Computer Support Blog

It is hard not to look at the advancement of recent technology and wonder just what the science fiction model coming out of the current generation will be.  From Star Trek to now, science fiction media has posited a future where technological leaps free humanity from the shackles of capitalism, consumerism, and want.  Indeed, one of the iconic moments of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was when James T. Kirk had to admit that he did not have any money – and that was set during the “greed is good” 1980s!  With so much of today’s technology geared toward simply getting consumers to spend more money, buy more products, consume more, it is a dismal time to consider not only the future of science fiction, but the actual future.

Take, for example, the announcement by Rolling Stone that it would be releasing its The Beatles: The Ultimate Album-By-Album Guide as an app for the Apple iPad.  Rolling Stone published the special magazine on The Beatles in August 2011.  The magazine is essentially a coffee table book of trivia, reviews and photographs of The Beatles.  Rolling Stone is republishing the magazine digitally as an app for the iPad.  The magazine was originally $9.99 and the app is $10, so consumers will pay a penny more to not have it printed on paper, which seems a bit backwards.  The app includes thirty-second clips of songs by The Beatles and offers a channel to buy each song through iTunes.  Considering that there has been no new music by The Beatles in over a decade and the rest of the content of the app is identical, the purpose is clear.  Rolling Stone does not have something new to sell; it just discovered how to use technology to better sell the same old stuff!

Without questioning why anyone would pay $10 to put what is essentially an advertisement on their iPad, Rolling Stone and Apple are not the only offenders here.  Amazon discovered early in its release of the Kindle that it could get users to shell out more money for the “service” of delivering a Kindle that does not feature Amazon.com ads.  That is the advertising equivalent of a protection racket.

Even the idea of the Cloud robs consumers of actual ownership.  The end of physical media like CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs compels consumers to pay monthly or annual fees to companies that provide access to media.  Technology has not been lowering bills; now you have your cellphone and Cloud-media subscription bills to pay!

The tablet computer is stylistically and functionally based on the Star Trek: The Next Generation PADD.  Science fiction helped usher in the tablet computer and a whole wave of technology that benefits big business while it makes consumers feel dependent.  One shudders to think what will come from the minds raised on this new technology.  Perhaps in the next iteration of Star Trek, viewers will be thrilled by a starship captain who would have defeated the Romulans, had he not been distracted by the advertisements that popped up on his view screen!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Filed under: business, david milman, news, performance, rescuecom, tablets