In Thesis 40-42, Greenfield continues to give us a glimpse of how technology will be incorporated into our ambient surroundings. In Thesis 40, we get a look how some biotechnology would allow a typical person to monitor their diet and exercise. Technology would be embedded in our refrigerator, microwave, and even inside ourselves. This would allow the mainstream public to become healthier in general and reduce the increasing obesity problem. The technology would serve as a purpose to control our eating behaviors into one that is most beneficial to us.
Other points that Greenfield makes is that in order for technologies like these to prosper, they must first be affordable and widely used/accepted. Without these attributes, the technology would end up failing due to a lack of support. Remember, technology is made by companies, and it is their job to suck in as much revenue as possible.
In Thesis 42, I was interested in the RIFD tags that would be implemented in us. Cars would also carry the tags and would help identify the people in a crash or possible identity seekers for cops. Although all this might sound as though it is creating a Utopian society, Greenfield clearly points out how this can lead to discrimination. The tags would not just reveal our names, but also our sex, ethnicity, and other personal information. If such RIFD reading technology was implemented into architecture, conflicts may occur. People could get racially discriminated against and not allowed to enter the certain building/room because either the RIFD reader has a bug in the system, or the creator has a personal bias against certain people. In any regards, we must be careful with such advancements in how we use it.
2 comments:
If not lawfully addressed the everyware system could lead to exploitation of our personal information for business profitability as well as discrimination. Discrimination of race, price or whatever form it takes will be extremely harmful to society so the issue needs to be addressed before the system is implemented. The ability for the government to have our information is one thing but for everyone to have complete access at all time including any business we step foot in seeems to be a scary situation that can lead to extremely ill use of our information. This is a definite social fear that needs to be addressed by the everyware system immediately.
"Ambient surroundings" Just the idea that I've wondered about. I think that these integrations will be seamless and therefore unrecognized. Ronco has an old "set it and forget it" attitude with products but I don't even think we'll have to set it. Just like Minority Report, you enter a room and the computer adjusts the light, tempurature and possibly music setting at the moment of recognition. I personally wouldn't mind if the A.I. was smart enough to get everything right the first time.
RFID tags pose a greater threat than hassle. While identification is a necessity in some situations, I don't necessarily want to be identitfied just for buying some milk (though if I pay with a debit card, my cover's blown). My hopes are that RFID will be strictly regulated without interference from laws like the Patriot Act to ensure our privacy in the least.
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