mxyzplk
02-10-2006, 03:29 PM
I totally agree with the theme of the column. In fact, even science fiction is having trouble keeping pace with where technology is really going. Even now there's handheld unified devices that from pretty much anywhere give you cell phone, GPS, Web browsing and email, texting, games, mp3s, and PIM functionality. In a 5-10 year "near future" scenario I could see these being miniaturized to the point of being able to exist in "temporary tattoo" form. Access to each other and to information becomes ubiquitous. For small fees you can already get complete background checks and other in depth information on people (and reverse directory lookups and the like for free). With increases in search and visualization technology, you could expect to have an in-glasses HUD that provides you with contextual information about people and places; and as confidence becomes increasingly Internet rated; you'd even get information about the reliability of a person in various arenas. Anonymity technology and legislation would foil this some but couldn't keep up.
This is a problem for straightforward investigation scenarios for sure. For horror, you can always 'cheat' a bit - supernatural effects can take over/alter the information. And of course with the proliferation of information there becomes a plurality of info to plow through - if you research something "magical" on the Internet even now you'll find 100 things, all different.
Ernest
This is a problem for straightforward investigation scenarios for sure. For horror, you can always 'cheat' a bit - supernatural effects can take over/alter the information. And of course with the proliferation of information there becomes a plurality of info to plow through - if you research something "magical" on the Internet even now you'll find 100 things, all different.
Ernest