Lifelogging
I've been wanting an augmented brain for as long as I can remember. I want an electronic device hooked into my brain that records everything my physical body is sensing for later playback.
There are lots of obvious problems with this scenario: the technology doesn't exist, or would be intrusive. Searching all that data is really hard, especially with the current state of image recognition. There are huge potential privacy problems, for me and for those with whom I interact. And if the MPAA and RIAA and their ilk don't like me sending mp3s around, imagine how they'll feel when every piece of music I've ever heard and every movie I've ever seen is retained forever in my electronic brain?
Even so, I want it. Clive Thompson wrote a great piece about Gordon Bell, a researcher at Microsoft who has logged the last several decades of his life in increasing detail as the technology has expanded to support him. I really enjoy most of what Thompson writes, and this one is definitely worth checking out.
Once they've got the lifelogging stuff figured out, I want something even better, that makes suggestions. Like the paperclip, only better. "You seem to be looking for your keys. They are on your dresser." (Photo history plus habit monitor plus calendar.) Or, "It has been two years since you've seen your old friend Sarah, who happens to be giving a talk today at a conference downtown. Shall I push your 2:00 appointment so you can meet up with her?" (Contact history plus current event monitor plus calendar plus email agent.)
There are lots of obvious problems with this scenario: the technology doesn't exist, or would be intrusive. Searching all that data is really hard, especially with the current state of image recognition. There are huge potential privacy problems, for me and for those with whom I interact. And if the MPAA and RIAA and their ilk don't like me sending mp3s around, imagine how they'll feel when every piece of music I've ever heard and every movie I've ever seen is retained forever in my electronic brain?
Even so, I want it. Clive Thompson wrote a great piece about Gordon Bell, a researcher at Microsoft who has logged the last several decades of his life in increasing detail as the technology has expanded to support him. I really enjoy most of what Thompson writes, and this one is definitely worth checking out.
Once they've got the lifelogging stuff figured out, I want something even better, that makes suggestions. Like the paperclip, only better. "You seem to be looking for your keys. They are on your dresser." (Photo history plus habit monitor plus calendar.) Or, "It has been two years since you've seen your old friend Sarah, who happens to be giving a talk today at a conference downtown. Shall I push your 2:00 appointment so you can meet up with her?" (Contact history plus current event monitor plus calendar plus email agent.)