It is easy to think that all this new technology will dehumanize
us all and shift the emphasis from communicating with people
to interacting with technology. But the reality is just the opposite,
because innovations such as the Wireless Internet allow
for more frequent and detailed social contacts.
The Wireless Internet will be used more as a social medium,
making complex interactions less dependent on face-toface
encounters. Technologies such as wireless email and
messaging help maintain contact while away from friends and
family and are very useful for arranging impromptu face-toface
interactions. There will be an evolution from using a
voice-only phone to using a 2.5G or 3G computing or handheld
device to send pictures, coordinate diaries, organize social
events, and play games.
People will also benefit from the multimedia presentation
of information. The inclusion of graphics, sound, and animation
as part of the information that users consume conveys
much more than text. In an age of macromedia Flash and MTV
today’s users may reject information that is not presented in an
interesting way.