The 7 (Technological) Wonders of the World - Art Droid's version

My seven wonders of the world:

1. Global Village - distance has been conquered. The ubiquity of communication technology is such that the only thing that distance and borders can deny you in social interactions is touch (with its many variations). I still wonder how they used to do it those days without instant messaging, instant emails, mobile telephony and social networking. Oh, wait, I think I'm old enough to remember. We really didn't do much, but on the flip side we had lots of time to do whatever it was that we did. No such thing as the "good old days" for me.

2. Live Text - that I can sit on my laptop busy working and read the budget speech being currently read by the Minister almost word for word is amazing. Unlike radio and tv where rewind is not possible, scrolling up and down allows me to quickly recap on what I've forgotten. Its news reporting taken to another level especially for those of us who do not have time or resources to watch tv or listen to radio while working. And not just news, I remember just last year "reading" various world cup matches.

3. Touch screens - from mobile phones, to tablets to ATM and public utility interfaces, this idea is outlawing dedicated hardware buttons. The adaptability is almost limitless. Coupled with the ever increasing quality of screen resolutions, we're heading to the sci fi era.

4. Blogs - just like this one. People get to share ideas, opinion, news and gossip through writing, photos and videos without the confines of professional or regulatory ambits. As I said in an earlier post, its like having a tv or radio station or newspaper which is wholly controlled by one person. Pardon the pun, but its getting it raw. From the right winger's who play to the popular convention of publishing (market based with appropriate controls) to the left wingers who do their thing for whatever its worth.

5. Android - What Linux did for computer geeks everywhere is what Android has done for phone geeks. But you don't have to be a geek to realize its benefits, you just need to have the money and time to get and make use of a smart phone. The customizability (yes, I know the word doesn't exist . . . yet) of the interface and availability of (free) useful widgets and applications is impressive. No other mobile platform can match us - not even the once perfect symbian and definitely not the gated community of Apple or the decadent Microsoft.

6. Social networking - You think this is related to Global Village? Really? Well, let me explain how I see it . . . Ok, I see your point. But the emphasis here is, while there is the ability to reach anyone you know regardless of distance, social networking makes it possible to have your own online community at your finger tips. On social media you are who you say you are tempered only by how many of your friends support (passively, via public posts) your cyber-image. I think the first forms of social networks were dating sites which were geared towards putting you in touch with potential significant others (or one hour commitments) but this has grown to embrace other aspects of our lives including career, consumer habits, views and opinions and the all-too-popular allure - gossip.

7. High-Definition Television - HD (and 3D) is also something I didn't have in my childhood. Not that it would have mattered on a small black and white greatwall TV but hey, at least I know there were no HD images to catch at the local TV shops. From DVD rips which show clearly on big TVs to the prohibitively huge but deliriously clear 1080p quality HD downloads, quality is fast becoming as important as content. Yet another sign that we're becoming a more vain society.

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