Accurate Predictions

I thought Chapter 14, “Prime Time is My Time,” by Nicholas Negroponte, was very interesting and accurately portrayed technological advancements that are present today. Throughout the chapter Negroponte makes multiple predictions about different communication mediums including telephone, satellite, and terrestrial broadcasting. Each passage revolves around the common theme of having visual access to virtually anything-in any country-having the same recipe being demonstrated by Julia Child or a Moroccan housewife. Although many of his projections weren’t spot on, I think many proved to be somewhat true today-maybe just in a different form of communication. Accurate

The “VCR of the future” he refers to reminded me of Facebook. This futuristic device was supposed to identify and record what programs the owner would enjoy as well as make personal connections-such as identifying people on television that the owner may know. This is very similar to the Facebook newsfeed and the “people you may know” link. Negroponte also touched on the changes in advertising techniques as the “VCR of the future” would be able to cater to the consumer’s personal interests. As we have discussed in class, Facebook and other internet advertising work very similar with peoples online activity being constantly tracked and used to ‘personalize’ the advertisement to the consumer. I thought Negroponte’s most accurate prediction was the dissolution of videocassette-rental stores, such as Blockbuster. He attributes this to on-demand TV-offering a promising selection of new releases with the convenience of never having to leave home. However, I think NetFlix and RedBox are to blame as well. I can’t remember the last time I walked into a Blockbuster-but almost weekly rent a movie from Redbox and at home I’m always searching through On Demand movies.

Many of Negroponte’s predictions proved to be true-but I think the most shocking is the large role that social networking plays in everyone’s day to day lives. It seems that this trend is moving into the broadcast industry as new apps for cell phones are encouraging constant connection with others. The iPhone is developing a new application that has the ability to identify what television show the user is watching after a few seconds of ‘listening.’ The app also has the ability to provide information about the TV show and users can share what they’re watching through Facebook/Twitter and have the option viewing the show through Netflix. With constant new updates and new technologies, video rental stores may be going out of business sooner than Negroponte predicted.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/01/extraordinary-iphone-app-identifies-tv-shows-by-listening/1