Don't Forget the Scary Side of Tech

Technology provides us with countless benefits and improvements to our lives, namely medical procedures and medication that can drastically extend the health of a dying child or victim of a terminal illness. Thus, without argue, I would never suggest a reduction in technology. Nonetheless it is important to be aware of the dangers that accompany such advancements. The RFID wallets featured above were created because of a danger due to technological advancement. Their aluminum case provides protection against RFID scanners that can scan one's credit cards in one's wallets, stealing one's identity. This can cost the owner an amount up to the limit on their card, a long lasting bad credit score if one can't make the payments, and a stressful time dealing with credit card companies. This crime is possible just by walking past someone on the street who has such a scanner in their pocket thanks to technological advancements. Another even more extreme danger is the ability for criminals to walk down the street using a device that can cause an installed pace maker in one's body to malfunction. These and many more dangers are out there and we will have to deal with them in order to continue to also benefit from advances that can save lives and make life easier.

New Mobile Keyboard

Do you find the keyboard on your phone or mobile device hard to use? Even with small fingers and auto-correction technology it just isn't as seamless as it should be in this day and age. 8pen seems to have created an awesome solution that addresses the needs of consumers by providing all the functionality of a standard keyboard, with shift, delete, return, number and space keys as well as providing a layout not dependent on the size of one's screen or finger width. My favorite feature is that it goes beyond any other keyboard by allowing for shortcuts to commonly used words such as your name to be saved with unique gestures such as a triangle. This keyboard is only testable on android phones yet I hope it succeeds and spreads to all devices. Although with a patent, Apple would be forced to pay for it and advertise that they didn't think of it first - something they will most likely not be willing to do. For the thousands of aging consumers though, who constantly buy based on functionality, not having this keyboard technology on Apple devices could be detrimental to their sales.

You're Not Alone

A Crunch Gear article from Feburary touches upon findings that radiation from cell phones causes increased brain activity. While the significance - whether it be beneficial or harmful - of this finding is still up in the air, author Devin Coldewey comments that the only thing he knows for sure is that the radiation seems to cause himself to stand up and walk around while talking on his cell. He assures himself that he can't possibly be the only person to also experience this phenomenon. Well Devin, you are definitely not alone, along with my own similar experiences I can tell you that at least 65 others (who have joined the facebook group "I have to pace around my house when I'm on the phone") do the same! I have also noticed that I tend to walk around more if I know the conversation will be lengthy and if it is one that I don't particularly want to have. I wonder if you have noticed this too?

Sharing Costs, Sharing Problems

Today's society is filled with concern for a lack of money and resources. As Danielle Sacks' article details, some people are increasing their sharing to cut back on costs and waste while creating a neighborly environment. They will share everything from office space to nannies. Yet, while the friendly world seems nice in theory it also creates an insecure reality.

Imagine trading in your gas-guzzling, money-draining auto for a membership with Zipcar, the increasingly popular car-sharing service. To drive you need to reserve your car using internet access - obviously only booking those that are available. Now imagine a non-medical emergency arises, such as a potential client moves up the time of your next meeting, and no cars in your area are available. If your client was a home-buyer, you just lost thousands of dollars worth of commission and your livelihood because you didn't have your own car and the wait for public transportation wouldn't have gotten you there in time. Or imagine you are sharing a nanny with a neighbor on your street. Because you cannot control how your neighbor's child is raised, he or she could be sick and therefore endanger the health of your own child.

Yes there are positive benefits to foster an environment where society shares things and services, however when doing so you loose the security you have on the reliance of things you own or services you do not share with others. A proper balance is needed, and both sides of the story should always be noted when discussing this utopian society being that the gullible may actually fail to see that there could possibly be life threatening disadvantages.

What Were You Thinking?

Suzanne Labarre's article highlights a new accessory for the iphone (possibly for the ipod touch as well). The MegaPhone is a non-Apple, ceramic bull-horn shaped table top accessory that holds the iphone at its mouth while projecting the speaker volume without the use of electricity. Such a thing is ridiculous.

Suzanne explains the devices helps to solve the problem of not being able to hear while talking on the phone. While she accurately foresees only die-hard Apple fans buying such a product, the only objection she mentions is the immobility of the accessory. I see many more problems. 

First off, a bull-horn device of this size and material, which requires the placement of an iphone inside the device, could never be used to increase hearing while holding the phone up to one's ear; It could only be used to increase the loudness of speaker phone conversations. Therefore, the device does not directly address the stated issue it set out to solve, according to Suzanne.

Second, the lack of features accompanying this device along with its immobility make it hugely impractical in comparison to almost every other volume enhancing accessory on the market - giving it no value to customers and no revenue for the manufacturer. The MegaPhone lacks remote volume adjustment, bass amplification, display features (such as the current time), and the ability to concurrently charge your iphone.

Third, being that this device is made out of ceramics and has a very asymmetrical (and unstable) shape, it is highly fragile. Such construction would make the device a nightmare to transport to distribution centers and stores. Any cost savings from the lack of electronic equipment - who's maturity already lowers its costs today - may be offset by high transportation costs incurred from additional reliance on packing materials to secure a heavier, more fragile product.

Overall, the cons definitely out weigh the pros of this product, making it ridiculous from a production and profitability evaluation. Was it really worth the time, effort and cost to produce this product? An even scarier question: Is the importance of practicality inflated - is its uniqueness and emphasis on design actually enough to make this a successful product?