Over the past ten years it's rare for technology to really slap you in the face with true innovation. Generally speaking many of the new solutions are simply form factor upgrades of past technologies.
Flat screen televisions (versus the old clunkers), PVRs (versus VCRs), smartphones (versus cell phones), etc.
Is it great to have these things? Sure. Does it blow your mind? not really.
But I'm beginning to wonder if we are on the verge of some truly mind boggling feats of innovation.
I went on Google books today and was astonished at how many books are now available online. I had checked out Google Books probably one or two years ago and it wasn't anything that impressed me. A small selection of mostly older books. But now? WOW!
You name it and you can get it on Google Books.
I mean, for the first time in human history, cost is no longer a barrier to knowledge. Inconvenience is no longer a barrier either. One can literally gain knowledge on anything for free.
It boggles my mind how Google can do this without infringing on copyright, but regardless, it's there.
But to me things get more exciting. Sitting at a computer / laptop to read a book is annoying. So annoying that I'd argue most people simply won't do it - it's not enjoyable the way reading a paperback is.
However, with the advent of the iPad, I could see people on the couch or in bed reading free books and magazines off Google Books using their Apple iPad.
As if all that wasn't interesting enough... I recently watched some of the live coverage of E3, the big convention for video game producers. What I found interesting is how they are blending video game technology, the internet and the human experience to create amazing new lifestyle products.
Take 360 Kinect. It's basically a personal trainer on steroids. Not only does it create routines for you, but it tracks everything you do. It even let's you virtually train with friends. So now you can work out with someone who might be on the other side of the country.
Or take Innergy by Ubisoft. This is a relaxation / meditation / breathing 'game' that uses cool visuals to help you relax through deep breathing.
What's great about technology is when it surprises you. When it changes your life routines in unexpected ways. It's been a long time in my opinion since technology has done that.
What I'm seeing now though are truly innovate solutions that will redefine our daily lives. The concerning part of all this is that many of these solutions replace otherwise human services. What happens to the personal trainers, the gyms, the book stores, etc., as technology makes content free and acts as our personal assistants in activities that we otherwise turned to other human beings for.
Either way, for the first time in a long time technology trends seem to be getting genuinely exciting. For PR folks that's good news as well. There's nothing more fun than promoting exciting solutions that people want to hear about.
Flat screen televisions (versus the old clunkers), PVRs (versus VCRs), smartphones (versus cell phones), etc.
Is it great to have these things? Sure. Does it blow your mind? not really.
But I'm beginning to wonder if we are on the verge of some truly mind boggling feats of innovation.
I went on Google books today and was astonished at how many books are now available online. I had checked out Google Books probably one or two years ago and it wasn't anything that impressed me. A small selection of mostly older books. But now? WOW!
You name it and you can get it on Google Books.
I mean, for the first time in human history, cost is no longer a barrier to knowledge. Inconvenience is no longer a barrier either. One can literally gain knowledge on anything for free.
It boggles my mind how Google can do this without infringing on copyright, but regardless, it's there.
But to me things get more exciting. Sitting at a computer / laptop to read a book is annoying. So annoying that I'd argue most people simply won't do it - it's not enjoyable the way reading a paperback is.
However, with the advent of the iPad, I could see people on the couch or in bed reading free books and magazines off Google Books using their Apple iPad.
As if all that wasn't interesting enough... I recently watched some of the live coverage of E3, the big convention for video game producers. What I found interesting is how they are blending video game technology, the internet and the human experience to create amazing new lifestyle products.
Take 360 Kinect. It's basically a personal trainer on steroids. Not only does it create routines for you, but it tracks everything you do. It even let's you virtually train with friends. So now you can work out with someone who might be on the other side of the country.
Or take Innergy by Ubisoft. This is a relaxation / meditation / breathing 'game' that uses cool visuals to help you relax through deep breathing.
What's great about technology is when it surprises you. When it changes your life routines in unexpected ways. It's been a long time in my opinion since technology has done that.
What I'm seeing now though are truly innovate solutions that will redefine our daily lives. The concerning part of all this is that many of these solutions replace otherwise human services. What happens to the personal trainers, the gyms, the book stores, etc., as technology makes content free and acts as our personal assistants in activities that we otherwise turned to other human beings for.
Either way, for the first time in a long time technology trends seem to be getting genuinely exciting. For PR folks that's good news as well. There's nothing more fun than promoting exciting solutions that people want to hear about.
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