Jump into the Future

[T'Girl]

Just saw a commercial for Sears, they're having a sale on three dimensional (3D) televisions, the kind you wear special glasses to watch. This isn't just about these new TV's. A couple of months ago my niece was walking around my sister's house verbally dictating a Email using a blu-ray ear piece.

Have you every had your noses rubbed in the fact that we're moving into the future constantly? Whether it's talking cars, internet or (for some of you) color TV.

What say you?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I still don't own a cellphone. Nor do I want OR NEED to.

As for 3D TV: Give me a day when you don't need those damn glasses to watch, and I'll think about it.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I remember adopting 802.11b wireless back in 2001 or so. It hadn't gone mainstream at that point. I've never gone back--I don't care if it's slower than being wired, it's fast enough for my DSL connection and you can't beat the convenience.

One thing I have not bought into is the convergence of gaming console and media center. I admit it is really cool, the things people have done turning their XBox 360s and PS3s into media center units, but I just can't quite buy into it myself. It doesn't justify the cost for me, either, so I don't have any current gen consoles.

I am in no hurry to see 3D TV, either. Until the technology used to make Avatar becomes cheap enough to be used everywhere, it's going to be something tacked-on to most entertainment, rather than something used to truly enhance the experience. No thanks!

 

[bryce]

I still can't afford a lot of the rally kick-ass tech like an iPhone or an HDTV or even a Tivo...but even I have a netbook and a cell phone - and my son has an iPod Touch he saved up for (though I chipped in some & so did his grandparents)...and all my kids have Nintendo DS's, and my ex's wife's kids have a Leapfrog Leapster Leadpads I brought him...and my desktop PC has had a flatscreen for 5 years - vs the huge bulky *heavy* CRT I used to have...

And yeah, even 10 years ago most of that's stuff wouldn't even be possible...or *WAY* out of my price range...so I figure the price of the stuff I can't afford will come down eventually...(though it will be second generation tech by then)...

But mainly, it's what I read on science blogs that continually hammer it over my head that technology is changing faster and faster everyday...I mean, turning any surface into a multitouch display - even *skin* mind-controlled *toys*, augmented reality - wars being fought by predator drones...

Or the other day overhearing my 14yo daughter and her friends causally mentioning the Singularity as if it was a given, no big deal...(I didn't even *know* she or her friends even were familiar with that concept!?)

Or last month reading in the local paper how the cops - here in rural Illinois - sent a *robot* into a building where a shooter had holed up, and the robot came across his body. A robot - not a cop.

And just recently I was explaining to my mom how she could use a webcam to see her grandkids when she wanted to talk to them, and I said '"It's just like...well, a videophone, actually..."

Its just too bad that space travel and things like flying cars and hoverboards never materialized...but we have so many other things now that I couldn't even dream of as a kid. I remember having to go to the *library* when I wanted to look up something...and having to wait *weeks* - or longer - for a new issue of a magazine to come out that *might* have news of the latest Star Trek film or TV show...

 

[bryce]

I still don't own a cellphone. Nor do I want OR NEED to.

You may not need one personally - but I'll tell you, with five different kids scattered in five different places across town at once, it can become invaluable.

A few months back I lost my cell phone, and because I didn't have it nobody could reach me to tell me that my daughter's ride to the concert I was waiting for her at broke down...and she almost didn't make it.

If I had my cell, I would have gotten the message and have been able to get her in plenty of time.

As is happened, I was lucky a friend of my daughter's was there and got a call about it on *her* cell, lol...

That same week my other daughter was stranded at her soccer practice because the coach couldn't call me...nor could her mom to tell me she needed a ride home...

Seriously, now days I wonder how in the heck I even survived *WITHOUT* the damn things!

Honestly, *try* finding a working pay phone when you need it - or getting a business to let you use their phone without treating you like you are a freak for not having a cell...

I get a look like "Why are you bothering me? Don't you *have* a phone? What are you like Amish or something?"

Though to tell the truth, sometimes I just turn if off because I don't *want* to be reached 24/7 on Push-to-Talk...and other times I ignore it and tell people "Oh, I must have had the ringer off..."

Same with chat...

 

[scotthm]

Have you every had your noses rubbed in the fact that we're moving into the future constantly?

Yes, every time I acquire a new age related ache.

---------------

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The only time I ever use a cellphone is when I go to New York. Then I borrow my dad's. And even then I really only use it for emergencies. It's not like the old days, like when I first learned how to ride the subway and I felt so pleased with myself that I literally did nothing all day but ride around to random subway stations and then called home at every one ("Hey Dad, guess where I am now? Somewhere in the South Bronx!" )...

True, there aren't many public phones left in a city like that, but if I found myself without a cell, I could always wait until I got back to Penn Station since they have a large amount of public phones to use. Just get a calling card and you're set.

 

[JiNX-01]

As for 3D TV: Give me a day when you don't need those damn glasses to watch, and I'll think about it.

So, what you want is a holodeck.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Explain. Are you saying that it's physically impossible to have ANY kind of 3D TV without glasses? If so, then forget it.

 

[bryce]

^There are 3D TV's that don't require glasses...but they require you to sit within a certain field of view in front of the screen to get the 3D effect...

 

[Scout101]

The technology is kinda fun, but really can't see it going too mainstream until you don't have to wear the glasses. Can't sit around and watch TV like that if you have to have glasses for everyone that stops by. Especially if every brand has their own glasses that aren't cross-brand compatible...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Yes, every time I acquire a new age related ache.

That's funny, I find New Age music to be very relaxing and not achy.