroy eachother THROUGH technology rather than technology totally demolishing humans.
Another thought: actually, this is pretty random, but, it seems like every movie that deals with advanced technology also includes some ridiculous alien invasion or pods hatching under our very feet in the sewers. Why is it that people seem to associate foreign life with technology? Is it because both future technology and the idea of alternate forms of life both are fascinating to us? Is it because both topics delve into the unknown? Does it relate to fear?
In the end of these movies, it seems like the aliens are always defeated and humans again regain control. Maybe our fears will eventually be realized, faced, and overcome, and we will be one step closer to attaining something more....but what?
Diseased Phone.
I believe the most common emotion linked to technology is Frustration. At least for me, after the initial period in which I am happily amazed by the innovative ways in which technology has "simplified" my life, there is a pretty big bet that I will eventually become frustrated with it's services. I don't know whether it is just a lack of patience or what...
I opened my phone this past weekend to discover a small orange spot on the lower left hand quadrant of my screen. No matter what I did, it would not go away. I must have turned it off and on repeatedly for at least five minutes before I decided that it would "probably go away on its own." Does this thought sound familiar to anyone?
Well...it did NOT go away. In fact, it kept growing in size and color intensity. It is now a bright NEON orange spot and it now about a centimeter in diameter. It appears to be slowly taking over my cell phone screen...the color around the spot is now grayish black and is sucking the color out of the surrounding areas of the screen. When will it stop? I don't think it will. My friend Brad told me that it is probably due to something putting pressure on that spot and as a result the electro-things (I don't remember the term he used) got stuck at a certain frequency that corresponded with the color orange. He also told me that the surrounding electro-things will also be effected eventually as well.
It is so frustrating when I am getting a call and cannot even see who the caller is because of this planetary orange mass. Even when I receive text messages I cannot even read the last two lines. If it stayed at this size, I might be able to live with it. But it is like a disease and it keeps spreading in size and color. I think i'll eventually have to get a new phone, but I plan on putting that off until the last possible opportunity, just in case the spot decides to "go away on its own..."
Has anyone else denied to themselves that a certain technology has a problem? For me, technology is supposed to improve efficiency and reduce the time it takes for something to be completed. It is supposed to create fewer problems for users and help people interact. It is not supposed to create extra problems and lost time. Maybe I am just technology impaired...I don't try hard enough to completely understand the machine...I don't have enough patience to read manual after manual...I don't have enough experience...I have dissimilar cultural interests with the machine...
Ubiquitous technology will have to take into account weaknesses like mine (for I am sure I am not the only one who fulfills these characteristics) in order for pervasive computing to exist successfully. I believe that once this problem is overcome, ubiquitous computing will be very close to becoming a reality.
Black iPod Nano!
Well, I got it. A black mini iPod that is so tiny and small, color screen, Photo, 4 Gigs. :) Its interesting that the more I have access to new technology the less I seem to physically interact with people on an everyday basis. AIM brought about online conversations, mobile phones encourage talking over distances rather than in person, and now when I walk to class I tend to listen to music rather than seek out someone to walk with and talk to. As of now, I'm not sure if it is a good or bad thing. Is the fate of ubiquitous computing the same? Less personal and more encouraged introvertedness? Ideas, anyone?
In Digital Ground, the virtual world of cyberspace and the actual world of reality was compared, specifically dealing with "space" and "place." Space was associated with computing and cyberspace because a person simply visits these webpage "destinations" rather than physically going and occupying a place, which is associated with reality. In the consumer world, this concept could be very important when dealing with online vs. reality buying from the producer's point of view.
