People are busy gathering Christmas lists from their loved ones and friends, and soon the malls will be swarmed with shoppers hoping to find that "perfect gift."
But what is the perfect gift? Well, here are a few I found on a technology site that seem to depict the holiday spirit this year:
1. Amazon Kindle: For people who carry around a lot of books without having to carry around a lot of books. In the midst of this is the dispute between those who like minimalism versus those who prefer to hold in their hand a veritable, physical book. Nevertheless, in the information age, access to information seems boundless--even beyond our physical ability to carry it all. Thank goodness for megabytes. But think about this: what happens when the Kindle as external technology becomes something more embedded? Imagine carrying the entire oeuvre of Robert Ludlum novels in your brain, or, for those more inclined, the entire 20 volume set of the Oxford English Dictionary.
2. Drones: Send them out into the air to video record and photograph anything--and track them via GPS on your mobile phone! Cool eh? The issue remains, however, privacy: would you like a drone hovering over your fence taking video of you in your kitchen, or worse yet, your bedroom or bathroom? Interesting that these technologies are widely available, yet without much in the way of monitoring their whereabouts legally. How do you track a drone to its owner?
3. Virtual Reality: If books and voyeurism don't strike your fancy, there's always emerging yourself into your own private world. With Samsung being one of many manufacturers of VR technology, you can bring the selfie to the movies, or the movies to your selfie, with these quick and easy to use devices that will literally transform your reality. What's reality anyway? Reminds me of a t-shirt I once saw a teenager wear: "I reject your reality and replace it with my own..." And while you're at it, you can buy some kid-friendly VR technology as well--just in case your child's iPad has lost its lustre. Take something like the new Mattel Viewfinder, hook it up to your mobile phone and voila--a VR machine for your toddler...
4. iPhone stick-on lenses: For those who crave more images, and yet find the lens on their iPhone too pesky and small, there are stick-on lenses that will give you telephoto, polarized, and combined wide-angle lens options. My question is, why not spend the extra and get a drone...
5. Smart Books: There are always those on your wish-list who love to read. Here are a few that will make your smarty smile:
- Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, by Steve Jobs Biographer, Walter Isaacson
- Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, by Ashlee Vance
- The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, by technologist and inventor, Ray Kurzweil
Whatever it is you're buying for someone, it's always important to include a card; or, if you don't like cards (or the recipient of your gift doesn't like cards), at least write them a little note to tell them how much you love and/or appreciate them. Often it's those heartfelt words spoken to someone that far outweighs the gift.
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