Ionrock Dot Org

I don't know what is about having a computer outside of your home that makes a person want to share what is going on in their own life. I really think there is some research possibilities there that could be very interesting. Once again I find myself at the Diner and using the free wireless. Yes I have a test tomorrow and I know I should be studying. But, I also have Sonic Youth's Murry Street playing and a killer headache (unrelated). The obvious thing to do is to take a minute to clear my head with a little blogging.

It is funny because while I am sure I am somewhat addicted to computers, still realize that there are some pretty interesting benefits. Mobile computing is a pretty revolutionary idea. The fact that you can walk around and have the capability of processing 1024 bit numbers in a mere few seconds or two is pretty mind boggling when not too long ago such numbers were completely out of reach. I understand they are just numbers but, the implications are still there. These numbers make it possible to display text, play media, process information and communicate across the globe. To think that I am sitting in a room with about 10 other people who have this capability (in fact more as my laptop is pretty weak) is a pretty amazing thing.

I remember in my IST 110 class, the intro course to IST where they teach you that you are going to work in groups and like it... darn it, we gave a presentation about the car of the future. My ideas were obviously lost on the crowds as I could see the bewilderment in their eyes throughout our presentation. Nonetheless, I feel we did predict the future regarding mobile computing. One of our assumptions was regarding network access. We are hearing more and more about wi-fi access for free in cities and in some rural communities. It is just a matter of time before networks become all but common place and some would argue they already are. Anyway, we made the assumption that each and every processor would have the capability to be a small hub of sorts. Each electronic device would have an address that would allow transparent communication wirelessly to any other device in an anonymous fashion in order to provide wireless access to all. Each network would eventually reach some central servers for things like dns type services and most homes would be hardwired to some central Internet as we currently know it. Such a network would allow vast amounts of information to be sent to people very quickly, making things like cable or videos (in the blockbuster sense of the word) virtually the same.

Now I know someone must be saying to themselves, "Eric!!! You are a genius!" and yes you are correct! But really I think these ideas are already out there with things like bluetooth that do essentially what I am talking about. With the commercial gains already lost to some venture capitalist, the question becomes what does this mean from a social context. I think the fact that I am producing this blog at the moment is proof enough that there will be quite a bit of information out there to sink your teeth, gums, most of your face, a good portion of your limbs and possibly your torso into. I don't think this is bad but I do think that it is different. Up until this point media and information from a digital standpoint has revolved around the person producing the signal or content. The future puts the lens on those actually creating the content. Musicians, artists, directors, etc. will all have some serious competition with very little profit. What is good is competition. Some truly amazing inspiring things can rise to the surface while most will just be able to put a pretty face on crap. It will be exciting.

So, what does it all mean? I don't know and I don't care too terribly much. I am not going to let my kids have their own computer and I will hopefully be pretty jaded with the whole technological culture at that time so I can think more about making good music and developing advanced technology because it is interesting. I also will be playing with my kids a ton and driving a van. A big plushy van, baby.