Hello! And Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog. Here we'll explore the future of technological integration, from the presently practical (such as wearable computing) to the advanced and invasive (implant/cyborg theory).

But first, a brief introduction. My name's Nick. I'm a college student in Roanoke, Va. Ever since I can remember I've had a knack for computer science. When I was quite young, I was already obsessed with trying to find ways to make computers work for people. I built little robots and played with computer programming up until I was in high school and then I realized, as I saw the advent of advanced mobile technology in the form of "Smartphones," that the most valuable work that can be done in computing is in improving the way people and machines interact. The computer processor may be one of the most incredible and versatile tools in history, but nobody will use it to its full potential if it's hard to use.

Another factor of influence for me is information technology and communication theory. There are thousands of GB of data flying around your head all of the time in the form of microwaves from cell phones and cell modems, radio waves from broadcast stations, WiFi connections and hobby radio operators, satellite data or GPS and television, even invisible IR light. Imagine how much of your world you can't see, and imagine how much more connected you could be if you could just interpret all of this "invisible information"

Wearable computing is a big step in the right direction for either of these fields. The technology for a practical, wearable computer is here, and it came by way of the communications and entertainment industries. There are consumer level, commercially available products that, if combined in the right way, would make fine and usable wearable systems. Best of all, as people are born into this new era of communication, more people are learning that multi-tasking isn't just for the office and for the first time in history there's a demand for computer integration.

There's a movement, whether its conscious or not, towards transhumanism. People want and need to be more than just people. Now, more than ever, people are understanding that "plugging in" doesn't mean shying away from the world, it means opening up to the world. The net is global and vast and ever-growing and with all of that knowledge available at the push of a button, posthumans will be here soon, and they will be smarter than most because they will be as smart as all.

So join me in discussing the implications of our changing world.

-Nick P.