The subtle integration of Everyware into our day to day lives is something mind boggling to contemplate. On one hand, it is easy to see how information processing technology keeps getting smaller and faster, but it is also quite difficult to imagine information processing that is not centered around a personal computer. Today, most everything that is considered personal technology ends up getting plugged into a computer for one reason or another, and that is a trend that seems to make a lot of good sense. Why not allow your PC to be the hub for almost all of the technology you use? You get the songs from your Ipod off of Itunes, and upload them and listen all day. The same goes with digital cameras but in a reverse fashion. Doing it any other way does not make sense, especially since you will most likely just be E-mailing your captured images to your relatives anyways.
The way the author talks about a shift away from personal computers to Everyware, but still leaves a place for PC's in the world is good for his theory, because I do not think people will be ready to give up the ease and familiarity of a personal computer for sensing microchips that allow them to do whatever it is that needs to be done. The way they talked about smart houses that would sense and adjust is cool, but I bet many people would be just as supportive if not more supportive of a program on the PC that allowed they to control all of the settings and logistics of the house. Basically, I do not think that Everyware will ever be able to fully replace the PC for day to day tasks.
5 comments:
I agree that computers will not be replaced. I think that they will just be in a different form. If society allows it and they successfully develop a microcomputer of some sort that could be implanted into the body, we're still using the computer to do the same day to day things, it just looks and works a little different. I know that this idea is crazy and most likely not going to become the norm during our lifetime, but ya never know. Computers are here to stay. They just come in all different shapes and sizes to fit our needs. And even if everyware is more prominant, there is still going to be a computer behind it assisting it's coded task along. It's just interesting to see how we have gotten used to the whole idea of a computer. There was a time when we weren't so dependant to these machines....
I agree with you that the PC will remain a prominent figure in the future technologies and way of life to come. Just like you said about the PC allowing you to control the settings and logistics about the house, it is necessary to have that feeling “you” are in charge of your surroundings and well being.
But who knows the PC might become one of those “too much energy is needed” technolgies. It might evolve into that old television set you have to manually change the channel. Just think about it in this way , you have to turn it on and most cases log on, open any software that is needed to manage your day to day activities and maintain it, then you have to worry about viruses or other security issues and that’s how it becomes that “too much energy is needed” technologies and people will turn to to Everyware which will take this process out.
Personally I believe that the personal computers will eventually be our ipods. But also our cell phones and digital cameras with 8.0 megapixels. Email and everything else will be on this one small great machine. It is eventually going to happen its just a matter of time. I cant wait to get my hands on this o so compatible device. I believe it will be the next step to an eventual everyware!!!!
I simply believe that the computer will become the central node in the network of devices, let's say, in your home. It'd be nice if it could control everything and sync while being the device with the largest display. The added benefit is that our cell phones, cameras, mp3 players and PDA will be replaced by merging all these into one (the iPhone). In essence, we already have Everyware at our disposal but how we approach it in the grand scale will come by integration into a unified system or network with all devices.
Its a habitual pattern that technology gets smaller and smaller yet faster and more efficient at the same time. The beauty of this is the prospect of everything becoming halographic integrated into society like Greenfield has been trying to imply all this time. This also supports Manovichs thesis about new media having 5 important characteristics.
Post a Comment