Generally, convenience sounds like a really great thing. At least if you ignore the whole Daniel Gilbert idea of people pursuing other stuff than what they really want. So we keep demanding all these qualities from technology. We want accessibility, communication devices, efficiency in every way possible, endless means of self-expression, and so on. Just look at what personal technology we had in our pockets fifty years ago. It was like, a wallet, a set of keys, and maybe some smokes and a wrist watch. Today we probably have five times as many gadgets flopping about in our designer pockets and purses. All this stuff, stuff, stuff!
Now, if we asked for it and got it, what then is the problem? Well, having a shitload of things requires either very large pockets, or a way to make the lovely little trinkets smaller and fewer. Convergence and miniaturization, you immediately think. And yes, that is exactly where we are headed right now! With the camera, music player, calendar and Internet access already in the cell phone, life has become so much tidier. When we have the access, credit and bus cards in the keys, the keys in the cell phone, the cell phone in the finger tip, additional internal memory and data storage, online access to libraries and information, movies and a dashboard in contact lenses, physical maintenance by nano-tech and a nice little music player in the ear for a true soundtrack of our lives, we will have solved the problem. Finally, we shall enjoy the glorious technologies of mankind without being forced to accept bulging Zegna pockets, or tearing the calf leather of the Hermès purse.
It seems as though Ray Kurzweil was right about his smart dust, cell therapy and artificial intelligence, does it not? But what happens with the ever so haunting notion of privacy? If every component of everyday life becomes integrated in our bodies (or vice versa), and we remain constantly connected, we have a serious problem at our hands. Anything built by man is bound to have an Achilles heel, and thus, it can also be hacked, broken and even controlled. "Hooray!" shout the misunderstood teenagers and desperate terrorists all across the world. And concerning artificial intelligence, it might even be technology that controls us - not really the way we intended things to become.
Where do we draw a line, not to be crossed? Now, of course it is most likely to be crossed anyway, simply because we can. But at least for legitimacy reasons, let us draw the line anyway. Personally, I will not join the debate to any greater extent because of the thrill and fascination of it all. I will just lean back with a nice martini, constantly chilled by a smart glass, and quietly observe when the shit hits the fan.
PS. This little ad is from the seventies, so I'm pretty certain that the copy did not realise the disturbing honomymous association humour induced by the little tagline in the bottom right corner. Sorry about this.
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