What will technology eventually make obsolete...

[Yianni]

I have Bluetooth on my PDA and my friend has bluetooth on his telephone. Using it, he can send me files and I can send him files and it costs us nothing. Presumably, we could also have digital telephone conversations if we were within Bluetooth range and this would also cost us nothing.

At the moment, this is impractical, because Bluetooth range is only about 40 metres. However I have read of a new wi-fi protocol whose range is about 60 KILOMETRES.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if I can form a wireless network with any of my friends within 60km, then I can have free telephone conversations with them, send them files for free, etc. This would seem to make using say Telstra or Optus's networks obsolete for this purpose.

My friend was telling me how Kodak is almost going out of business now because of how much digital cameras have cut into their profit margins (they used to make most of their money from film)

This shows me that technology, as it always does, makes certain things cheaper for people to do and often drives businesses bankrupt because of it.

What do people think about this, both the above examples and any other examples that you can think of. For example, what will the effect of everyone having video cameras in their phones or video cameras the size of golf balls be on say broadcast rights of sports.

If I'm at the cricket and my mates can't get there, surely I can just pull my camera out and stream them a live video feed of it to them. Maybe this will cost a lot now, but in 5 years it will be almost free.

Comments?

 

[David Votoupal]

While technology may make life easier, "new" or more "advanced" technology IMHO doesn't always make for a superior product. Ultimately it depends on how well engineered the product is, how well executed it is. Just food for thought.

 

[Yianni]

Originally posted by David Votoupal
While technology may make life easier, "new" or more "advanced" technology IMHO doesn't always make for a superior product. Ultimately it depends on how well engineered the product is, how well executed it is. Just food for thought.

I more meant in terms of cost. Product quality is a different question all together.

I'm saying, look at the effect the Internet and file sharing technology has had on the music industry. Profits have been falling for the last 3 years now.

I'm saying a similar thing will happen to the telecommunications industry, at least for voice calls. I can have voice calls over MSN messenger with my friends in England for free, the only reason more people don't is that they don't know how. Once it gets easier and more people realise that they can save money doing it, profits from long distance calls = GONE. From what I said before, a similar thing could happen with mobile calls.

 

[Portia]

Of course, you're still reliant upon the telcos for bandwidth so as long distance calls drop off, the base rate for local phone calls either increases or is metered.

Yes, it would screw up the secondary phone companies that piggyback on Telstra cable, but the core telcos with solid investment will still do just fine.

 

[Yianni]

Originally posted by Porthos
Of course, you're still reliant upon the telcos for bandwidth so as long distance calls drop off, the base rate for local phone calls either increases or is metered.

Yes, it would screw up the secondary phone companies that piggyback on Telstra cable, but the core telcos with solid investment will still do just fine.

True, but what about what I said about people having devices capable of making THEIR OWN networks over distances of 60km. Then I don't need the telcos for local calls.

If I have a Bluetooth phone and my friend has a Bluetooth phone, when our phones network, we are NOT using Optus, Telstra or any telco, it's just a network between our two phones (rather than bouncing the phone call off the satellite, it may be easier to think of the two phones like two tin cans with string between them)

Basically, what I'm saying, is that new technology will let us make that string 60km long, so I can make calls within that range without the help of any phone company.

 

[Milkman]

Originally posted by Yianni
I'm saying, look at the effect the Internet and file sharing technology has had on the music industry. Profits have been falling for the last 3 years now.

This is a little misleading, as although profits have slumped, album sales have dramatically increased in that same period, especially in the UK where album sales have completely gone through the roof.

When Napster first became huge, album sales across the board increased by something like 30% if my memory serves me right. It was the 2 or 3 major labels who were frightened by the new technology, as it evens out the playing field to an extent.

 

[Bobby Giovanni]

Women and exercise.

 

[Portia]

Originally posted by Yianni
If I have a Bluetooth phone and my friend has a Bluetooth phone, when our phones network, we are NOT using Optus, Telstra or any telco, it's just a network between our two phones (rather than bouncing the phone call off the satellite, it may be easier to think of the two phones like two tin cans with string between them)

Basically, what I'm saying, is that new technology will let us make that string 60km long, so I can make calls within that range without the help of any phone company.

Follow this link to see the flaw with your theory. There is an upper limit to how many devices you can combine within the area of effect.

 

[raskolnikov]

people

 

[FIGJAM]

CARS!

 

[Gasometer]

stand alone pcs. Everything will be smalll enough to fit into one large screen tv that will be voice activated & have voice recognition. best of all they will be cheap.

Gaso

 

[FIGJAM]

Originally posted by Gasometer
stand alone pcs. Everything will be smalll enough to fit into one large screen tv that will be voice activated & have voice recognition. best of all they will be cheap.

Agreed, it will happen and it will be cool, but it will be pay per everything.

 

[TheWackedYak]

Originally posted by DonFan
people

and dope.

Cyber dope just hasn't have the same aura...

 

[Docker_Brat]

There's too much technology for technologies sake. Does it all make our lives richer? Some does. Most merely enslaves us.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Airplanes. They already teleported a beam of light, its only a matter of time until they start teleporting us everywhere.


"Beam me up Scotty"

 

[The Passenger]

Originally posted by Gasometer
stand alone pcs. Everything will be small enough to fit into one large screen tv that will be voice activated & have voice recognition. best of all they will be cheap.

huh??

 

[The Passenger]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Airplanes. They already teleported a beam of light, its only a matter of time until they start teleporting us everywhere.


"Beam me up Scotty"

whats the go there??

Most merely enslaves us.

how do you figure??

 

[Katthawk]

Originally posted by Docker_Brat
There's too much technology for technologies sake. Does it all make our lives richer? Some does. Most merely enslaves us.

Sage words. We are more busy because we have all these gadgets to use to supposedly save time and not enough time to use them.

Why do people need to be in constant contact? Why do things have to be easier or faster or smaller or cheaper etc? Why do we have to do everything like everyone else?

 

[EssJayW]

Originally posted by Yianni
Basically, what I'm saying, is that new technology will let us make that string 60km long, so I can make calls within that range without the help of any phone company.

Which takes us back to that old puzzling question. How long is a piece of string?

BTW. This technology is getting all too technical for my liking.

 

[evade28]

Originally posted by Black Thunder
whats the go there??

i saw it on TV, there were a lot of mirrors or something, i didnt have a clue what they did, it completely boggled my mind!

 

[anonymous Joe]

Dildo's will be made absolete by virtual sex.