ASG 2: Remediation

Post no.8
Literature Review - 2
Reviewed - Remediation by Richard Grusin & Jay David Bolter

Ubiquitous computing (p.212)

•  Bolter (1999),"Ubiquitous computing reverses virtual reality in another important way." (p. 219).

The characteristics and purpose of virtual reality would be to create a false world to immerse their users into it, completely diminishing their sense of reality. Ubiquitous computing is the total opposite, it avails technology to be around in our daily, real lives, for example, multi-touch table tops and directories. It's physical presence melds itself into our lives, and we do realise its existence. In other words, Hypermediacy, which is also available later throughout the book. The immersion is just different, no lesser than virtual reality. Virtual reality like those augmented reality apps trick the users mind that the object is there, often amusing and helpful at times when used during property sales; but ubiquitous computing is a computing device in itself, ready to be used to perform tasks only. It does not really paint a false reality for you, as it is there, physically for you to use.

•  Bolter (1999), "Nevertheless, the visions of ubiquitous computing remain utopian and futuristic." (p. 218).

People are paying more attention to Ubi computing > wearable technology nowadays with the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Gear and such. Currently, the wearable technology in the market today have not reached their full potential. Most of them are just mini computers that are extensions of users' mobile phones, draining both the watch and phones batteries from the prolonged Bluetooth connection. In order for wearable tech to succeed, it really needs to be an independent device. This argument drove the ideation of the final year project.

•  Bolter (1999), Hypermediacy and Immediacy of Ubi Computing. (p.216)    

Hypermediacy happens when the user is aware of the medium, and immediacy is when the users are not. Wearable Tech can be a little tricky as they want to show both its aesthetics of tech as well as how well they could hide the tech to make it look like an ordinary watch. There's a thin line over there. But in the future, wearable tech would be more seamless. We know that they are computers, but they just wouldn't look like one anymore. Hence, immediacy.

Opinions on this theory by other experts available here.

•   Bolter (1999), "Ubi Computing, on the other hand, turns our whole world into a computer interface. It rearranges our physical world."(p. 213)

It's true. People might have to redesign everything to fit the current technology. Take the self driving cars for example. The technology no longer required a car of that sort to have a steering wheel or visible shift gears. Therefore, the creators need to understand and redesign their cars to fit the demands and grant more comfortable, spacious cars for the riders. Even streets would have their own personal lanes for self-driving cars. Street signs and traffic lights might not be necessary anymore because everything is calculated with a complicated algorithm. That was my illustration, it is also very possible for wearables to transform the way we dress, in order to get the safest, fastest, most efficient, and most comfortable wear.

In this case, in their statement they mentioned 'the whole world' being their interface. It's possible to have multi-touch screens all around us and wearable devices finally replacing our handhelds. (because we would be wearing our mobile phones anyway)

•   Bolter (1999), "Convergence, is a mutual remediation of at least three important technologies." (p. 224)

Take the MYO band for example. This is a really good product to represent convergence.
It combines wearable technology with the science of gestures. Then based on saved gestures in your computer, you could control the lights, lawnmower, fans and such. 

Technology involved in this could easily be Assistive Technology, Information Technology & Wearable Technology.

References

Bolter, J. and Grusin, R. (1999). Remediation. 1st ed. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Fatima, S. (2013). MYO – The coolest gizmo of the year. [online] Witty Sparks. Available at: http://www.wittysparks.com/myo-the-coolest-gizmo-of-the-year/#.VHwVbDE0XJ8 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2014].