12 February 2007

Would we even notice the revolution?

After reading of Everyware and its all-encompassing reach through daily life, the question is raised of whether the average person is even capable of truly "noticing" Everyware, much less appreciating its work. After decades of being the user, a strictly defined administrator figure to every computing need, people may not be able to accept the passive endeavor that Everyware is capable of. Even in this day, after efforts from media and organizations like Austin Free-net, most people regardless of education level or status are able to develop a decent grasp of computing. However, the less technologically inclined are only able to accomplish such through a basic point and click interface. The concept of Everyware is such that, even those with high knowledge of computing and realize its potential, would not entirely maintain an active awareness of what is transpiring. Most times, we would prefer for a system to run unbeknownst to us in the background, but for something this is capable of invading privacy and influencing free thought; a general type of indicator may be preferred.
Until there is a way around the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, Everyware as a whole may not be able to fully reach it's potential. A person's right to privacy is the underlying legal factor limiting an omnipresent system from fully functioning. For every moment when the concept of Everyware would be beneficial, detractors would be quick to point out how easily it can be abused.

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