A Second Life …but not nine lives

Thornburg (n.d.) described a disruptive technology as one that suddenly appears and begins to replace an established and functional technology. Cost, speed, user resonance, or applicability may help drive the disruptive technology to replace the established technology. Thornburg used the example of the computer chip replacing vacuum tubes as an example.

 Second Life was a disruptive technology. Imagine the internet driven by corporate sites like Amazon and gaming sites like World of Warcraft. Rosedale (2008) described the power of Second Life. His illustration was that many people can shop at Amazon and leave passive reviews. In Second Life they can shop together and discuss a purchase in real time. He showed how Second Life could allow shopping virtually with the shoppers seeing each other’s avatars and  expressing “live” their love or hate of a product. Rosedale focused on this real time sharing, communicating, and socializing. This granted Second Life the power to displace “brick and mortar” and virtual stores.

The interactivity of gaming sites was made passé by a universe that could be altered by the players. Suddenly there was a world that could change daily and not be the same the next time you “played.” An idea could become a reality and a desire could become an object. Rosedale (2008) described a virtual world where users could explore, create, and experience.

Second Life allows people to create and share their dreams. They can create a church with the type of fellowship they have longed for in their real lives. It provided a venue to meet people very like and different from their normal social engagements.

According to Heath and Heath (2012), Second Life is already failing and being disrupted. It has a million users a month, but Facebook has 500 million logins a month. Perhaps a growing technology used by the Nintendo Wii will disrupt it. Boulton (2012) noted that Gartner analysts saw the Wii as one of the 10 most disruptive technologies in 2012. It allowed the user to cognitively interact, socialize, and physically act in the new environment. It restored the body and mind to the user in its technology. Wii's scope may be too small, but combined with the ability to create a universe like Second Life, it becomes a more real virtual experience.

Boulton, C. (2012) The 10 most disruptive technologies. eWeek.com. Retrieved from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/10-Most-Disruptive-Technologies/

Heath, D. & Heath, C. (2011). Why Second Life failed. Slate.com. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/11/why_second_life_failed_how_the_milkshake_test_helps_predict_which_ultra_hyped_technology_will_succeed_and_which_won_t_.html

Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.

Thornburg, D. (n.d.). Disruptive technologies [Video]. Retrieved from Laureate Education, http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6509859&Survey=1&47=3205032&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Rhymes of History – Food For Thought – Delivered

“History doesn't repeat itself - at best it sometimes rhymes” (Mark Twain from ThinkExist.com )

Virtual Shopping and Food Delivery Services

 

There is entry by Designboom that described a virtual supermarket in South Korea. Tesco created a wall in a subway station with food selections from a supermarket. Commuters, using their smart phones, could see the food available. They then would use their iPhone to capture the Quick Response Code (QR code). The app would then send in the order to the store and the food would be delivered to the shopper. The innovation appeals to the mobile, hardworking, tech-savvy, South Korean worker. It is convenient, saves time, and provides a historic service in a new way.

This service is an example of the “Rhymes of History” driving emerging technology (Thornburg, n.d.). Dr. Thornburg identified the role of past activities and innovations as a driving force for emerging technology. The quote at the start of this blog, by Mark Twain, is the source of the name.

The past “Rhymes” for food delivery could include Manna delivered to Moses at around 1400 B.C. The bible narration detailed food delivered daily to the Israelites. Those who interpret the bible literally attribute the food delivery to God. Frank Doernenburg described the provision of Manna and reviewed a speculative technological delivery system, the Manna Machine.

Manna in the desert

The Manna machine

Food delivery by merchants and tradesman ranged from early Chinese explorers to middle age merchants delivering food to the nobility. A list of foods of the renaissance that were imported is described by a Renaissance cookery worksheet by internal schools in Australia. Meals on Wheels were started during World War 2 by the United Kingdom and continues today to deliver food to those who need it.

The many waves of telephone based food delivery can be gleaned by examining the number of patents sought by innovators. The list is documented by Google patents

Computer based food delivery was described by James Cook on How Online Food Delivery Service Functions, an article courtesy of Simple Articles Directory. James Cook described the flow from pure online stores sending supplies to customers to restaurants providing online ordering and delivery. One example of the next wave, smartphone apps to order food for delivery can be seen by the Seamless App for the iPad.


This then returns us to the current stanza in the food delivery rhyme. People shopping by mobile phone, on a wall, while commuting to work. The Rhymes in History driving technology suggests that the beat goes on.


References:

Coolname186. (2011) Meals on wheels timeline. Retrieved from http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/meals-on-wheels

Cook, J. (2011) How online food delivery service functions. Retrieved from http://historyofcomputertechnology.jeremypinc.com/126/how-online-food-delivery-service-functions/

Doernenburg, F. (2000a). Manna in the desert. Retrieved from http://doernenburg.alien.de/alternativ/manna/man00_e.php

Doernenburg, F. (2000b). The Manna machine. Retrieved from http://doernenburg.alien.de/alternativ/manna/man01_e.php

Google Patents. (2009). Food order/delivery system. Google Patents. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/patents/US4797818

Internal Schools. (n.d.) Foods of the Renaissance that were imported. Retrieved from http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/lesson_ideas/renaissance/renaissance_cookery_wksht.html

Thornburg, D. (n.d.). Six forces that drive emerging technologies [Video]. Retrieved from Laureate Education.  http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6509859&Survey=1&47=3205032&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Seamless. (2012). Seamless mobile iPhone app. Seamless North America, LLC. Retrieved from http://www.seamless.com/mobile-apps/ipad/