the “Insensitivity” Of things
The Internet of Things is formally defined as “the interconnection between the internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data”, with an emphasis on “interconnection”. That was the goal of the Internet after all, to allow for instant correspondence and connection between people around the world. As we continue to see the world change, morphing into a place powered by Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining, a question comes to mind; when did the internet of things become the insensitivity of things?
It’s a brooding and moody thought, I know, but take a walk through the analog coffee shop with me for just a moment. In an article published this morning, Wired described the military base slot machine craze taking casino night fun, to what could be a dangerous place of addiction in some of the nation’s most mentally vulnerable communities. In a move some will consider to be forward-thinking, Guess is creating Supermodels from AI and Vogue is proudly circulating them to the masses. Of course, anyone viewing any screen has been unable to avoid what the web is affectionately calling Coldplay-Gate, a joke maximized by the brand's decision to enlist Chris Martin's goop goddess ex Gwyneth to give a nod one final time to their unforeseen PR boost.
In every scenario, that which should make the world easier, happier and even more amicable towards one another, the opposite effect seems to happen. The Gaming, particularly gambling industry, are faced with more than a few bad money managers glued to machines. The new access points mean you can bet away a life savings without even leaving your house. The computer that once held the key to your casting calls with a quick google search, now hold your competition in megabytes. The moments we enjoyed capturing and freezing in time with our smartphones that used to be lost, will now never be forgotten even if they’ve brought a bevy of heartaches with them (see every recovered canceled celebrity tweet from the past decade if examples are needed).
So, in a world where there is no going back, nor should there be given all the positive progression that technology has provided, where do we go to find care and genuine connection again? How do we learn to embrace so many new touchpoints without every really making contact? The first step might just be to remember that although now, we pretty much always “can” do whatever we want with the push of a button, maybe, just maybe, we should still buffer in our own load time. Attempt to take on the insensitivity of things while still believing that we can and should enjoy the internet of things.
