luddites posts

Sci-Fi Author Ray Bradbury Trashes the Web

by Warren Riddle (RSS feed) — Jun 25th 2009 at 10:52AM

There may not be a more prescient, or dichotomous, living author than Ray Bradbury. The sci-fi writer has foretold of numerous modern gadgets and gizmos; in his classic 1953 novel 'Fahrenheit 451,' he wrote of flat-screen interactive televisions and headphones eerily similar to ear buds. His story 'The Veldt' describes in great detail "Happy-life Homes," a remarkable precursor to technologically driven "smart homes."

Despite his firm grasp on evolving technology, Bradbury, who is now approaching 90-years old, has lived almost his entire life in Los Angeles and has never had a driver's license. He believes in drawing inspiration from libraries rather than universities, and prefers a pad and pen to computers.

Tags: fahrenheit451, internet, literature, luddites, ray bradbury, RayBradbury, sci-fi, top

Visionaries

'Most Confusing' Tech Terms Still Baffling Brits

by Warren Riddle (RSS feed) — Apr 30th 2009 at 11:08AM

Keeping up with the latest Web and tech trends can be particularly difficult, especially for casual surfers who get easily confused and frustrated by the constant inundation of new terms and devices. To help lower the language barrier, according to the BBC, the master statisticians at Gadget Helpline surveyed 5,000 U.K. residents, and compiled England's 10 most confusing tech-related terms.

We thought that a few of the list's terms, like 'Digital TV,' 'desktop,' and 'phone jack,' have already become entrenched in our discourse, so how could they be so confusing. Others, however, like 'dongle' (another word for those little USB sticks you put into your computer), might seem to have salacious second meanings, so we can understand the mixups. Being barraged with such strange words can be intimidating, so Peter Griffiths of the Plain English Campaign told the BBC, "We need to pull our heads out of the digital clouds and use plain English." To combat tech-illiteracy, his campaign and the Gadget Helpline suggest compiling a glossary of terms to help explain gizmo lingo.

No offense, guys, as this seems like a beneficial survey conducted with good intentions, but apparently news of Webopedia.com, an online tech dictionary, hasn't made it across the pond yet. Interestingly enough, none of the U.K.'s most confusing terms cracked Webopedia's Top 10, indicating a significant techno-babble barrier between the U.S. and the U.K. Maybe that's why our version of 'The Office' is so much funnier than theirs. [From: BBC]

Tags: gadget helpline, GadgetHelpline, lingo, luddites, Plain English Campaign, PlainEnglishCampaign, tech terms, techno-babble, technorati, TechTerms, top, uk

Cell Phones, Computers, Celebrities

"Computers Ruin Our Kids," Says Stevie Nicks

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Apr 13th 2009 at 12:43PM

Singer, '70s sex symbol, and supposed spell-caster Steve Nicks has officially come out against computers, according to the AP.

"I believe that computers have taken over the world," Nicks told the AP last week. "I believe that they have in many ways ruined our children. I believe that kids used to go out and play." She continued, saying "I believe that social graces are gone and manners are gone because all people do is sit around and text." Although her extreme Luddite perspective may be admirable, Nicks' long chain of "I believe" statements was enough to make us slightly uneasy.

According to the article, Nicks does not own a cell phone or a computer, largely due -- we'd imagine -- to such devices disturbing her balance of crystalline energies. Apparently, said energies are not vulnerable to lame orchestral synthesizers. [From: AP, via The Huffington Post]

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Tags: computer, expire-images:2010-4-13, kids tech, KidsTech, luddites, music, stevie nicks, StevieNicks, top

Audio/Video, Celebrities, iPod, iPhone, Portable Audio

Still No Beatles on iTunes, Says McCartney

by Thomas Ricker (RSS feed) — Nov 25th 2008 at 9:48AM

In a new twist to the wearisome saga of the Beatles digitizing their music catalog for iTunes (or any digital service, for that matter), Paul McCartney says that the negotiations have "stalled." McCartney said, "It's between EMI and the Beatles, I think," before adding, "I really hope it will happen because I think it should." While an EMI spokeswoman sounded hopeful about the matter getting resolved, we'll just assume this is all Yoko's fault in keeping with tradition.

