It's interesting how some things are so close to accuracy, and then how far away as well. For example, the cell phones are a close approximation to modern devices, but who in this decade dials with an index finger while holding the phone with the opposite hand?
I think for phones that size, you'd almost have to use a finger on the opposite hand to dial. But I shamefully admit that I do poke out text messages with an index finger.
I'm always amazed at how the "vision" for the future never extends much further than loafing executives telling distant liskspittles what to do and negligent, emotionally distant supermoms who can't even be bothered to pick up their latchkey kids after school.
I hate to spoil the party here, but firstly this is obviously part of some lobbying effort to get spectrum allocated to Motorola, and secondly the mobile phone companies are showing off the same "vision" of the future that they always do -- videophones.
The thing is that videophones are and always will be a very niche application, if only because people really don't want to dress up properly in order to receive a phone call. Most people in Europe have carried a videophone around in their pocket for the last 3 years, yet actual usage remains a fraction of a percent of calls.
It's interesting how some things are so close to accuracy, and then how far away as well. For example, the cell phones are a close approximation to modern devices, but who in this decade dials with an index finger while holding the phone with the opposite hand?
ReplyDeleteThe final narration seems strangely ominous. Was there a political question of RF spectrum usage at the time?
ReplyDeleteOh, god, the clothes... Yeah, that's what teens wore in 2000!
ReplyDeleteThe PCS band was allocated by the FCC in 1994, so maybe this video was part of a campaign that preceded it.
ReplyDeleteI think for phones that size, you'd almost have to use a finger on the opposite hand to dial. But I shamefully admit that I do poke out text messages with an index finger.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed at how the "vision" for the future never extends much further than loafing executives telling distant liskspittles what to do and negligent, emotionally distant supermoms who can't even be bothered to pick up their latchkey kids after school.
ReplyDeleteHe also seemingly checks for a dial tone before dialing out.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if the daughter had been waiting "forever" for her mom, why didn't she call her mom earlier instead of waiting forever?
I hate to spoil the party here, but firstly this is obviously part of some lobbying effort to get spectrum allocated to Motorola, and secondly the mobile phone companies are showing off the same "vision" of the future that they always do -- videophones.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that videophones are and always will be a very niche application, if only because people really don't want to dress up properly in order to receive a phone call. Most people in Europe have carried a videophone around in their pocket for the last 3 years, yet actual usage remains a fraction of a percent of calls.
I love the design of those devices. Simple and functional without excessive fluff.
ReplyDelete