Where's It Going?

By Ian Pearson

This book, the first to examine the astonishing developments in Information Technology, predicts the seamless merging of communication, computing, and consumer electronics in coming years. The authors are leading futurologists who explore the significance of these developments and their radical impact not only on business and economic systems but also on the very structure of society. Computers will talk to one another; new textiles will control the body's temperature; smart buildings will monitor and alter heat, light, music, decoration, and mood. People will work in local technology centers, while retail outlets will give way to personal agents who choose goods from the Internet. As networks link individuals far and wide, governments will find it harder to control what happens within their boundaries; sophisticated new surveillance techniques could threaten individual freedoms and cyberwars could wreak terrible technological destruction. Will we accept that our species could make a great evolutionary leap forward by becoming part human, part machine?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500281378
• ISBN13: 9780500281376
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Where's IT Going? Will people be ready for IT?

Have you ever wondered how the future will be? If you have, Where's IT Going is one book that you have to read. The book is written by two futurologists named Ian Pearson and Chris Winter and some ideas where are written in this book shocked me when I was reading it. The book talks about concepts that already existed, such as VR and electronic cash, but it also talks about concepts of the ego badge, smart clothing, microbots, intelligent agents, and more concepts that people today would not even dream about happening. However, intelligence is one thing that every computer will have in the future. The computers will be so smart and powerful that programmers will no longer be needed. Chips with everything will turn on the lights when people walk into a room, inform people when fruit should be discarded, give cooking instruction, and even pinpoint position. The authors also talks about intelligent agents who will inform people when the price of a good from certain brands has decreased or make travel arrangement. The authors not only introduced new concepts, but they also talk about impacts on creativity, financial systems, physical things, and social institutions and behavior. A lot of new concepts that the authors wrote in the book are true eye-opening and will sure come to reality, but many problems will also occur at the same time. One questions then arised: are we ready for the future where computers are smarter than us?

Where's IT Going? Will people be ready for IT?

Have you ever wondered how the future will be? If you have, Where's IT Going is one book that you have to read. The book is written by two futurologists named Ian Pearson and Chris Winter and some ideas where are written in this book shocked me when I was reading it. The book talks about concepts that already existed, such as VR and electronic cash, but it also talks about concepts of the ego badge, smart clothing, microbots, intelligent agents, and more concepts that people today would not even dream about happening. However, intelligence is one thing that every computer will have in the future. The computers will be so smart and powerful that programmers will no longer be needed. Chips with everything will turn on the lights when people walk into a room, inform people when fruit should be discarded, give cooking instruction, and even pinpoint position. The authors also talks about intelligent agents who will inform people when the price of a good from certain brands has decreased or make travel arrangement. The authors not only introduced new concepts, but they also talk about impacts on creativity, financial systems, physical things, and social institutions and behavior. A lot of new concepts that the authors wrote in the book are true eye-opening and will sure come to reality, but many problems will also occur at the same time. One questions then arised: are we ready for the future where computers are smarter than us?

Where's IT Going? By Ian Pearson & Chris Winter

Reading this book was an adventure for the mind. It took my mind to places that I would not have boldly gone before. The concepts of VR, Ego badges, Smart badges, and the use of analogous technology were amazing to read about. The ability to have a contact lens that can tell you directions by superimposing arrows right on your eye or the use of the very air we breath to type out email message without a physical keyboard. Amazing. However, some of the advancement of technology discussed in this book go beyond the enhancement of human life and gave me the impression that if used would bring the world close to that depicted in the movie "Terminator", where the machines replaced humans. So, although I did a lot of ooing and awing about the technologies discussed, I could not help but feel a little afraid of the repercussions of all those capabilities. Leaving me with one question that I feel must be asked, "Will the world really let technology advance to the point of human obsolesces?"

It`s going IT

I haveread both books :where is it going & scanning the future. Both were bought while I am in South Africa . I beleive they open eyes and lubricates brains to think of what will happen and how?For the first time , you find all what you do not ask for !! You cannot predicit what`s next unless you read all the book. I suggest both books .