Keeping in mind technology's foibles, there are other ways this could go.
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Kitchen to Breadbox, kitchen to breadbox, do you contain BREAD? Breadbox: Scanning, one moment... Ryan'sKitchen.ca: It is essential for you to contain BREAD. BREAD is an essential ingredient for TOAST and SAMMICHES. Breadbox: Inventory updated, bread not found. Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Kitchen to Shopping List, add BREAD to required inventory. Ryan'sShoppingList.ca: Order acknowledged. BREAD added. Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Acknowledged, shopping list. Kitchen to breadbox, Kitchen to breadbox, do you contain ENGLISH MUFFINS? Breadbox: Scanning, one moment... Ryan'sKitchen.ca: It is essential for you to contain ENGLISH MUFFINS. ENGLISH MUFFINS is an essential ingredient for YUM.
(two hours later)
Ryan: Shopping List, I am leaving work. Please upload required inventory. Ryan'sShoppingList.ca: Acknowledged. Please purchase: BREAD ENGLISH MUFFINS RYE BREAD BREAD PUMPERNICKEL BREAD RAISIN BREAD BREAD MUFFINS BREAD Ryan: ...god damn it.
Ed Lee
· 1 year ago
sounds very compelling but more like 2050 than 2015.
Ryan Anderson
· 1 year ago
Really? That's funny - a few others were suggesting that it would be sooner than that. When you think about it, 7 years ago, there was no Youtube, Twitter, text messaging wasn't even very popular. Most of the tools I describe exist, it's a matter of integrating them into every day life in a way that doesn't require non-stop hacking.
The real stumbling block will be the entrenched media companies - cable, internet, wireless - enabling (and not disabling) the process.
Ewan
· 1 year ago
It's an interesting thought experiment, but I don't see why people will suddenly start accepting advertisements just because they are more targetted?
It's equally as likely that the more targetted the advert, the "creepier" people will consider it, and the filtering will become more and more aggressive.
Ryan Anderson
· 1 year ago
Right now, I'm looking for a scanner with an automatic document feeder that works well on a Mac. I'd happily replace the ads I see for tampons and SUVs with ads for scanners, because at that point, it's not a message - it's information.
If you were in the market for a computer, and had an application that told you that there was one in the neighbourhood for $100 less than you've seen elsewhere, isn't that a welcome ad?
I'm not suggesting a Minority Report future, but as advertising gets smarter and more social, it's going to get better for the consumer - especially since more technology means more protection from unwanted messages, so advertisers will have to eventually create demand for their content. Call it "branded utility."
Liz
· 1 year ago
Since there are a lot of people right now who are struggling to keep up with higher gas and food prices, I think this vision of the future is far from the reality of most people. You can't use first adopters as reflecting the mainstream of society. Technology only makes a difference in society when affordability isn't a barrier to adoption.
Ewan
· 1 year ago
We must see adverts and advertisers in very different lights if you expect an advert to tell you truthfully that a scanner worked well with a Mac, rather than just claim it works flawlessly.
In your new world, I expect you'd be bombarded with messages from Scanner manufactures, and they'd all claim the document feeder was brilliant, and that it worked perfectly with your Mac, and you'd be stuck in the same position as today - how do you tell which message is actually the truth.
Advertising isn't about giving people well rounded, honest, considered information, it's influencing purchasing decisions.
In your laptop example, the specific advert you mention would of course be interesting but how many other adverts would reach you along with it, claiming that the alternative model they are selling is much better, or indeed that you don't really want a laptop but a more advanced phone with better multimedia capabilities?
Justin Levy
· 1 year ago
I loved reading this post because, as you mention, a lot of this technology already exists.
Some of us choose to live more like your description than others. I take every opportunity to introduce new and more technology into my life as long as I don't add just for the sake of adding. I love implementing technology that is value-added, saves me time, can increase productivity and allow me to multi-task with smaller, faster devices.
I look forward to seeing technology progress over the next 5, 10, 20 and 25 years. I could've never imagined social networks like we have today, wireless technology that talks to one another, streaming radio, TV and movies, and all of the other advancements we've had in recent years.
-Justin
Ryan Anderson
· 1 year ago
Ewan - I believe that's going to be the role of social media. If you told me a particular product did something that it didn't, it would be trivial for me to get the truth from my network.
Liz - of course not everyone will be able to afford it, but that's the case with all technology. The interesting part of it that most of the technology that I mention is either widespread (mobile data devices) or free (social networks, twitter).
