12 February 2007

Seamless Technoculture

I found Everyware's discussion of fears over ubiquitous computing security and the implementation within our culture and intriguing subject to be addressed in our emergent Technoculture. I do not fear the future that ubiquitous computing holds for our society. The argument over privacy of information and personal inquiry will be addressed accordingly by social pressures. Once privacy issues over ubiquitous computing are checked for invasive qualities I feel our daily lives will greatly benefit this emergent technology. But then the question of compatibility and implementation become the main obstacle for widespread cultural benefit.

The ability to become a "subject" rather than a user will reconfigure our technoculture of the past. While I do somewhat question how the security of privacy in this system will be checked/addressed, I find situating the service and implementation of the system throughout our culture and culture's we encounter on a daily basis more of a problematic future. How do we address the older generational cultures into using the system. Will their be greater confusion than in a world were their is visual connectedness that can be linked to a certain occurrence. Will availability of such technologies allow for less work and seamless efficiency in society or will it be more work for implementation and universal compatibility.

How will we deal with the adjustment of society into understanding, using, and avoiding ubiquitous computing life will determine the connectedness of social generations and overall greater social compatibility.

2 comments:

Ross H said...

It seems as if the integration of technology into everyday life, from the desktop to the landscapes we see as we walk around campus, will eventually be more customizable to our personal likes and dislikes. Minority report is the ONLY thing that I can think of the more we talk about "Everyware". Not the part about the seeing into the future or people killing people, but just the way that the environment interacts with Tom Cruise. One of the most interesting things to me was when he got his eyes switched with Mr. Yakamoto (or whatever his name is), and then Mr. Cruise walks into the GAP. They instantly scan his eyes and lead him to his preferences. Do you think that we could change the landscape around us like we change the wallpaper on our computer? While virtual reality to that extent is hard to imagine for people of our generation, I do not think that will be far fetched at all for our children. Think about how much more "technologically" advanced we as college students are compared to our parents. The growth of technology is an exponential function, since the more we have the easier it is to discover new things. The sky is the limit.

Jeremy M. said...

"But then the question of compatibility and implementation" Dude, this hit me like a ton of bricks. So, everyware, ubiquitious computing, perpetual interface, whatever, its all cool. Its all changing the way we communicate, do business etc. etc. What about the cultural aspect? How will everyware span the cultural gap between nations? People in Asia might have different ways of interfacing with "their everyware"; is that PC "their everyware"? This is a general, and probably weaak example, but its still a valid question. I liken it to traveling to a different country and getting lost and having no idea how to read the street signs. I feel I'm missing an important point, like I don't get something very basic that'll answer these questions. Maybe there will be a seamless or near seamless everyware everwhere, probably not seamless, but always improving and smoothing out the ride. If anyone could offer their opinion on the whole interface between nations, I'd appreciate.