Connectivity breeds positive outcomes.
I would like to extend this idea a little to a possible logical
(positive conclusion). At first for the rich countries, later on for
underdeveloped countries as well. Here goes:
The overarching theme of our times in my view is authenticity and
self realisation. The mobile phone and mobile internet in this respect
is a key driver and enabler/facilitator. Why ?
1) The more we share (the more open we are), the more transparent we
are. Open APIs, GPS data, photos, videos, blog posts, tweets,
clickstream data and increasingly attention data concerning what we
read and watch (see APML) are examples. This sharing (increasingly
using our mobile phones) stimulates authenticity and honesty as
inconsistenties and lies are exposed to ourselves, our family, our
social network, our peers and even the market/public as a whole.
2) Information overload begets us the question of what is important
to us ? Choices… Choices are based on your identity (who am I ? what
are my values ? what is core to me ?). Filtering (using our mobile
phones) based increasing identity awareness stimulates authenticity. If
we are overwhelmed with options, possibilities and choices, we are
drawn to ourselves.
3) Change is everywhere and seems to speeding up. This creates
stress in people. In most cases, people can find their core personality
in these circumstances as it makes us naked in our needs and wants. As
a result, authenticity comes to the fore. As a mobile phones is present
with us almost all the time, it seems likely this will be a key gateway
to learn about ourselves in these circumstances.
4) Increasingly, (mobile) technologies are on the market for the
automated detection of deception and lies. Examples are Facial Coding
techniques integrated into and applied to videos and presentations. If
you lie, certain particular facial expressions are salient. These
expressions can be logged and analyzed using technology. Increasingly,
these techniques will be incorporated into mobile phones. As a result,
authenticity becomes not only a valuable choice (see point 1, 2 and 3)
but also a necessity in certain instances.
5) Mobile phones transform conversational techniques due to
‘presence’ capabilities. If my loves ones and social network can follow
all my updates and actions on Twitter, my blog, Facebook etc…this
transforms my real-life interactions. The basic questions are skipped
as they are already clear using mobile phones and mobile internet. In
the past, the basic questions were a necessity due to the lack of the
mentioned apps. As a result, real-life conversations focus on more deep
questions related to emotions, feelings and intimacy. Shallow, factual
questions are more unnecessary. All of this might stimulate authentic
conversations and authenticity.
In short, the mobile phone is not only a fantastic connectivity and
thus productivity, growth and empowerment tool but also increasingly
IMO a tool for higher levels of trust, authenticity, self realization,
transparency and honesty.
This is not a sure scenario, just a likely scenario IMO. It is
evenly possible to construct an opposite case/scenario with fear
(instead of hope and trust) as a key theme as a result of using a
mobile phone and mobile internet (including Internet of
Things/UbiComp). Fear due to increasing control by classic institutions
and even ordinary people. Fear -> more closed systems -> negative
outcomes across the board including Less authenticity. Yet again, I am
an optimist :-)
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