This month in Blasphemous Geometries: has the ‘Web 2.0’ phenomenon been a boon to science fiction fandom?
Or, asks Jonathan McCalmont, has it simply accentuated its slide from intelligent discussion into naked commercialism? And if so, how can we reverse the trend?
Continue reading The Failure of Web 2.0 (with regards to science fiction)
Chuck Klosterman tells all. Snip:
JUNE 11, 2041: In a matter of weeks, the entire Internet is replaced by “news blow,” a granular microbe that allows information to be snorted, injected, or smoked. Data can now be synthesized into a water-soluble powder and absorbed directly into the cranial bloodstream, providing users with an instantaneous visual portrait of whatever information they are interested in consuming. (Sadly, this tends to be slow-motion images of minor celebrities going to the bathroom.) Now irrelevant, an ocean of Web pioneers lament the evolution. “What about the craft?” they ask no one in particular. “What about the inherent human pleasure of moving one’s mouse across a hyperlink, not knowing what a simple click might teach you? Whatever happened to ironic thirty-word capsule reviews about marginally popular TV shows? Have we lost this forever?” “You just don’t get new media,” respond the news-blowers. “You just don’t get it.”
[2005 map of the Internet by matthewjethall]
Reading yet another article about how !!11!!ZOMG politicians are learning to use the interwebs!!11!!! suggests an observation, which I’ll try to make as politically neutral as possible:
If one particular candidate I’m thinking of wins the Presidency, one of the reasons is going to be how easy his Web site makes it to do volunteer work for him. I’ve volunteered for several candidates over the years, but I have never seen anything this user-inviting.
Just an observation, but one that I think fits the mission of this site.
(Hint: His name ends in a vowel besides Y, which would be another first)
[Internet poster by Sebastian Prooth]
A world of spime-like networked and sensor-laden appliances, objects, and general stuff took a step closer with an assortment of tech titans announcing their intention to create an Internet Protocol for Smart Objects:
Smart objects are objects in the physical world that – typically with the help of embedded devices – transmit information about their condition or environment (e.g., temperature, light, motion, health status) to locations where the information can be analyzed, correlated with other data and acted upon. Applications range from automated and energy-efficient homes and office buildings, factory equipment maintenance and asset tracking to hospital patient monitoring and safety and compliance assurance.
Suggestions for colloquial names for this technology:
Any more?
As computation and connectivity continue to ooze their way into everything from dildos to doorbells can we think of any interesting science fictional consequences?
Use only as directed. It seems to be a side project of Get Your War On. Or maybe a sponsor.
We pick up our mail in the 1800s.
NOW THAT SPELLS “PROOF” IN ANY ERA OF TIME!