I remember when i would watch the Jetsons and all the Back to the Future movies and picture what the future would be like. I loved thinking about all the robots doing everything for me, the whole meal in a beep, etc. But what I have realized is that we ARE the future, we are living it day a day.
It was only until 1971 under the Nixon Shock that the US Government stopped backing up fiat currency with gold. Can you imagine? and now all we need is a chip that will store all of our shopping history and information. What coupons we ave, what balance we have on gift cards, what stores we shop the most at, etc. Starbucks had the idea and Google made it big. I think it will be only a couple of years until having cash will be a rarity... something that our grand kids will be like.... "Really grandma, you still have to count those quarters?"
Now the only thing we are missing is the personal greeting at the door with comments about our last visit at the store, want to take a guess what movie had that? Minority Report. It had the whole face recognition theme, back in 2002 and what are arguing about in Facebook and last weeks' post? how face recognition was becoming a reality and how it would impact our privacy rights. The truth is; we dream of these things and think they are super cool, but, once we have them or we realize they are here to become part of our day to day lifestyle we don't embrace them.
Facebook has become the next best thing to learn what interest humans and why not recognize it... We let it happen, it is our option to have a profile, to check the updates, to comment on every single picture someone else uploads, and we choose to "like" something.
Companies have captured and taken advantage of this free customer service outlet, up to the point that "Facebook has become an effective tool for overseeing all departments of ... companies"
Even the government has used Facebook for enumerable things, from promoting political campaigns to catching criminals on the loose. Who would have thought the police had time to keep updates on Facebook???http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon_Shock
http://www.allthingscrm.com/social-networking-for-business/facebooks-impact-on-customer-service.html
You brought up a good point about the future being NOW. We watch these movies about the future and we don't realize that we're right in the middle of it. Paying for groceries with my smartphone?! These are things that I used to dream about. What's next? Smell-a-vision?
ReplyDeleteIt was not long time ago when I refused to watch a science- fiction movie because “those things are not real,” but now I realized that all of the stuff we have imagined in the past we have them in the present.
ReplyDeleteI also felt the same way when I used to watch The Jetsons . I thought we did not have to walk because the electronic strips like the ones shown in the cartoons would takes us anywhere, so the first time I arrived at the Miami International Airport there they were, the electronic strips that transport you from one terminal to another; I felt great.
Little by little we are taking our futuristic ideas into the present
You have written many interesting points that relate to the many different topics you have written about. My favorite in particular would have to be The Jetsons comparison. I know exactly how you feel robots making my bed and food etc. It will be sad to find out if money goes away as quickly as you stated, it really is just a piece of paper. It is amazing how technology can change a persons living conditions and then when you come to think about it you say to yourself.."How did I ever live without this!?"
ReplyDeleteAs for facebook, and face recognition that is just scary to think how companies and the internet can invade our privacy and how we let it happen, without even noticing.
It won't be long till we have flying cars.
I love your example of Minority Report! That would be so crazy if I walked into Publix and they greeted me asking if I was coming back for more pasta! Wow that really put me in shock because it someday really could happen. The part about us choosing to "Like" things on Facebook and post comments is very true, that is why I only post things that I don't mind if the entire world sees. When I go on vacation I do NOT tell anyone at all online until I come back then maybe I will post pictures but there is even a website out there that writes when you go on vacation and how long you are gone for so that robbers can rob your house while you're gone. Crazy or just smart? So after I heard that I never posted anything personal again. Facial recognition can one day choose to update your profile for you and say "Elenis is at New York for the next 15 days" and then allow people to come rob your house. Hopefully we take control of this before it goes any further.
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