When a consumer is in cyberspace, it is a very different experience than actually being in a store, the actual place. With the consumer being in such a subjective environment, the producer has to take into account the perspectives of a wide range of consumers and try to guess what their different interpretations will lead to in buying patterns and so forth. In the objective reality, it is somewhat easier for the producer of a product to control the environment so that the judgments of the consumer will be controlled toward a positive light. Take for instance, Gap INC. A person can physically drive to the mall, walk into GAP and they will be greeted by a GAP employee who will most likely ask if they need help looking for something. That person can say yes or no, and move on accordingly. Throughout the store, the person has the option to touch, feel, try on, compare similar products, compare prices, and either buy or move on to a different store. The person has many choices and are physically involved in the place they occupy, GAP. If this same person was to stay home and shop online at www.gap.com, the whole shopping experience would be different. They would go to the web page and would still be able to make choices regarding what section they want to browse and what price range, but selections would be limited and the personal interaction of the greeter in the store would, of course, not be there. The person would not be able to try any products on and would not be able to make choices based upon fabric texture, accurate color (we all know very well that a blue colored hue viewed online could end up being purple in real life), and would not be able to get any advice from a salesperson. Instead, the person relies on pictures, size charts, and color swatches, all of which could be mistaken on the part of the consumer. Online buying is a space only, not involving embodiment on the part of the consumer.
Usually I go shopping with family or friends, it is a type of social outing for me. It is fun to go into stores and try things on with my girlfriends, and it is very important for me to get their opinion of a product before I buy it. I feel much more confident buying something if I know that my friends, whose opinions I value a lot, support my decision to buy. Online, I feel that that aspect is lost. I am not able to consult my friends on whether a particular skirt flatters me or whether or not I look good in limegreen. The best I can do is send them a link to the site, and this is still not as affective as if they were with me, also being engaged in the activity. A big part of shopping is the social aspect, and I think that if producers are looking to further their sales online, they need to think of how they can incorporate the ideas of buying and social opinion.
Henry Louis Gates Lecture
Severance Hall provided me with yet another beneficial experience last Thursday. This time it was not music that moved me, but a lecture by Henry Louis Gates concerning his efforts to write, edit, and publish the Encylopedia Africana, the dream of W.E.B. DuBois. It was remarkable to me that even though Gates and DuBois lived in two very different times, both faced similar challenges such as funding and skepticism from media and the public. Even with the aid of advance technology, it was no walk in the park for Gates to realize his goal. Technology cannot solve everything, it cannot change individuals values or beliefs; in this case it did not make potential donators to the project believe that the Encylopedia African would be successful.
The Gates Lecture allowed me to see the limitations to technology in addition to giving me insight concerning the struggles minorities have to face to give recognition to their race.
Hoping for an ipod...
Let me begin by saying that my family is at least six years behind the times. We JUST bought our first DVD player a month ago (my mom was against this idea, but was finally won over after a trip to blockbuster resulting in the realization that our rental choice was either a DVD or a...DVD). After about an hour of trying to figure out how to set it up and connect it to our television (we are That Family who thinks we can do anything without the manual) we were finally able to watch The Simpson's season 5 without having to rewind, fast-forward, or otherwise interrupt the episodes.
We have a computer in our house, but it has been broken for the past two years. It seems that when I left college my mom didn't even bother to repair the computer, probably because she didn't have any idea as to how they work and could not begin to tell the tech specialists what was wrong. So it seems my family, or at least my mom, is pretty much technologically impaired.
I got a call yesterday from my mom asking for "clues" as to what I'd like for my birthday next Wednesday, Sept. 28th. It turned into a game in which she would name categories such as "travel," "money," or "tickets," and I would have to lightly hint back whether I was interested in receiving such a birthday gift. The last category she named was "technological devices." This caused some uncomfort as I recalled how out-of-the-loop our family tended to be. She might end up sending me a cassette tape of Chicago, or a VHS video of The Notebook. Well, I don't even have a way to play either of those. So I carefully mentioned the new nano apple ipod commercial I saw on television. She of course hadn't seen it so I explained in great detail how small it was and exactly where to find it. Thankfully, my older sister (who is very knowledgeable concerning technology) will be visiting this weekend and hopefully they will conspire together and she will be able to guide my mom in the right direction. So...I am wondering whether in a week I will be the new owner of a nano ipod? A regular ipod? Or a VHS tape?
Leonardo's Laptop, Chpt 1-5
One of the preeminent ideas conveyed in Leonardo's Laptop is the theory that ubiquitous computing will unite the world. "An important step toward the new computing is to promote the compelling goal of universal access to information and communication services. (pg. 36)" Universal usage is defined as 90% of households being competent users of and owners of computers, and presently about 51% of households in the U.S. own computers and are relatively knowledgeable concerning their use.
