http://www.ted.com

This demo -- from Pattie Maes' lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry -- was the buzz of TED. It's a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine "Minority Report" and then some.



I am not sure if this is as great as it looks, having discussed some of the disadvantages that all the "great tech" brings with it before:

Are we becoming Gargoyles from Snowcrash?

At this point in time, I ask myself the question: "Do I have to have this?" and I hope that it wont come to: "You need to have this".

Through a recent discussion with some fellow students at MIT, I started to think and realize that we dont have a choice anymore! Lets just ask the following question: Do we have a choice to not use the internet or email or a mobile phone? I think, we DONT have a choice anymore! We have to use these technologies, if we want to or not. Somehow, this is a development, which I am not particulary fond of.

I have been avoiding to get a mobile phone in the US, for quite a while now and I really enjoy it. On the one hand, there is the challenge of really defending oneself why I chose to not have one. ;_) On the other hand, there are many advantages that come with not having a cell phone (to be talked about in another post). To get back to what I have been trying to say above: "Am I less human now, because I dont have a cell phone?", "Do I want to connect less with people around me?",... NO!

Finally, all these technologies only make sense, if other people use them as well (which is one of the main reasons, why people tell you to get a phone: then, having their phone makes more sense to them...).

I am not saying that any of these technologies are bad or that they dont bring great advantages with them.

However, I think, I should always be able to chose not have to use it!

Enough said, I will open it for questions, comments and discussion! Have a good weekend! Best, Daniel