Returning from SXSW Interactive this year, there was a single thought that kept nagging me: ambient technology. From haptic compasses, geo-fences to NFC-based payment systems, we want our technology to move from something that we control in the forefront to something that we do not have to even think about. Although this is somewhat organic, maybe even expected, technological evolution, is it one that we should continue on at the pace we are?

Are we, as a culture, as a group of individuals, ready for this type of massive change? In my opinion no, we’re not. What are the sociological implications, psychological and physiological implications? Basically are we putting technological advancements before people?

Of course these are things that we consider as we advance, but that does not mean that we can answer that first question, are we actually ready. The base of it is emotional; it is a matter of evolving the collective and individual emotions and relationships with these technologies before there is widespread acceptance or even the desire for them. Our identities are adapting and changing to include devices, networks, and interactions. This web-enabled is something that we would give up showering for apparently (I for one, will take the shower thank you).  This is even outside the argument of whether or not internet access is a human right (the UN says it is).

It has come down to the web, the interconnected world that we now take with us everywhere. We’ve all gotten wrapped up in the momentum, the tidal wave, which has taken over our daily lives, but we’re missing the cultural implications and, more importantly, the potential for a backlash.

The web and our hyperconnected devices and lives have become used to openness, sharing. The cultural norms we swim among on a daily basis are changing, but that does not mean that we, human beings, have as well. That is where the potential for backlash is. Now more and more openness, innovation, disruption and change are valued; however, can we accept that when it comes to our personal lives? Our information? Our ‘human data?’

Look at the recent slew of privacy scares and revolts, from Path to Google. The backlash has already begun. We want transparency, openness, but with control. The infinite knowledge on the web empowered us, but we weren’t aware of just how much information we were imparting on the digital world and the companies at the helm. In the same logic then, how can we be ready to accept ambient technologies such as haptic compasses, geo-tag fences, brain-wave controlled devices?

In her keynote at SXSW Interactive this year, Amber Case said that our devices are taking us away from the physical world around us; we’re too wrapped up in the little screens and worlds in the palms of our hands. I completely agree that we are, but by putting technology into the background, enabling it to do the thinking for us might not be the right solution, at least right now.

“Are smartphones changing what it means to be human?” - probably not, but they are certainly having a much larger impact that I think we are ready to recognize. 

bostonmagazine.com

MON­DAY MORN­ING BEGINS with the chime of bells. Blink­ing awake, I turn toward the noise, paw­ing at my bed­side table in search of my phone. With a quick tap the bells are silenced, as if some­one has abrupt­ly cut the ropes in the bel­fr…

(Source: futuramb, via emergentfutures)

Why is credit so important in curation? Isn’t the open web about sharing? That’s why we fell in love with it, why we use it; it’s endless and it’s all there for you so why are we now finding the need to claim pieces?

Content’s value has skyrocketed. It’s not just information anymore; it’s a piece you you, your brand and your identity. It’s self-preservation in a sense, but does that mean we should do it? Should we give into the backlash?

Credibility matters even more now: it’s not so much down to the person, but to the platform where the info came from that will give it credibility and help it spread. 

futurejournalismproject:

Platform matters, according to Yahoo researchers.

In the experiment, the headline of a news item was presented to users in different ways, i.e. as posted in a traditional media website, as a blog, and as a post on Twitter. Users found the same news headline significantly less credible when presented on Twitter.

Interested in further Twitter analysis? The researchers point to Truthy, a project at the Indiana University that further analyzes Twitter and its credibility.

The @nytimes made itself a special little tumblr just for all that SXSWi goodness. I am pretty excited about this. 

nytsxsw:

The New York Times is heading to South by Southwest Interactive. Yes, we’ve been there before, but we’re trying something new this year. In addition to covering the conference in articles and blog posts and on Twitter, we’ve decided to join the masses and share a sampling of our…

Some good answers on the topic of content marketing from @jonahbloom (plus a nice percolate shout out at the end)

How Marketers and Agencies Can Succeed as Content Creators - Forbes

(via percolatehq)

Typing seems pretty harmless, but maybe it isn’t, could typing shape the meaning of words? Interesting read (makes me wonder how the keyboard will evolve).

(via The QWERTY Effect: How Typing May Shape the Meaning of Words | Wired Science | Wired.com)

Map of the Ad tech landscape: most confusing/overwhelming visual ever. via @pakyouare. 

pakyouare:

Map of the ad tech landscape

(via display_advertising_ecosystem_011011-1024x741.png (1024×741))

litmanlive:

83187932-Facebook-Timeline-For-Pages-Product-Guide-from-TechCrunch.pdf Download this file

You’ll have no doubt seen that a ton of brands have switched over their brand page on Facebook to the new timeline style version. Here’s just a few of the usual suspects…. Starbucks, Red Bull, Nike and Burberry but perhaps my favourite is The New York Times where you can go back through their history, on Facebook.

I’ve included a PDF guide from Facebook on all the information you need to know. 

The real life introvert, but internet extrovert seems like something that is more prevalent than we think. Internet finally giving introverts their place to be extroverted? 

ibmsocialbiz:

“I am not a ‘people person’ in the typical sense, meaning that I’d rather communicate with people online than spend a lot of time visiting them or going out to places in groups. I much prefer using e-mail to using the telephone. In short, I am a real-life introvert yet an Internet extrovert.” Revolution 2.0

— Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and admin of the Facebook page that sparked last year’s revolution in Egypt.