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Tags: beatles, itunes, luddites, music, paul mccartney, PaulMccartney

Computers, Celebrities

'80s Rocker Bryan Adams Clamps Down on Fan Web Sites

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — Oct 29th 2008 at 9:51AM

If you were an aging rocker with a few hits from decades past occasionally percolating up through the sappy songlists of soft-rock radio stations, would you tell your already slim and likely dwindling fan base to ratchet up the tribute Web sites, maybe to spur on a few album sales? Or would you employ the long arm of the Web Sheriff, and shut'em down! (That exclamation point tells you everything you need to know.)

Bryan Adams – one of Canada's least-impressive imports (well behind Wayne Gretzky and John Candy) – has decided that now is the time to clamp down on his small, yet passionate online fan base, using Web Sheriff, an English firm that bills itself as "Europe's leading internet policing specialist," to enforce use of officially approved images of the musician and legal posting or links to his songs.

Of course, we have no dispute with legal use of MP3s and respect Adams' rights and wishes to be properly compensated for his work.

When the also aging and somewhat more influential artist Prince chose Web Sheriff to clamp down on unauthorized fan sites last year, the action was aggressive and the response was not friendly, with threats of legal action ultimately in play. But, the Bryan Adams Web sites seem to be surrendering to the Sheriff more readily, according to Web Sheriff's John Giacobbi, who says "nothing we've asked for from the fan sites is unreasonable." He also notes, "We're not anti-fan."

In the end, maybe it is just more telling of Adams' fans that they're more ready to comply with their rock idol's wishes than Prince's. Or maybe Web Sheriff itself learned a few lessons about how to get better cooperation before threatening litigation? Either way, it's time to cue up Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)," which you may recall, was the theme song to the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, the aging actor with a dwindling fan base. No word yet on what's happening with his unauthorized fan Web sites. [From: The Register.]

Tags: Bryan Adams, BryanAdams, fan sites, FanSites, luddite, luddites, music, Web Sheriff, WebSheriff

Green Tech

Pennsylvania Amish Embrace Solar Power

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Oct 15th 2008 at 1:10PM

In a fascinating convergence of the old world and the new, some Pennsylvania Amish communities have recently begun harnessing solar energy to power devices like hot water heaters and horse-drawn buggies' taillights.

While environmentalists have been pushing for the development of solar energy for decades, the Amish's adoption of the energy source has little to do with its being "green." Instead, these communities -- devoted to a lifestyle independent of outside society -- appreciate that solar panels can provide affordable energy without the help of a municipal or state power grid.

While the Amish have found solar power to peacefully coexist with their belief system, we still don't expect to see an Amish woman wearing one of these anytime soon. [From: CBSNews.com]

Tags: amish, energy, luddites, solar, solar power, SolarPower

Computers, Celebrities

Writer Tom Wolfe Blames Computer Monitors for Economic Crisis

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Oct 8th 2008 at 1:02PM

In a recent interview with the New York Observer, 'Bonfire of the Vanities' and 'Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test' author Tom Wolfe declared that blame for the ongoing mortgage crisis can be placed squarely on the shoulders of digital media, BoingBoing tells us.

Whereas in earlier days, Wolfe explains, lenders reviewed mortgages on paper, today they are confronted with digital copies and, thus, a blinding computer screen. Rather than risk headaches and dry eyes by scrutinizing these documents, Wolfe theorizes, companies such as Lehman Brothers just toss them in the 'accept' bin. This, he declares, is just one more reason to lament "the backward march of technology."

And this statement, in all its hard-headed Luddite glory, is just one more reason to love Tom Wolfe. [From: New York Observer via BoingBoing]

Tags: expire-images2009-10-8, luddites, tom wolfe, TomWolfe, web

Cell Phones, Computers, Video Games

Most Senior Citizens Don't Own a Cell Phone or a Computer

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Aug 11th 2008 at 1:02PM

Mobile Phone and Computer Adoption Lagging in Seniors

From all the stories about wired AARP-ers, you might think of today's senior citizen as a Wiimote-swinging, brain-training, video-gaming technological hipster (with replaced hips). That's certainly the case for a growing number of seniors out there, but sadly, it's definitely not the majority, at least according to a recent survey in Germany showing that 58-percent of seniors in that country have neither a computer nor a cell phone.

