DICE 2010: "Design Outside the Box" Presentation

Sleeplessmonkey

bi0raid, the point was the platforms would diverge, so the points that Dr. Pepper give you would probably only be usable for Dr. Pepper related items. The points for practicing piano would go towards arts grants for secondary schooling, much as performance grants and scholarships work today. The fact that you have disposable technology everywhere does not mean that those pieces of technology would be made by the same manufacturer. Perhaps Kellogs boxes use Ibm micro-controllers while Pepsi cans and boxes use Motorolla technology. In this scenario it would be easy to see a competition over affordability, lifespan on a charge, size of the hardware, connectivity, and ease of programming. Much as we see with the smart phones today.

Just because the information collected by so many sources would be simular in nature does not mean a centralization of information. It is much easier to envision the collected information being closely guarded by the companies collecting that information. It is easy to see the corn flakes box recording information for Kellogs' use only. Although that information may be sold to other companies and agencies. On a smaller scale this is already happening. When you use google, what you search for and what links you click on from that search are used to determine search results as well as google advertising. Your email on list serves or user accounts may be sold to internet marketing companies. Just because information exists or is collected/generated on mass does not mean that it is not made for specific use by specific agents.

And Black_Bob I don't think Prof. Schell ever refers to this vision as a utopia. I think he is pretty clear that this is merely the future he sees coming down the road. I never heard any positive or negative value from him on this scenario. I did however hear Prof. Schells ask if this vision had room for social engineering. If points are rewarded for good behavior, would that create enough incentive to create the good behavior? Or would there be as Flight_Eagle pointed out the same number of counter culture rebels as there are today? Would the strive for something "real" that Prof. Schells mentioned earlier only become stronger to the point of people unplugging or pulling out of the point incentive game?

I am sure that you could write many papers and small books in many scholastic journals on the technology, practicality, incentives, and ethics of this vision. But my only question after watching this speech for a second time, and reading these comments is a simple one. If this is something is coming in one form or an other, can it be used to promote a more connected society that continues to strive for moral evolution? Or does this system lack that power, only existing to be used to create sheep that jump through hoops both seen and unseen? Now that is a question that would get me to read philosophy journals again.