We’ve all heard the old adage, “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” And although the forest has become a global digital economy and the trees are the systems and devices that make it possible, I think many would agree that when it comes to our perspective in today’s tech rich environment, the saying still applies.
But can you blame us? Innovation is at an all time high, giving birth to such elegant devices with unprescedented power running the most intelligent, capable and intuitive softwares. We have access to information—a lot of information—through various channels individually rigged to align with our preferences. We choose when to access information, where to access it, how to access it, with whom to access it, with whom to share it, where to store it, and when we want that information to come to us.
But as the late Uncle Ben always warned, with great power comes great responsibility.
With so much commanding our attention at each moment, we spend most of our waking lives zoomed in on the current tasks at hand, leveraging the technical utility of the various devices and systems available to us today.
Every once in a while, however, it’s important to break out that wide-angle lens. By doing so, we cultivate a holistic understanding of our digital culture ensuring the dynamic tools born of today’s innovation don’t become dangerous ones. It allows us to build frameworks in order to orient and contextualize the devices and systems that continue to emerge. So let’s zoom out and explore a few of the many implications born of the information revolution.
The Death of Discretion
When it comes to our personal information and personal proceedings, we’ve never been so exposed. The Don Drapers of today must consistently cover their digital trails if they want any chance at maintaining cover. And even that’s not enough. The recent Android Stagefright Vulnerability and security compromise at Avid Life Media are testiment to just how exposed we can become without a moment’s notice.
But that’s hardly news to anywone. Interestingly though, it seems that security exists as a peripheral issue for most of us living in the information revolution. That is, of course, until your information falls under unlawful review. Just ask one of the 50 million users of Ashley Madison whom are certainly feeling a dash uncomfortable with their extramarrital relations on the brink of exposure.
I remember the first time I attempted to borrow my father’s credit card to purchase some car parts off ebay. I averted the mission after enduring an extensive lecture on privacy and the need to protect your personal information. My Dad would sooner streak naked through the neighbourhood than surrender his credit card number online.
But times have changed. To employ technological abstenance is to sentence yourself to a life of ignorance and isolation. That being said, we must strike a balance. But as we continue to deflect from device to device, application to application and website to website, our focus remains narrow. But that’s the way it’s got to be if we want to get things done. The issue is, this perspective doesn’t allow for much consideration regarding what we disclose and what we make public.
Cross Platform Communitcation
Cross platform capability is a hot topic these days. This shift in the world of information technology has enormous implications on our ever changing digital landscape. It’s simply never been so easy to connect and collaborate with others. Soon it will no longer matter whether you play for “team apple” or “team android” as these platforms will be equally capable on the software front, running the same crucual applications, allowing for the same productive outcomes.
As technology continues to refine communication, we will continue to become more accessible. And as collaboration improves, so will our creative output (in all of its forms).
Ray Kurzweil, a forerunning futurist and one of today’s most respected voices in discussions around technology, coined an idea called “the Law of Accellerating Returns.” This holds that technological advancements follow an exponential curve, as opposed to a linear one. As we continue to advance over this digital terrain, we witness an increasing amount of people working towards innovation. And what’s more is that these people have access to increasingly powerful tools. Since tomorrow’s tech advancements are built upon the foundations of today’s, the dizzying pace of our digital culture will only increase in the days to come.
Ashley Madison getting hacked
Don draper wouldn’t survive these days
Facebook tagging
does this exposure create transparency, or illusion/deception–many fabricate the person they want to be viewed as. Does this exposure break down the barriers between genuine social interaction, or forge new ones?