So do you believe yet? In the space of a few weeks, the Huffington Post – which is a blog – sold for over $300 million, a few countries in the Middle East have revolted using Facebook and Twitter as new weapons, and Charlie Sheen started a Twitter account and promptly set a Guinness Book record for adding over 1 million followers in 24 hours. Or, do you need some more proof that social technologies are a going to have a huge impact on humanity. Only through the gift of hindsight will we be able to look back on this time in history and really see what it means that any one person can talk to billions for free – and instantly.

First, we got PC’s and computing power was put in the hands of the people. Then we got the Internet so we had a transport system to connect with each other. Now we have built communities, and systems to facilitate instant information and communication flow. Every step of the way too many people objected, sneered, and rationalized that the old way was better. Well… until they were assimilated into the reality that technology can improve quality of life, and the ability to prosper. The resistance to the unceasing march forward still goes on today with millions of people that are too obstinate, worn out, ignorant or just plain unmotivated to learn another new tool or process. Got some bad news for you, we are not done yet.

The next step will be even more divisive because it will relate to how we interface with all the devices that will be Internet connected in a pervasive computing world. This is the logical next step, that we will work on improving our ability to interface with all this technology. The success of the Microsoft Xbox360 Kinect system is an obvious sign that people are hungry for interface methods like gesture control. If you think it was painful to see the young generation, and the good and bad aspects of how they can now relate to each other over the wire, just wait until they integrate their very bodies with the technology. Really, the social tech revolution is already over and won. It is like cell phones were in the late 90’s, you could easily see that everyone would have one at some point. It is just a matter of time until everyone will have to participate in some form of social technology just to be considered normal.

By the way, that reminds me of a guy I ran into the other day at a conference. He sat next to me and asked what I did for a living. I told him and he promptly told me that he was very proud of the fact that he did not own a cell phone and never intended to. He was about mid to late 40’s and he is an expert in the “experience economy.” I had to hold my tongue because he was very sure he had some mystical insight into life – I was very sure that he is soon to be an outcast. Later I ran into some people that had worked with him and no one was very impressed with his shtick.

Very soon, he will look around and people will be gaining skills with new interface devices and systems so that they integrate technology connection with their brains, eyes, voices, etc. This will create yet another surge forward in technology evolution, and once again, there will be those that will resist, sneer, and rationalize that humans were never meant to be connected (augmented) by machines. The seeds of these interface devices are already planted so it is not like I am guessing at this. It is just a matter of a few years now.

I respect that guys right to shun technology. I do not respect his argument that technology is lowers our quality of life, or our ability to have great experiences. I will forever have room in my life for people that simply want to keep things simple, as they have grown up doing. I will not have room for people that judge others as “wrong” for wanting to be on the forefront of technology innovation. So back to my original question, do you believe yet?

Scott Klososky
Scott@klososky.com