danshamptons.com
DAN’S PAPERS
June 14, 2013 Page 67
What’s Up with New Tech? By MATTHeW APFeL
One underrated aspect of technology is the conversation that comes with it. Cuttingedge gadgets often raise interesting questions about where we’re heading as a society. Lately I’ve been thinking about these issues, so I decided to create my first virtual mailbag: smart questions from imaginary readers about real hot-button topics. Let’s jump in. When should i buy my Google Glasses, and will they help me make friends and influence people? —Tyler, Westhampton A two-part question, and both have the same answer: I don’t really know. I wrote about Google Glasses over a year ago; they are just as mystifying and goofy today as they were back then. But it raises another interesting point. Lately it feels like the big tech companies have maxed out the features for smartphones and tablets. There just aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to add. So the question really is this: which product will take that great leap forward in gadgetry? Will it be a wristwatch computer? There are rumblings that Apple is planning something big. Will it be Google Glasses? Or something else altogether? One thing is clear: the two biggest kids on the block are jumping head-first into the arms race, so you can expect to see some interesting devices in the coming months and years. Why isn’t there an app to tell me exactly when my train or bus will arrive? —Rachel, Amagansett Excellent question. I did some digging, and the LIRR actually built a product called “Train Time” that tries to do this. There are two big problems. First, the app only delivers information for the Port Washington and West Hempstead branches. Montauk? No help. Second, you can only access the information on the LIRR website, and it’s almost impossible to find the link. Let’s hope someone reading this knows how to code. We could sure use an upgrade. Should i be worried about Chinese hackers? —Jared, Sagaponack Absolutely. You should also be afraid of Iranians, North Koreans, kids in Utah—anyone with a computer and an axe to grind. Here’s some perspective. It’s ludicrous to think that hackers in Beijing have any interest in accessing your songs, photos and personal computer data. But that’s not the point. This story is really about enemies gaining access to the power grid, or the air traffic control network, or the banking system—global institutions that would disrupt our way of life in a major way if properly hacked. It’s hard to say when or if that day will ever
come, but cyber-warfare is very real, and our defenses are weak. Even a joke about General Tso’s Chicken won’t lighten that reality. What’s Pinterest and why do i need to join another social network? —M. Zuckerberg, Mountain view CA I’m glad you brought that up, M. You probably prefer Facebook, but Pinterest is pretty cool because it adds elements of shopping and commerce to social networking. Because of this, it has become extremely popular with women. On Pinterest, the idea is to mark anything you find online with a Pin. It could be a recipe,
a handbag, a VW camper van, a video, etc. All of these Pins are collected onto a board where your friends and family can add comments, make suggestions and do other social things. You can also follow other people to check out all of their cool stuff. Pinterest is a way for businesses (small and large) to connect with constomers. By helping consumers create product wish lists, and then letting the community help them locate the actual items for purchase, the goal is to make shopping a more visual and social activity than simply entering some words in a search bar. Still confused? In its latest investment round, the company took on $200 million in funding, at a $2.5 billion valuation. Put a Pin in that.
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