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Liked It “Gordon Bell has insightful look at what happens when all memory is digital. I find that having an iphone with facts at my fingertips changes conversations. There are fewer arguments about facts. |
Didn’t Like It “If the idea of a totally mediated life in which every moment, every hiccup and gesture, every skipped heart beat, every disappointment and success, everything, is recorded, if that idea excites you, then read this book. If that idea causes hyperventilating and sweaty palms, then I would say skip...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Fascinating view of how we may "manage" personal data in the future. I am intrigued. I had already started digitizing music (300+ vinyl albums from my "youth," cassettes, 8-tracks, etc), and photos, but reading this made me want to take the process to the next step. I especially like the thought of the comprehensive electronic health record... wouldn't that be great next time you see a new doctor!”
Michael Lafond wrote this review Thursday, February 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Gordon Bell is a computer scientist and venture capitalist who has been involved with the industry since 1960. His most recent project is an experiment for Microsoft to discover the impact of recording everything related to a person's life electronically. The cost of electronic storage is decreasing so rapidly that it is no longer a limiting factor. There are vast implications in all aspects of life if we move in this direction. For example, say your doctor prescribes you a drug and then asks you during a follow up if it helped. Today the doctor relies on your vague recollection of how you felt in the past to gauge effectiveness. We already have the technology for tiny health monitors that can either be worn in clothing or implanted into your body. Soon the doctor may be able to see actual data of your vital signs over the last several months. If that data was combined in an anonymous database we could mine the data to determine what really works to improve health. There are also implications for how we interact with each other in the future. The basis for a lot of the information Gordon refers to is audio and video captured through small wearable recording devices. Having instant recall of every face, place & conversation changes the nature of a lot of interactions. People are likely to pay closer attention to what they say if they are being recorded. There will ultimately be legal debates over when and where people can record. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”
Josh Wright wrote this review Tuesday, January 22, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“If the idea of a totally mediated life in which every moment, every hiccup and gesture, every skipped heart beat, every disappointment and success, everything, is recorded, if that idea excites you, then read this book. If that idea causes hyperventilating and sweaty palms, then I would say skip it. The future is now: we live in a world in which we all live public lives. The authors are jubilant about the possibilities of recording every last detail of one's life. As I read, I became more uncomfortable and anxious. Who will care? It would take several lifetimes to re-experience the minutiae of a meticulously recorded life, not to mention that chunk of a lifetime needed to set up systems to organize that minutiae. ”
Mrs. Wastwater wrote this review Friday, June 24, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Gordon Bell has insightful look at what happens when all memory is digital. I find that having an iphone with facts at my fingertips changes conversations. There are fewer arguments about facts.
MOF wrote this review Thursday, February 25, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
How good will it be to remember everything and have evidence of everything? Facebook is also reviving memories. I got notice of being tagged in a picture in 1983 by someone who I had a great friendship with but had entirely lost touch.
The question is how it will help us understand workflow better.
Interconnectivity allows for new associations.”
“Interesting take on where digital technologies will/can lead. Some sound promising- while others sound like a social menace. Perhaps there is nothing to fear but fear itself... but one must consider the implications of so much personal data recorded and stored in one place. This could be a liability.”
Thelma Kastl wrote this review Friday, February 12, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Frightening premise -- smacks of Hans Moravec's desire to find immortality through technology. Author suggests that everyone should want to record everything that we do in a digital computer medium. Doesn't the universe do that already? Didn't the author read "The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy"? I am reading "Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age" alongside Total Recall. So far Delete is more convincing.”
Thomas W wrote this review Tuesday, November 10, 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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