Currently, computing is concentrated in countries that have rather strong and stable economies; such as the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, etc. While these countries are flourishing in innovation and technology, the majority of the world remains far behind. In third world countries, for instance, computers are scarce because of the lack of funds and resources that are required to produce or import them. With most individuals living below poverty level, being able to own let alone be knowledgeable about computers isn't a reality. Before ubiquitous computing can exist, there needs to be less economical distribution gaps throughout the world, since this creates a social and technological divide.
The notion that ubiquitous computing will be available everywhere and to everyone is highly quixotic not only because of the uneven distribution of technology and capital, but also because everyone is so culturally diverse. Just as some groups of people are opposed to another groups ideas and beliefs such as religion and social behaviors, not everyone is going to agree that computing should be available to everyone or even necessary. More traditional cultures such as certain South African and South American tribes might believe computing technology to be evil, preferring the ways of their ancestors. This is going to present problems when it comes to universal acceptance and usage. Those particular cultures who choose not to utilize technology will drift farther apart from the rest of the world and further social barriers will be created. This will create tension between these societies and the rest of the world and could facilitate fear, jealousy, disputes, even war.
Globe-wide ubiquitous computing may improve communication and interaction between cultures, but does not guarantee a positive relationship. With every culture upholding different values, ideas, and attitudes while denouncing others, it will be hard to create programs and internet designs to please everyone. While it is possible to personalize a program to different groups, it would be very hard to account for everyone's values, ideas, and attitudes. Even if this were easily accomplished however, there would still need to be a common language and theme between the various program forms and an intermediary group to ensure that all of the forms assimilate correctly with one another.
Someday ubiquitous computing may reach the far ends of the globe and in between; it is unlikely however for this behavior to continue for a long period of time before cultural disparities create problems. Historically people have always been separate, and the benefits of ubiquitous computing cannot account for long lost grudges and so forth. With the unity of some peoples, there will always be disunion among others.
Today's Movie
The content of today's video demonstrated the technological ambitions of modern society and the idyllic nature of human beings. The ideas presented in the film were indeed captivating in theory, yet seemed unrealistic because of their significant discount of externalities resulting from advanced technologies. Factors such as privacy, personal sacrifices, and system failures were not discussed and hence left me with the feeling that technology will soon be able to solve all communication and personal problems. In all fairness, technology will solve many problems; people will have less limitations regarding communication and networking, communication and travel will be faster, more sources of information will be available "whenever, wherever," yet technology is also destined to have complications.
Individual's privacy will be breeched and the margins between work life, social life, and personal life will be interrupted. In the video, people's vacations were disrupted by friends and coworkers and something as simple as a country drive was suspended from enjoyment because a friend wanted to talk. An individual's personal life and privacy should be able to be controlled by the individual and only that individual.
A smooth transition is essential in order for technology to positively assimilate into society. Specifically, the individual will have to give up certain aspects of the past such as losing personal control over various tasks and having one object perform many tasks instead of having many objects perform the same tasks. The majority, if not everyone, will have to accept the new technologies in order for ubiquitous computing and technologies to exist. Many people, especially those who rely on traditions to guide their decisions and beliefs, will have a difficult time acknowledging the new technology. This resistance will cause further delay in incorporating a high-tech future into societal ways. Other sacrifices that may have to be made include family traditions and conventional senses of accomplishment.
If ubiquitous computing and other similar types of technology indeed capture our reality, what will happen if there is a bug in the system? If everything is, so to speak, "connected," how will we function if everything we know relies on technology to run? The video did not even mention having plans of a backup system. Without a backup system supporting the main characteristics and files, information could be lost forever and cause much confusion. For example, over the summer I had to ship out certified mail including bills and health care documents. The post office was having computer difficulties and they could not process any mail for the time being. All of their labels, destination codes, and pretty much everything else was controlled by their computer system. I was at a great disadvantage because I could not ship out the documents and I was faced with the possibility that I may have to pay late fees. This is just a small-scale example. Imagine if technology was implemented in all aspects of life and effected everyone. It would be chaos.
The ideas contained in the video might someday be realistic, but it ignored the consequences and problems that technology will innately create for society.