Love in The Time of Web Enabled Mobile Devices
posted by Dean01 | May 4, 2009
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IcerocketHaving just returned home to Boston four days ago, I headed out on the town for a night with old friends. We went from bar to bar (usually not my scene, but tonight I was down for it) ordering a few and just shootin' the breeze; well I was TRYING to shoot the shit. But the shit was getting my friends' hands all shitty, as nearly all of my friends now have T-Mobile Blackberries; and one of them--let's call him "B"--was checking his incessantly, non-stop, throughout the evening. I first noticed this behavior some months back, but thought it to be tolerable. But now it was quite the opposite of tolerable.
As we watched the Celtics-Bulls game, the clickety symphony of Blackberry keyboards sounded after every quarter of the game: "B" and all of my friends were texting or emailing their thoughts on this piece of sports entertainment to other cell phone/web enabled mobile users at a frightening pace.
I myself have the problem of spending too much wasted time on the internet, as I suspect many many people in wealthier, internet-infrastructured nations have. But what Web Enabled Mobile Devices such as Apple's iPhone and T-Mobile's Blackberry are doing is making the internet an extension of one's body. This precedent scares me as it is even being taken a step further. I'm sure many of you have seen this article or related articles on MIT's prototype Internet Projector: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/02/ted-digital-six/
This device uses a tiny necklace projector to project the Web onto any applicable surface its user is facing, breaking the internet out of its own limiting interface and placing it into an interactive physical dimension.
Granted, it looks really really cool. But I think that's the problem; we aren't really checking ourselves and asking, "what are the implications of these new technologies?" Our scientists and engineers are just so excited to push things as far as they can imagine. And I'm just so excited to push dollars as far as they can buy me cool new gadgets.
How will my kids make friends or fall in love if they are carrying around ghostly avatars of people in their pockets?
Is there always a choice in embracing this technology?
internet bodies?
Comments
I am not sure, but I can
— May 04, 2009
I am not sure, but I can insult you in relative safety and really fast. The ego has been served. Thank you. Thank you. I have a voice. Or rather my fingers as an extension of my mind can string together shapes called letters. These letters make words. Yay!
My internet hammer has struck, or was it a slice of a memetic scalpel?
Setting aside my mostly humor infused attitude.
I understand what you are saying, and lament the possible future of cold, plastic, and fiber optic connection, over a warm, heartfelt, and organic one.
What I say to this is: Status rules, my friend I've never met. It's cool to be in the know, ya dig?
As for the projector you mentioned. I can see it now. The annoyance of novelty plastered all over any surface. People making art with it in defiance. Projector light pollution being the headline projected for all to see. And all other sorts of nonsense.
I can say this with all certainty though.As you had hinted at. I would have never had the chance to bounce off of your perception, had it not been for this communication source. Perhaps respect, and accountability fall into play here.
First of all thanks for the
— Nov 26, 2009
First of all thanks for the interesting and informative article. It was really interesting to read about web enabled mobile devices. I have read your entry twice man! Thanks a lot for sharing this informative article and I will be waiting for other great articles from you in the future.
Regards,
Lenny Peterson from mobile application development
