Top three technology duds. IMO
Fact: these days, there's nothing people enjoy talking/writing/blogging about more than technology. First we were scared that facebook was secretly ruining our lives. Then, we were crudely informed that the photo you posted to Twitter of your dog giving you those delicious puppy eyes had a geotag embedded, for the convenience of robbers, stalkers and other unsavory characters interested in finding out your home's exact location via precise longitude and latitude coordinates.
Today, in honor of the fantastic front page article of the NYTimes about our brain on computers, I'd like to raise my glass (in this particular moment, a Starbucks iced coffee cup) to three of the more absurd technological breakthroughs we've seen in the past few weeks.
3. 3D Pornography.
Oh yes, it's here. As we reviewed in today's scintillating episode of Tech Talk, pornography has entered the IMAX world, and the industry is excited about the possibilities. The first 3D "erotic drama" venture entitled "3D Sex and Zen," is being head up by Hong Kong director Christopher Sun and film maker Stephen Shiu, pictured above on set. I'm sure 3D "erotic films" will be a big hit. I can just see the lines snaking around the Carnegie Science Center as people wait with bated breath for their first glimpses of erotic IMAX.... not.
2. The Bina48 robot in Bristol, VT.
This robot, which NYTimes reporter Amy Harmon actually takes the time to interview on camera, is strikingly realistic-looking. That being said, it's human qualities really end there, as it's more likely to confuse what you meant by 'cool' ("ambiguous: cold weather?") than offer you a sympathetic ear. Overall, the Bina48 is a tricky piece of technology that hooks computer software to the face of a robot. It's cool, but not earth shattering.
1. Those baby liger cubs who were just born in Taiwan.
They are really cute. But, we have baby tigers already, and we also have baby lions... so why bother with ligers? It does seem that maybe scientists are getting ahead of themselves, creating new breeds simply because they can. I mean, what will really become of these ligers; won't they just be a spectacle? (This is an especially troubling question since the mama tiger is refusing to nurse the cubs herself, and even full-grown ligers are unable reproduce).
On the whole, it does seem as if our desire to innovate has left us with more than a few duds that may be more exciting and useful in concept than in reality. What are your thoughts on these technological breakthroughs? Helpful? Silly? Morally wrong?
With love and promises to write an entry devoid of references to technology soon,
Beth