January 11, 2010
I recently watched this Technology, Entertainment, & Design (TED) presentation that occurred in November of 2009 in India. The presenter was Pranav Mistry, an inventor, visionary, and genius from MIT who presented on his group’s “Sixth Sense” technology. This presentation must be seen to be believed:
I don’t want to be a spoiler. Just watch the video and prepare to have your socks knocked off. I had no idea that this type of technology was feasible at this time, especially at a low cost. I would not have expected it for at least another 10 years. To think that I thought the iPhone was a marvel of innovation and versatility!
No one can predict how this “Sixth Sense” technology will ultimately be used. I recently read an article in Newsweek about how the biggest selling point of the iPhone is the apps, and that no one could have imagined the array of creative apps that have been and are being made for the iPhone. The author was referring to the upcoming wave of tablet computers, including Apple’s own tablet computer, that will soon hit the market. If tablet computers will be used in ways that we can’t imagine, what does that say about Sixth Sense technology?
To the credit of Pranav and his team at MIT, they are making this “open source.” Thus, they will allow other developers, innovators, and entrepreneurs free access to create applications and uses for this technology. Also, he stated that his goal was to use technology to allow people to more seamlessly interact with the real world, rather than separating from the world by forcing us to sit behind a computer at the desk.
As with all technology…and just about anything for that matter…there will be many uses and misuses of the Sixth Sense. Technology isn’t good or bad…it just is. Thus, it has the potential to enhance our lives or cause greater problems than it solves. It is up to us to be mindful so that we can capitalize on technology’s benefits and minimizes the negative effects. After all, we don’t want machines trying to take over the world like in The Terminator or the Matrix! 😉 All that being said, I’m excited to see what the future holds for Pranav’s creation.
Filed under Cyberpsychology - Technology and You