Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
Just as the social side of mobile phone messaging has led to many new social
conventions and applications (and a very lucrative revenue stream for the
operators), it is likely that the social side of Whereness will lead to new
opportunities around the idea of meeting and coordinating with friends and
colleagues and potential new contacts when out and about. This aspect of
Whereness may well have the potential to dwarf the other applications and to be a
truly killer application. Social engagement (in all its forms—many of which are
illegal in many places) and gambling are the really big money spinners in the
Internet world and adding a locational aspect to these is likely to be very popular
with some people (however distasteful it may be to others!).
High-technology fashionable items are emotional choices. Dull and boring
but perfectly usable technology is sometimes rejected and much more expensive
“cool” devices are chosen. The motivation concerns image and style. It is
possible that a range of location-aware jewelry or some other such style-related
location-aware device may be very popular and hugely profitable.
Perhaps the ultimate in self-actualization concerns the future of art.
Contemporary and conceptual art is blurring boundaries between what is defined
as art, between artists and audiences (or spectators), and between the artistic
media. The act of moving around is being used by conceptual artists to create
works, where the participant's movements trigger the creation and delivery of
music and visual displays that are part of living dynamic artworks in themselves.
The artist has in effect created a machine that is creating the art.
3
2.3.4
Humanizing Big Brother
An interesting side effect of using Whereness technology in a social, artistic, or
gaming context may be to humanize it. One of the frequent negative comments
made about tracking and positioning, especially when it involves people, concerns
the Big Brother issue. Some issues of trust are due to misinformation,
unfamiliarity, and difficulty in understanding what machines can do. Once people
are familiar with the technology in a positive context they may be less afraid of it
in others.
3
“The idea becomes a machine that makes the art”. - Sol LeWitt.
