Today, I discovered that according to the description of me on my department's list of people, I am not only doing Context-aware Mobility (it is called context-aware computing and what's up with the odd capitalization?) but also diffused technology (whatever that is). That prompted me to laugh and think of how I would love to introduce the concept of 'confused technology'.
Confused technology is technology that people think can do all kinds of neat 'intelligent' things. Like having your iPod calculate your taxes for next year, your computer explaining when you need a break or your cell phone telling you where your best friend will be the day after tomorrow. Intelligent tasks that people often expect technology to be able to do shortly, but which will leave your device utterly confused. Your iPod will flash its little apple in despair' and your computer will tell you to have a break when you get back from lunch or after talking to a colleague for 12 minutes. It will be confused that you always skip the break and in the end stop suggesting you take breaks because you never do according to the computer's standard. And your poor cell phone will run out of battery from sole confusion over having to predict something this complex. Based on past data, it shows that your friend will very likely be in yoga class, but on the other hand yoga class data shows it is over because of summer. Usually Thursdays are busy with work, but last year at this time she was in New York. Oh, and she moved recently, so perhaps she will be buying paint and furniture. 'Beeeep, no more battery, beeeeeep'. As we move into the new era of 'intelligent' technology, I expect that in the future we will experience a lot of confused technology. Or if we are lucky, just a lot of confused people.
Posted by Louise at June 22, 2004 11:25 AM