
THE 3.5MM SOCKET on the cover of Jaron Lanier's manifesto affects my mood more than anything on screen. That's because the little socket is part of the spaghetti of cables connecting microphones, headsets and mini mixboards to content I use in the creative multimedia programme at
Tipperary Institute. The sockets cost two euro at Maplin's in Limerick (part number RK51) and the book costs less than ten euro in hardback. If you grew up on analogue, owned a few 45 records, or like to draw with crayons, you'll sit up and agree with Lanier's convincing thesis that digital computers should not earn a human-like intelligence. Computers are toys, tools, instruments. They work best when they enhance our humanity. But when their use diminishes our individuality, freedom and humanity, they need to be switched off. Reading these words from Lanier, digital guru and pioneer of virtual reality, should cause anyone involved in application development to consider the good and bad developments of information technology.
Jaron Lanier -- "You are not a gadget" ISBN 9781846143410
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