I was very intrigued by reading Rheingold's ideas that technology is "disappearing around us." I found this to be particularly interesting. Technology is all around us, and each year brings something new to the table to connect us in more efficient ways both with others and the world. Because our use of technology can be so mindless (and no, I am not referring to taking away our humanity) we forget we are even using it. We know that we need that new cell phone to keep in touch with our friends, family, and business associates, and we know that we want that new cell phone to store our favorite music and have the latest ringtones. What we don't think about is that when we buy that new technology we are responding and taking part in a whole other world. No one thinks about spectrums or the group forming networks (GFNs) we are creating. We are contributing to something greater than that cell phone or your friends inbox, but because that contribution is so constant throughout each day, we don't think twice about it. Rheingold stated, "The most profound are the technologies that disappear." I couldn't agree more. We are a critical part of the Creative Destruction disucessed in Chapter 6, and we don't even know it.
On the other hand, something that has yet to even enter into the greater population it disappear is the idea of virtual reality. Rheingold and the individuals he interviewed who have dedicated their careers to these new ideas described virtual reality as a way to extend the senses. I knew that VR was something people had many ideas and plans about, what I didn't know is that new technologies are already being made. They can be used (by a tiny group), nonetheless, they are being utilized and perfected to be mass produced one day. The descriptions are amazing. Being able to "point and click" anything means we would truly have the world at our fingertips. Smart Billboards seems like the perfect way for advertisers to truly reach their target audience, and Smart Rooms seems like the ideal creature comfort.
To play devil's advocate, my question would have to be, are we going to far with some technologies just because we can? Are we so carried away with the fact that we really can make any idea a reality that we are creating some technologies just to prove a point? Is the basis for innovation still a need or just a desire to say, "you said it couldn't be done... you were wrong."? Smart Money, putting microchips in money. What exact purpose would it serve to know who previously possessed that dollar bill you just handed to a cashier at the grocery store? It's incredible to see just what we can do, but sometimes I think you have to ask why?
Another example might be, why do we need all of these online recommendation sites and rating systems. When did we become so indecisive? Why do we need Amazon to tell us what book we should read based on our previous selections, and why do we need to develop such extensive rating systems when we never really know who we're talking to or doing business with on the internet to start with?
One important discussion of these rating systems addressed the issue of compulsive contributors. It made me wonder how much time we are actually spending finding the information we need on the internet, and how much time do we spend sorting and filtering that information? It seems to be a double edged sword. I know that I, personally, don't contribute as much to the internet and dont use many of these options because I dont have the energy to sort through all of the worthless information. With so many people on and contributing to the internet, how will one person make a difference? How will one person be heard when hundreds of thousands of blogs, podcasts, etc... are posted everyday?
Subgroups (Reed's Law) would come into play here. After some confusion and little extra research I understand what Reed is saying. I guess I am answering my own question here, but we are heard because of the small networks of individual connections that can be made. A small group of people growing into a larger audience. Slow evolution of who we communicate with, how we communicate with them, and the possible benefits that connection holds for each side of the connection. Still, very few are heard...
I guess my one question for Rheingold would have to be:
What can we do to make sure that we are making progress and not just noise?
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