Gadget Guy tests a drone
Goal of new technology is to make our lives easier
DIGITAL convergence — a phrase that incites fear and confusion. But do we need to fear it or embrace it? And if we embrace it, would our lives be that much better? The simple answer is yes. Digital convergence implies the coming together of a wide variety of technologies to achieve a single goal: in this case, destressing our lives.
I recently came upon a new device called Coin, a brilliant little plastic card which digitally “stores” all bank or loyalty cards on it.
So you do not have to dig through your wallet or bag searching for the right card. Simply present the Coin device to a merchant and, presto, whichever card is required to complete the transaction is immediately available. It is a simple solution to an annoying problem.
Another remarkable innovation is the SnapScan app. This simple app links to your card and allows you to pay by scanning the code of an item at a participating store on your phone. The great thing about this? You will never have to hand over your card details again.
Whether Coin and SnapScan succeed remains to be seen, but similar developments are inevitable, each taking us another step along the road of our digital evolution. And each step gives us more control of our future.
Already, our cellphones are attached to our hips, we have a social “spouse” in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and so on . . . and, of course, secondary devices and software such as smart TVs, iTunes, the Apple App Store, the Android Play Store . . . the list goes on.
There are hundreds of thousands of virtual stores where you can buy everything from applications and music to games and holidays. It has reached the point of being as daunting as a trip to the mall on Christmas Eve.
We are now more connected, more social, more technologically aware than ever before — and this is not necessarily a bad thing. This new technology allows us to achieve more in less time, which means that our chances of reaching great personal heights have increased dramatically.
The fascinating aspect of all this for me is the evolution of the entrepreneur. We are no longer confined by social boundaries or geographic location — the world is our oyster.
In 2014, the odds of becoming a successful digital entrepreneur, whether aged 14 or 50, are good.
The technology invasion of our social lives means we are now more expressive of our personalities, without fear of reprisal.
One can switch off or go public at the touch of a button. Something as simple as “running late” for a meeting no longer means looking for a payphone: a status update, tweet or SMS will suffice.
Let us redefine digital convergence: now you can enjoy the sunrise, smell the proverbial roses, play outside and develop those six-packs because life’s complex problems are solved by touching a button.