[trimski]

During a discussion with a friend on future technology, someone remarked that for a few days' wages ($200 for an iPod touch) you can now hold a condensed summary of all human knowledge (Wikipedia) in the palm of your hand, with near-instant access to astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, engineering, mathematics, history, sociology, economics, psychology, medicine, technology, literature, art, drama, religion, and boundless other subjects.

Yet far more often we use it for trivia and the mundane. The future is wasted on the future.

[sketerpot]

When I was in high school, I got the equivalent of a four-year degree in computer science from the internet because I was bored. It didn't feel like work.

The technology is not wasted.

[sage_joch]

"with near-instant access to astrology"

Not that your comment is incorrect, but I'm guessing you meant to say astronomy.

[trimski]

You're right; it's been corrected.

[seldo]

Of course, you can get your astrology too: http://shine.yahoo.com/astrology

[benmathes]

What's not new is that people who are past puberty generally use technology only to make what they were already doing easier. We'll all have to die off before a majority of people develop habits and behaviors made possible by The Future.

[wallflower]

> Yet far more often we use it for trivia and the mundane

I play quizzo (pub quiz) occasionally. The winning team usually gets comps for their bar tab. I am shocked at how many teams will surreptitiously or sometimes brazenly pull out their mobile to google an answer. Where's the fun in that? It's not very often but I love when I can on a hunch/recall trivial knowledge like 'Iris' was the name of the woman in 'Taxi Driver'

[njharman]

quit living in the past, exo-memory is here, now!