Customer Reviews

Where's It Going? (Prospects for Tomorrow)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

¡§Imaging yourself sitting in front of a computer in the year 2020. What do you see?¡¨ (Pearson & Chris, 1999, p.40) If you have no clue, and do not know where you should start, ¡§Where¡¦s IT Going¡¨ is a nice read for you who is interested in the future developments of Information Technology. In this book, two futurologists, Pearson and Winter provide a vision for readers in which Information Technology develops into a global infrastructure that can support most of aspect of human culture. According to them, the process and development of technology will be extremely profound. They discuss the technical changes and how these changes will be implemented. They map out a possible scenario in terms of hardware, software, communication, commerce, education and most importantly, humanity. In the last chapter: ¡§What is human?¡¨ Pearson and Chris argue that ¡§within the next fifty years¡¨ we will be able to control the evolutionary process. ¡§Homo sapiens is now able to take control of both the speciation process and the move from carbon to silicon life forms. We believe that this change is inevitable¡¨ (Pearson & Chris, 1999, p.110).

However, the future that Pearson and Winter portray seems too optimistic and lacks of comprehensive considerations of political, economic and social perspectives. For instance, they overlook the digital divide and wealth gap between the developed world and the developing countries. ¡§A number of new technologies will enable much more rapid development that was previously possible.¡¨ ¡§These countries quickly develop skills and move up the wealth ladder¡¨ (Pearson & Chris, 1999, p.93). Nevertheless, in my opinion, many of their forecasts are more favorable to ¡§techno-utopia¡¨ and relatively ignore realistic circumstances that people actually decide what they are going to adopt and what to reject. Therefore, I would say that this book is a base for having a glace of how technologies go in the next twenty years rather than an answer of our future.

This book explores the world of possibilities enabled by advances science, with a focus on chip technology. With "disposable" computer chips which can network with each other, the implications on society are seemingly limitless. At least that's what the authors of "Where's IT Going?" would have us believe.

Computer chips that can be ingested for biometric monitoring is one example of the many innovative uses envisioned for the future of information technology. This particular example is indeed close to reality. The science discussed in this book is not the eye-opening material; it is the social and sociological consequences of this science that make the book a compelling read. The authors may or may not have it "right" when they talk of the future of society, but their views certainly stimulate interesting discussions of the possibilities. The technology is coming. With the aid of the views proposed in this book, it is interesting to contemplate how our society will evolve in response to these technological changes.

Have you ever wondered how the future will be? If you have, Where's IT Going is one book that you have to read. The book is written by two futurologists named Ian Pearson and Chris Winter and some ideas where are written in this book shocked me when I was reading it. The book talks about concepts that already existed, such as VR and electronic cash, but it also talks about concepts of the ego badge, smart clothing, microbots, intelligent agents, and more concepts that people today would not even dream about happening. However, intelligence is one thing that every computer will have in the future. The computers will be so smart and powerful that programmers will no longer be needed. Chips with everything will turn on the lights when people walk into a room, inform people when fruit should be discarded, give cooking instruction, and even pinpoint position. The authors also talks about intelligent agents who will inform people when the price of a good from certain brands has decreased or make travel arrangement. The authors not only introduced new concepts, but they also talk about impacts on creativity, financial systems, physical things, and social institutions and behavior. A lot of new concepts that the authors wrote in the book are true eye-opening and will sure come to reality, but many problems will also occur at the same time. One questions then arised: are we ready for the future where computers are smarter than us?

Reading this book was an adventure for the mind. It took my mind to places that I would not have boldly gone before. The concepts of VR, Ego badges, Smart badges, and the use of analogous technology were amazing to read about. The ability to have a contact lens that can tell you directions by superimposing arrows right on your eye or the use of the very air we breath to type out email message without a physical keyboard. Amazing. However, some of the advancement of technology discussed in this book go beyond the enhancement of human life and gave me the impression that if used would bring the world close to that depicted in the movie "Terminator", where the machines replaced humans. So, although I did a lot of ooing and awing about the technologies discussed, I could not help but feel a little afraid of the repercussions of all those capabilities. Leaving me with one question that I feel must be asked, "Will the world really let technology advance to the point of human obsolesces?"

Disappointing. The title and advertising lure you in, but there is nothing new. While reading the book I was hoping to be stimulated or challenged at least once by a novel concept. It never happened.

Have you ever wondered how the future will be? If you have, Where's IT Going is one book that you have to read. The book is written by two futurologists named Ian Pearson and Chris Winter and some ideas where are written in this book shocked me when I was reading it. The book talks about concepts that already existed, such as VR and electronic cash, but it also talks about concepts of the ego badge, smart clothing, microbots, intelligent agents, and more concepts that people today would not even dream about happening. However, intelligence is one thing that every computer will have in the future. The computers will be so smart and powerful that programmers will no longer be needed. Chips with everything will turn on the lights when people walk into a room, inform people when fruit should be discarded, give cooking instruction, and even pinpoint position. The authors also talks about intelligent agents who will inform people when the price of a good from certain brands has decreased or make travel arrangement. The authors not only introduced new concepts, but they also talk about impacts on creativity, financial systems, physical things, and social institutions and behavior. A lot of new concepts that the authors wrote in the book are true eye-opening and will sure come to reality, but many problems will also occur at the same time. One questions then arised: are we ready for the future where computers are smarter than us?

This book, written by two futurologist, Ian Pearson and Chris Winter, predict the development of Information Technology. The future in communication, computing techniques, and Interface is compiled and an attempt to analyse and give an evolutionary life to these area is, simply stated, a view that not every body is ready for. Some of the authors' predictions are hard to conceive but many new technologies of today may give convincing elements to their sight. Smart is the key work for the future. Every computers will have a mind of its own; Chips everywhere to control drug distribution, electric appliances, and help people recognise eachother's personnalities; Smart clothing where textile will control the body's temperature; Ego badges; Smart Badges; Smart material, and the list goes on. The authors exlpore such developments and their impact on society, on business and economic systems. As network link people from anywhere in the world, the government will have trouble regulating new technology and what happens between boundries. The speed at which technology is happening will bring all these smart tools frontwards, surpassing the homo sapien, and eventually take over. This book is a shocking pre-view of the future as these two authors see it. Are we willing to accept what's comming?

I haveread both books :where is it going & scanning the future. Both were bought while I am in South Africa . I beleive they open eyes and lubricates brains to think of what will happen and how?

For the first time , you find all what you do not ask for !! You cannot predicit what`s next unless you read all the book. I suggest both books .