Many technological advances are already in place to further develop the use of social media. Arduino technology will allow objects to tweet us. These tweets might warn us that the iron was left on or that your security alarm went off. Perhaps we will reach a point where we can receive tweets that an elderly loved one, who lives alone, has fallen or stopped breathing.
Optical Pattern Recognition and Augmented Reality is technology used to identify objects. This is great tool for identifying priceless jems, or pieces of art. However, this technology is also looking into biometric face recognition. It is currently being used, in a rudementary way, by police but imagine the possibilities in the future. Perhaps you are single and want to date someone but you are not sure. Biometric face technology could allow you to scan, from a distance, there on the spot, and then be supplied with feedback on your possible date. Would this technology be considered a safety asset or an invasion of privacy? 
Virtual world technology is also advancing in leaps and bounds. Educational institutes are already using sites such as Second Life as a teaching tool to more actively engage students in learning material through games and in the future, as a simulation tool. Imagine simulation involving virtual worlds and the Mind Read Technology. Students could practice skills both physical and critical thinking in a simulation lab in the comfort of their home thru their TV. Another future use of virtual worlds and mind reader might be for fitness training. Instead of turning on the TV at the treadmill, you would put on your headset starat working out with your virtual fitness trainer who will be able to target your program according to your own bodies condition and adjust the program at any time depending on your health and physical status at that moment. Web 3 and Semantics will allow you to have a sort of technological best friend, someone who knows and understands what you like to do, to watch, to read, to eat, what issues you care about and find all of those things for you, even automatically. All this based on the computer understanding what you want and your history.
Will the future use of social media be used primarily in a positive manner, such as for education, for recognizing crimminals and for helping those with disabilities live a better and more productive life? Or will it be used to control people, to follow people, and insure that we all think "The Right Thoughts". Will Orson Wells' novel "1984" become a reality. Or perhaps we will socialize as in the Matrix? Is social media slowly taking away personal contact? I for one think that the future advances and use of social media will be positive, but it will certainly be different.
References
Inc Magazine. (2010, December 2008). Emotiv's mind reading headset [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWKneKWt0U&feature=related
msporny (2010, December 2007). Intro to semantic web [video file]. Retreived from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGg8A2zfWKg
Olsen, A. (2005). An overview of biometric face recognition and video identifing technologies. Retrieved December 5, 2010, from http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/biometric-face-recognition.htm
Shenoy, K. (2010, January 2009). Brain-computer interfaces [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7lmJe_EXEU&feature=channel
All social media used today is attainable through your cell phone.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting insight... I agree with you that the future is endless for Social Media.
ReplyDeleteA well written blog. I feel that we really do not need more social media tools. Most of us who use social media are spoiled with it and I feel that anymore advances in social media are simply unecessary.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the blog you have written. You touched on a lot of the same ideas that I have in my blog. The question I have for you is, do you think that Optical Pattern Recognition and Augmented Reality is an invasion of privacy? I understand that you don't have to sign up for that type of a program but I know I wouldn't want some stranger scanning me with their phone!
ReplyDeletep.s. Can't wait to get a tweet that tells me I left my curling iron plugged in! LOL
I agree with your perspective on virtual world technology. I believe this one will be really big in the future because many people have trouble getting to places either because of traffic or transit delay. A lot of us also don't always remember to set our alarm clock and end up getting late to school or work. Virtual worlds can change that greatly because if we have access to our work or school right from our home we would never have to make up excuse for our absence or lateness.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn. As for your question about Optical Pattern Recognition and Augmented Reality and whether or not I think it is an invasion of privacy the answer is yes. But do I think they have a place in our society, the answer is yes with strict guide lines and for use by say Police. I think the biggest issue with social media at this time is that I don't believe that regulations are being established fast enough to keep up with this rapidly growing area of technology.
ReplyDeleteI too think it will be great to get a tweet telling me that I left my straightener or iron on. Have left both of them on far too often.
I feel that your blog was very well written and that it highlighted many of the key point discussed in this week’s reading as, you brought up a lot of ideas around what new technologies we can see developing in the future. I can honestly say that I had never considered how great it would be to have the technology of twitter be able to tell me if my grandmother had fallen and hurt herself. I believe that this application would be a great asset to anyone. To answer your question around Optical Pattern Recognition and the possibility of that technology being considered an asset or an invasion of privacy I definitely feel that this would be considered an invasion of privacy because that would alone anyone around the world to observe you for reasons other then to find a match. I know I definitely do not want to have strangers looking at me without my consent. I like how you concluded with your opinion on social media increase being positive, I definitely agree it will be positive just a question for you, Do you think that we need to look at it from both side, because as you already pointed out there is a large amount of space for privacy issues to arise and as social media increase the use of it can be for negative and positive things.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this. I think it was really well written and you had a lot of refernces to back up your ideas. I liked the way you ended your blog. It gives us all something to think about. No one knows if there will be people monitoring our every action on the interet, or if they already are. Good job :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, it was very well written and very informative. I learned a lot reading this, I really hope technologies advances that far one day. It would be great to have a tweet that tells me to turn my straightener off, and then my mom could stop yelling at me lol. I really enjoyed reading your blog and liked that you had references to back up, as well as for us to visit for further reading. Your blog really made me think about the future could be like.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion of the future of social media a. I also agree with you that the future of social media is endless, and keeps persistently moving forward. As Caitlin said, we could be being monitored right now ever day and not even know it. It gives you something to think about next time you’re browsing your email or even checking your bank account. Hopefully we will learn how to protect ourselves from this as technology advances.
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