Amber Case Keynote at SXSW 2012
Reality Augmented Blog co-author and co-curator, Amber Case, has been selected as one of National Geographic’s “Emerging Explorers Class of 2012.” These are “innovative scientists and storytellers pushing boundaries of discovery, adventure and global problem-solving.” Amber’s Explorer bio is here.
While some fear more machines will make us less human, Case believes “today’s technologies amplify our humanness. When television first came out, everything was so perfect, scripted, and carefully produced it was like a superhuman version of humanity that could make you feel inferior. Today, the Internet is filled with reality. Any average-looking guy can turn on a webcam, dance to a song, and put it online. Long ago, people would have laughed at that, but now the whole world dances along. We’re sharing with each other, human-to-human, in a very real way. We’re no longer limited by the geography of where we live and who we know. Supportive, interactive communities spring up online based on common interests. So I think instead of pushing people apart or turning them into machines, really good technology helps us all be more human and connect with each other as we never could before.”
Despite that potential, Case worries that most products are being created with technology that exists now, rather than by exploring entirely new ideas. “I’m writing a book that tries to inspire more innovative thinking by providing historical context. Looking back at breakthroughs from the past can help us understand future opportunities.”
