Can we preserve our autonomy whilst embracing this new era of digital transformation? In this book, Tracey Follows explores how our identity and freedoms will be transformed over the coming decades.
Can we preserve our autonomy whilst embracing this new era of digital transformation? In this book, Tracey Follows explores how our identity and freedoms will be transformed over the coming decades.
This has to be one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read…possibly one of the scariest too. Tracey Follows takes a look at emerging technologies to try and get an idea of what the future holds for us, a lot of what she covers already exists and the rest is in concept mode, meaning the basics are there, it just needs a whole load of development to exist for real. I now know how my parents felt when computers and the Internet were what the kids were playing with, it was a huge leap into the future and they had no idea how they would keep up, now with these future possibilities I am left wondering if I’ll be able to keep up, managing a digital identity where everything is virtual is one thing but keeping it safe is scary as hell, what if I get implants and then …
This has to be one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read…possibly one of the scariest too. Tracey Follows takes a look at emerging technologies to try and get an idea of what the future holds for us, a lot of what she covers already exists and the rest is in concept mode, meaning the basics are there, it just needs a whole load of development to exist for real. I now know how my parents felt when computers and the Internet were what the kids were playing with, it was a huge leap into the future and they had no idea how they would keep up, now with these future possibilities I am left wondering if I’ll be able to keep up, managing a digital identity where everything is virtual is one thing but keeping it safe is scary as hell, what if I get implants and then get hacked? Do I need a better password that Password1 from now on? The more I read though the more excited I became for what the future holds, could we be really close to The Matrix being a thing? Which pill did what now?
Follows does a very good job of explaining each concept in a way that made it sound so very simple, for example blockchain, I have heard this mentioned a lot and didn’t understand it, now I get it and am very impressed by how it works. I found myself taking a break between each chapter because she gets your brain whirling like crazy and you go on a google bender reading up on things discussed and checking out companies and the services they offer. One of the most interesting was a company that interviews a parent and records their voice, they then create an app and when that person has passed on you can chat to them and hold a conversation with the app, this is so cool and would allow Grandchildren to hear that voice. This technology already exists and the book covers what could be available in the future.
There is a lot to process here, ownership of data is one of the biggest things, for example if you could store memories online and then divorce who would get them? Before a huge amount of this technology exists a lot of work will have to be done to amend laws. It was also of interest to see what countries are already doing, Taiwan successfully used their digital infrastructure to give them an advantage during the Covid pandemic and because the people accepted the digital ID and followed rules they survived…meanwhile over in the UK we had protests over wearing a mask. I can see the UK being left behind, whilst the rest of the world goes online we will be on the streets still complaining about our loss of rights due to needing a vaccination passport to purchase 600 rolls of toilet paper.
This is a very good book, with tonnes of information for you to take on board, too much for a first read through, luckily there is ample info at the back of the book for further reading. Whilst the future may seem like a long way off, technology is certainly speeding it up, I’m glad I gave this book a read to prepare myself what is to come. Now where’s that red pill?
