Digital Purity
Self appointed film geek Halley presents us with an ironic scenario where she is left in a new media environment with a longing for “being there”. Knowing Halley personally I am not shocked by her paradoxical post as I feel it is very fitting of the way that I see her.
Her musings turn to the days of “wine and analog” (I of course made up the wine part 
) and then to an excitement about ubiquitous computing (this is where I see the beautiful irony come in). I have heard talk of computational invisibility, or more accurately a natural approach to technology. While the idealism is compelling to me I have not yet seen such environments (I realize we are talking theoretically for the most part). This is an official call out to the proponents and pioneers of such ideas to present me with actual evidence that this is possible (I would really love it as it perhaps it can drag me out of my Emersonian life of quiet desperation propelled, at times, by “always on” living…not that I am complaining about it ).
I am what one may call a digital purist. I was born a musician and learned to record audio on 2 inch tape. I could not have been happier when pro tools came along and allowed for the mind to take flight without worry of analog restraint. Sure, limitations can spur on creativity but in a digital world I feel the playing field is level and all are welcome; only the truly talented will survive. This my friends is the crux of, dare I say, the blogosphere and social media; everyone can have a voice.
In light of this I do not share Halley’s sense of nostalgia, but I do look forward to the same future and have just as much fun watching the present unfold.
To bring it back to the surface, I may need to take Halley’s advice and check out Decasia
Tags: Halley Hopkins, Next New Networks, Decasia, Analog, Digital, Ubiquitous Computing
Jan 31, 2007
Thanks for the post Adam. And yes, it is quite the paradox to overcome – this being an illustration of the larger picture. Ubiquitous computing being the conversation much like the book, 1984. What is it going to look like, and what are we going to lose through adoption of it’s functionality – there’s something innate in its premise that is exciting and yet terrifying.
With this growth one can only hope that its development is cautiously approached, always examining issues of privacy and safety, and that we aren’t rushing to the finish line for the sake of winning a single race – much in the same way was done with nuclear power being developed far before we had any thoughts about how to manage it’s magnitude and properly deal with the waste.
Another way of positioning the discussion, is to again revisit the dialog regarding what we are losing vs. what we know we are losing. Don’t get me wrong at all (which i don’t think you did) I’m a HUGE advocate of new media and what the digital age is empowering people to create. But Decasia made me rethink the sometimes blind following of newest greatest thing when you’re forced to see the beauty of what’s always been there for as long as at least we can remember.