(8-28-18) - I found the TED Talk by Blaise Aguera y Arcas to be a good
sign of the direction that technology is taking us. This video is primarily a
demonstration of the new Microsoft tool, Photosynth, which has the ability to
connect photos from all over the world electronically. The software was
developed using Seadragon software, which allows photos and graphics to be
browsed seamlessly, regardless of their relative quality. He shows the
application of Photosynth in his last example, where Photosynth represents the Notre
Dame Cathedral digitally as the compilation of thousands of human pictures
posted on the social media site Flickr. This Microsoft Labs project gives us a
glimpse of the future of the internet by showing just how connected everything
can become. This can radically change how we search for a picture and our
understanding of places and natural phenomena.
As compared to Blaise Aguera y Arcas, Andrew Blum looks at
the physical side of the internet in his TED Talk. He explores how the internet
is connected and where it comes from. He also looks at the reasons for these
connections. For instance, three years ago in Africa, there was only one cable
that connected the people. But now that industry in Africa is growing, six
other cables have been or are planned to be built.
Both speakers look at how technology is connected and the
real world effects this has on people. Even though Blum looks at it physically,
which is unusual, both of them contribute ideas to show how all people are
influenced by the connection of technology. They also both look at the real
world effects by showing the possibilities that these new tools and cable offer.
