Tech-nically Speaking: Who’s going to draw the line for the technological revolution?

Tech-nically Speaking: Whos going to draw the line for the technological revolution?

Aren’t we all thrilled about the debut of the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and its life changing capabilities? Yeah, I didn’t think so. With a new ridiculous technological “advance” every day, I find it hard to believe that we will be able to live in this technology-saturated world much longer.

Who, aside from the tech nerds that salivate over each new device, is seriously going to go out and buy this watch? It’s a watch that tells you the exact same things that your phone and tablet can. But wait — you can’t even use it as a standalone device, it needs to be synced up to a nearby smartphone or tablet to work.

Something has to give. The problem is not just the smartwatch. We have a million different sites, apps, tweets and devices vying for our attention at every second of every day. It’s like mosquitoes buzzing in our ears. We try to ignore them, desperately swatting and screaming “enough!” But at some point you have to give in.

I think that eventually, some people will completely forgo new technology and look back to the ways of a simpler time. What will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Obviously, not the smartwatch.

As convenient as it is to be connected and have the world’s information at your fingertips, there may come a time when information is so commonplace that it will become mundane, and it will not be valued anymore. It will all just be noise.

I’m not saying I would like for this to happen. I’m just looking down the road and relaying what I see around the bend.

It all has to become simpler. First, we need a few sources to go to for information, instead of a million. Second, we need it personalized. Personalized by location, demographics, profession and interest. Important information, like breaking news and foreign policy, will be shown to everyone, as a democracy cannot function properly without such knowledge. But, there is a lot of garbage to sift through. If we weren’t wasting the energy sifting though it ourselves, the process would automatically be friendlier.

There is something to say for living simpler lives. Maybe the Amish have it right. Maybe we should interact with real things – nature, animals and humans— not screens. I don’t see us dropping our phones to go milk cows anytime soon, though.

We will just keep pushing on and hoping we’ll get it right. This isn’t the first attempt at developing a useful smart portable device (Sony has a smartwatch out too), nor is it the most intrusive (who’s ready to be recorded by everyone’s Google Glass?).

Apple, for once, is the one playing catch up in this game. Let’s hope they don’t create a similar device just for the sake of it. My hope is that they are taking time to actually simplify and personalize the experience. I’m not the biggest Apple fan, and do not own a single “i” anything, but I appreciate a company that will focus on revision and perfection over pioneering.

So, who’s going to do it? Who’s going to be the face of a technological revolution? Someone. Anyone. If nobody steps up we may find ourselves sitting around a fire in 50 years telling our grandchildren about the wonders of technology back in our day.

Samantha Wulff can be reached by email at [email protected].