Justin - thanks. It's definitely a lifestyle choice. I don't see my parents or some of my less technically inclined friends living this way regardless of availability.
Kerri Birtch
· 1 year ago
Hi Ryan,
While I think your post is great and hope that someday we'll the world will be as you write, I have to agree more with Ed - I see it happening more likely towards 2030-2050.
You mention above, and quite rightly, that many of the technologies you suggest are already reality and didn't even exist 7 years ago - but that doesn't mean that everyone is using them now.
I think things will shift toward your perspective as older generations get older and older. For instance, my mother (in her late 50's) does not use the internet and have a cell phone only for emergencies that she doesn't even know phone number for. She will never use the technologies you suggest. Even 20 years from now, she won't use them.
As those who are currently early adopters get older, that curve will turn upwards and the technologies be more widely used. But that's my 2 cents.
All Comments
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Kitchen to Breadbox, kitchen to breadbox, do you contain BREAD?
Breadbox: Scanning, one moment...
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: It is essential for you to contain BREAD. BREAD is an essential ingredient for TOAST and SAMMICHES.
Breadbox: Inventory updated, bread not found.
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Kitchen to Shopping List, add BREAD to required inventory.
Ryan'sShoppingList.ca: Order acknowledged. BREAD added.
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: Acknowledged, shopping list. Kitchen to breadbox, Kitchen to breadbox, do you contain ENGLISH MUFFINS?
Breadbox: Scanning, one moment...
Ryan'sKitchen.ca: It is essential for you to contain ENGLISH MUFFINS. ENGLISH MUFFINS is an essential ingredient for YUM.
(two hours later)
Ryan: Shopping List, I am leaving work. Please upload required inventory.
Ryan'sShoppingList.ca: Acknowledged. Please purchase:
BREAD
ENGLISH MUFFINS
RYE BREAD
BREAD
PUMPERNICKEL
BREAD
RAISIN BREAD
BREAD
MUFFINS
BREAD
Ryan: ...god damn it.
The real stumbling block will be the entrenched media companies - cable, internet, wireless - enabling (and not disabling) the process.
It's equally as likely that the more targetted the advert, the "creepier" people will consider it, and the filtering will become more and more aggressive.
If you were in the market for a computer, and had an application that told you that there was one in the neighbourhood for $100 less than you've seen elsewhere, isn't that a welcome ad?
I'm not suggesting a Minority Report future, but as advertising gets smarter and more social, it's going to get better for the consumer - especially since more technology means more protection from unwanted messages, so advertisers will have to eventually create demand for their content. Call it "branded utility."
In your new world, I expect you'd be bombarded with messages from Scanner manufactures, and they'd all claim the document feeder was brilliant, and that it worked perfectly with your Mac, and you'd be stuck in the same position as today - how do you tell which message is actually the truth.
Advertising isn't about giving people well rounded, honest, considered information, it's influencing purchasing decisions.
In your laptop example, the specific advert you mention would of course be interesting but how many other adverts would reach you along with it, claiming that the alternative model they are selling is much better, or indeed that you don't really want a laptop but a more advanced phone with better multimedia capabilities?
Some of us choose to live more like your description than others. I take every opportunity to introduce new and more technology into my life as long as I don't add just for the sake of adding. I love implementing technology that is value-added, saves me time, can increase productivity and allow me to multi-task with smaller, faster devices.
I look forward to seeing technology progress over the next 5, 10, 20 and 25 years. I could've never imagined social networks like we have today, wireless technology that talks to one another, streaming radio, TV and movies, and all of the other advancements we've had in recent years.
-Justin
Liz - of course not everyone will be able to afford it, but that's the case with all technology. The interesting part of it that most of the technology that I mention is either widespread (mobile data devices) or free (social networks, twitter).
Justin - thanks. It's definitely a lifestyle choice. I don't see my parents or some of my less technically inclined friends living this way regardless of availability.
While I think your post is great and hope that someday we'll the world will be as you write, I have to agree more with Ed - I see it happening more likely towards 2030-2050.
You mention above, and quite rightly, that many of the technologies you suggest are already reality and didn't even exist 7 years ago - but that doesn't mean that everyone is using them now.
I think things will shift toward your perspective as older generations get older and older. For instance, my mother (in her late 50's) does not use the internet and have a cell phone only for emergencies that she doesn't even know phone number for. She will never use the technologies you suggest. Even 20 years from now, she won't use them.
As those who are currently early adopters get older, that curve will turn upwards and the technologies be more widely used. But that's my 2 cents.
-Kerri