Clothes Make the Network

Roland Piquepaille writes "Howard Rheingold is looking at how "wearable computers create ad-hoc wireless communities." Here is the main idea, introduced by Gerd Kortuem, a 38-year-old assistant professor, who recently moved to Lancaster University in England from the University of Oregon's Wearable Computing Lab. "As he sees it, the crowds who surround us every day constitute a huge waste of social capital. If you live in a city for instance, there are many who pass within a few yards of you each day who could give you a ride home, buy an item you're trying to sell, or consider you as dating material. Dynamic networking makes it possible to tap those resources through a momentary alliance among transient interest groups." Check this column for a summary or the full article if you have more time."

Comments

Why 'wearable'?

[GMOL]

The thing I really don't get with all the wearable computer baloney is, what can you not accomplish with a small computer that you have in your pocket (i.e. a cell phone computer) as opposed to a "wearable" one?

Hookers

[dagg]

This will be a boon for hookers. Here's a quote that was lost:

As he sees it, the crowds who surround us every day constitute a huge waste of johns and hookers. If you live in a city for instance, there are many who pass within a few yards of you each day who could give you a blow job, hand job, or kick in the jimmy (the fun way).

--
Find yer sex remotely

A justification for technology, not a reason

[mickwd]

From the article: "If you live in a city for instance, there are many who pass within a few yards of you each day who could give you a ride home, buy an item you're trying to sell, or consider you as dating material."

So why not open your mouth and talk to some of them ?

Do we really want to meet anymore people?

[c13v3rm0nk3y]

Speaking as someone who has lived and worked in some of the busiest urban areas in the world, my feelings are that most of us have already made all the "connections" we need.

Most of us spend our time deliberately ignoring each other, as even the smallest new interpersonal relationship can only offer so much in exchange for the necessary work.

Perhaps the article is meant to be more of a projection based on how the internet has change how we build relationships. Speaking only for myself, when I'm on my way home or to the office, the last thing I need is yet another social interaction with a stranger. Especially if this interaction is some banal eBay exchange or "hi want to chat?" ping. I already have enough places to meet people for commerce and dating, thank you very much.

Maybe the same folks who use IRC or instant messenging 24 hours a day will like this kind of anonymous mobile communication. Perhaps they will build fluid and mobile communities that move from area to area.

I just don't it fitting into my life, or anyone I spend time with.