As a kid, Billy got to Granddad’s by SuperLoop, the journey bracketed by TaaS-car transfers. Even then, it only took an hour. Now, he materialises—instaneously.
He can’t imagine sitting for hours—days, even—to get somewhere.
via NetAppVoice: Generation Zap vs. Generation Gap [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.
Nobody reads anymore. Well, they say they do… but not really.
Public signs are symbol-only. Or transmitted directly to AudioChip in your language.
Most novelists don’t even publish text. They speak their stories, distributing them directly.
Learning to read at school isn’t mandatory, just like mental arithmetic—no-one needs to do math in their head.
Reading is an archaic skill in an auditory world.
Devinder’s always been a Reader. He likes the feel of his eye moving over pages.
But even more, he loves to create the voices he hears for a change.
Unfortunately for him, that makes him “different.”
via NetAppVoice: The ‘Readers’ Are ‘Different’ [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.
Blinking twice activates her LensSaver. The crush of people dissolves behind a soothing slideshow of vacation photos.
Mercifully, even when surrounded by people, you can still be alone.
via NetAppVoice: I Just Want To Be Alone [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.
“They” aren’t really connected—other than through an Authority-given moniker: The Readers.
People tell themselves listening’s better than reading. It’s convenient.
But, truth is, it’s less risky.
Nobody uses flash these days: All audio stored on hybrid cloud where it’s easily monitored (no matter how secure people believe their accounts are).
Text needs no cloud: Print materials are less common, but still available in art stores. Messages passed hand-to-hand can’t be read by Authority eyes.
“I read, but I’m not a Reader!” Devinder cries.
“Explain that to the Commander,” the faceless Authority agent grunts, shoving him in the patrol van.
via NetAppVoice: The ‘Readers’ Are Dangerous [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.
The opposing team cries foul. Investigations are ordered.
Doping is ruled out and officials finally shrug their shoulders.
Genetic modification is, of course, not illegal in sports. At least, not yet.
via NetAppVoice: This Weekend: Who Will Win? [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.
The house thermostat is set at 68 ºF. However, when she remote-checks via her Lens, the temperature’s up around 95.
That’s a lot to cool before she gets home.
But why? It’s not sunny today. And the thermo-controller was just been serviced, so it can’t be malfunctioning.
Only she has access… Ohh! And her energy supplier.
But they wouldn’t manipulate her bills, would they?
via NetAppVoice: IoT CF: The Internet Of Things Cloud Fraud [100 Words Into The Future] – Forbes.