“It is 6a.m. and you are dreaming of electric sheep,” said Dan Willis, of SapientNitro. In the imagined future, when one wakes up from dreamland, he or she will simply thrust a hand into the air and digital sensors will project onto the hand an assortment of information including time, weather, family vital information, and more. You will know most everything you want to know as you get out of bed, before you get out of bed.
The digital future looks seamless for Tim Ruder of Perfect Market Inc, Nadya Direkova of Google (No link necessary. If you can’t find Google don’t worry, Google will find you.), and Chris Bishop of PBS Kids Interactive.
Willis’s job was simple: organize a panel of with the simple task of imagining what the year 2015 would be like in terms of how the digital world would be incorporated into our every day lives. Our digital future, as imagined by our panelists lies somewhere between Star Trek and 1984 (only a happy version) with portable information devices that offer easy access to all sorts of information.
Although innovations had mainly to do with access to information, there were some instant creation devices, such as Direkova’s machine that will create custom fit, recyclable clothing designed to fit as you scan a device that contains all your measurements. In minutes, a garment is created for you. At a later time, you can return the garment to the machine and it will be broken down and recycled.
These innovations are spin-offs however, of what our culture has been producing, or imagining, for quite some time. Willis reminds us that our culture, specifically our cinema (hence the Star Trek reference), and our innovative reality often mirror each other while consistently returning to the same ideas. Star Trek’s communicator, and subsequent versions throughout films reflect our modern cell phones, which will eventually be devices that connect us will all sorts of immediate information.
One of the more interesting imagined innovations and possible uses for the flat screen. The “looking glass”, as Ruder calls it, is a simple transparent screen allows one to gather information about whatever is being looked though the glass. Ruder imagines a future where copious amounts of information will be organized so well, that access will be easily available at any moment. Is that an encyclopedia in your pocket?
This figment of innovation will also allow one to be able to “look” down the street, gather information about the restaurants, shops, hours, and will let you know if any contacts or “friends” are nearby.
These dreams are not so far off. These technologies have lived in our imaginations for decades. People are already finding practical uses for flat screens, and even dreaming up screens that can bend (check out LivingMagazine as a side note)!
The “imagineers” collectively predict that most surfaces will eventually become screens, but that life will not be very different, save the details. Most portable devices will serve as a, “stitching device, rather than multi-fuction device,” said Willis.
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This is actually closer than we think. Maybe not 2015, but maybe so. We already have all the smart phones, which pretty much everyone has, and you can get anything you want from them. Now Apple is coming out with the iPad, which in a few years will probably be the new laptop. All the flip screens ones will or MacBook Pro will be old.
There’s also this new device, which I can’t recall what the name is, but it’s all used with your finger tips. It can be a camera, phone, computer or anything else that someone could want. The four ends attach to your fingertips and you draw out what you want with them. It’s crazy.
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I think that in the near future, it wouldn’t be difficult to visualize the physical world as being somewhat of a “digital playground” for people to interact with. The concept of being able to retrieve information instantly from multiple sources subconsciously would boggle the minds of many, but would ultimately be an amazing technological advancement.
Speaking of creative technological concepts, I read an interesting article a few months that explained how Japanese scientists have developed holograms people can touch. As Samantha said, this new level of interaction is really closer than we think.
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I really have to agree with the statement, “our innovative reality often mirror each other while consistently returning to the same ideas.” This is just a small example, but when I was watching the Oscars last week, I recalled an interview of the man who created “Avatar.” He was saying that he had all these innovative and creative ideas in his head; he was just waiting for technology to catch up to what his brain could handle. Imagine my mother’s surprise when she went and saw it, only to be given the plot line to “Dances With Wolves;” just with blue people.
I think both Samantha and Daniel are correct in saying that this new, interactive and innovative future isn’t too far out of reach. I just hope that as our technology and tools get more creative; our minds expand in creativity as well. I had a professor say about 2 weeks ago that “high school kills creativity.” I have to agree.
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Samantha, I know what you’re talking about (the new device). I’ve been searching the internet to find out what it’s called but can’t find it. I think it’s scary and amazing at the same time to watch as our world continues to advance digitally. To me, it’s overwhelming at times. I remember watching movies on VHS and playing the original Nintendo. I remember my first cell phone was a huge Nokia with no color, no camera and definitely no internet–and this was only a few years ago. I just continue to be amazed with all the advancements. I mean, what can follow the iPhone?
So yes, in agreement with Samantha and Daniel, this is all closer than we think.
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A quote that came to mind after reading this was:
“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”
– Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899
I’m sure it seemed that way back in 1899 but wouldn’t Duell be suprised if he lived in today’s age! We have become so attachted to our iPhones and Apple computers, I can see the same thing happening with these new inventions. Like Paige said, I remember the days of VHS and Nintendo and now the only place you can find a VCR is Goodwill. Technology is moving so fast, i’m hoping to be able to keep up.
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I agree with all the comments above that such innovation is closer than we think. 2015 is only 5 years away. Doesn’t Apple have an app that lets users take a picture and submit it to tell them about it, or something like that? Think about where technology was 5 years ago: iPhones, iTouches, and BluRay weren’t around yet. And we were all wondering what could follow the DVD. Windows Vista was just beginning to be sold commercially. Everything develops so fast. I still had one of those silver flip phones with a little mirror on the front, and I only had 50 minutes for the month to talk.
But I wonder where does that leave us with the instant gratification beast? I commonly ask people what would they do if power went out for an extended area, including cell phone towers and wireless signals. We become so dependent on these things (myself included) where is the line?
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I also agree with Samantha and Daniel, that kind of future is not that far away than we think. Each year or few months new tools are made that are more advanced and creative. We already have smart phones that are practically computers in our hands. Also with new products such as the iPad, as Samantha mentioned in her comment, will soon be the new laptop and whatnot.
It’s truly amazing when you think about this, how far technology has come and how far it will go in the future! It’s kind of crazy thinking about how technology has changed like cell phones and how incredible and innovative the technology is now with tools that are coming out.
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I think people in our generation take some technology for granted. I mean we’re all drones that walk around with some sort of smart phone attached to our hands. (Myself included). Not that this is a bad thing. In fact, it’s a great thing. I think our generation and our knowledge and passion for technology, is amazing and useful! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and upcoming generations.
For example the Sixth Sense device by Ted was, and still is, the coolest thing I have seen yet. The future looks to contain multi-colored finger condoms. lol.
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It is amazing to think how technology has developed even in the last 5 years. Not only are we using technology to do complex things we are also using it to do simple things like turn off the kitchen light you left on back at the house with your handy iphone app.
These days if you have a question, or want to know something it is instantly at your fingertips-the innovation will proceed at an exponential rate.
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Thanks for the write-up of my SxSW panel. I’m loving the conversation your blog post triggered. If anybody’s interested, you can follow me on Twitter (@uxcrank) to find out when the deck’s up on SlideShare and the video I’m making from the prez is available on YouTube. Won’t be long, hopefully. Long before 2015.