This backs up findings from a similar US-based survey, which stated that only 35-percent of seniors are online. The combination of no Internet and no cell phone seems particularly sad, as those are two of the most pervasive and important technologies out there today. It's a bit worrisome that most seniors are missing out on both, since no only are they unable to access a huge amount of information, but they're also missing out on the cell phone's potentially life saving abilities in an emergency -- not to mention that all the hookups. [Source: The Earth Times]

Tags: luddites, seniors, surveys, trends

Computers, Celebrities

Unlike McCain, Most Senior Citizens Surf The Web

by Peter Mychalcewycz (RSS feed) — Jul 24th 2008 at 1:10PM

http://www.topnews.in/usa/files/John_mccain_returns_to_NH.jpg

When asked by the New York times about his proficiency in surfing the Web, presidential candidate John McCain admitted to being Web 'illiterate,' and relying on his wife for 'any assistance he can get.'

The interesting part about this story isn't the fact that a 71-year-old-man is unable or unwilling to use the Internet. Only 35% of senior citizens (people over 65) are online. However McCain is in the minority when it comes to 'white, college-educated men over the age of 65.' Approximately 75% of that demographic is hip to the Web.

Still, the thing that strikes us most is the immediate responses from the McCain camp after the story broke. Brooke Buchanan, McCain spokesperson, made it clear that the senator was 'fully capable of browsing the Internet and checking Web sites.' She added 'He has a Mac and uses it several times a week. He's working on becoming more familiar with the Internet.' (Maybe McCain's newfound enthusiasm for his Apple computer is a result of getting flack for previously admitting, this past spring, that that he doesn't know how to use a computer, much less the Web.)

Brooke, listen, if he hasn't studied up before now, it ain't gonna happen. He is who he is. He was never running as the tech-friendly candidate anyway, unless you count his 'pro printing-press' agenda(sorry).

The man is a career politician who has seen and achieved more than most ever will. Drop the 'I'm hip and with it' routine. It makes everybody involved look ridiculous. And, might we add, needlessly so. [Source: CNN]

Tags: election2008, elections, john mccain, JohnMccain, luddites, mccain, politics

Car Tech

Are GPS Devices Making Us Stupid, Too?

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Jul 1st 2008 at 8:01AM

Last month, we reported on a story about some computer users' fears of Internet access making us increasingly stupid. We're not sure that we necessarily agree with that idea, and we certainly aren't feeling the latest Luddite-tastic claim that GPS-enabled devices are going to make us forget how to get home.

The idea is that people are becoming increasingly reliant on gadgets that tell us how to get from point A to point B, especially with the falling prices of these devices. Apparently, when everyone has one, people will just forget how to get anywhere without them, thus crippling society. We can definitely see that being the case for some inherently directionally-challenged people, but street maps have been around forever, and you don't see too many folks unable to make their morning commutes without consulting one.

It's not unlike the argument that the popularity of cell phones has made us all forget phone numbers -- wait, that one turns out to be pretty spot on!

Regardless, we suggest that you GPS yourself to faraway places without fear readers -- but it might not be a bad idea to turn the thing off every now and again when you're just heading to the corner store. [Source: ABC News]

Tags: gps, luddite, luddites, navigation, paranoia, studies

Computers

Survey Says One-Fifth of Americans Have Never Used E-mail

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — May 19th 2008 at 3:24PM

Do you know anyone who isn't spending time online, sending e-mail, reading blogs and reviews or just shopping for the best deal? Apparently, plenty of people are still not using the Internet, whether for communication or anything else, according to a new survey issued by Parks Associates.

According to the analyst firm, one-fifth of U.S. households have never used e-mail and 18 percent have no Internet access at all. That's 20 million households that are somehow able to get by without Internet access, a number that reveals a very real digital divide.

According to Parks' research director John Barrett, "Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to create a document."

Does this surprise you?

Barrett points out that those who are not using computers or going online won't likely be doing either anytime soon. The survey found that only seven percent of the 20 million "unconnected" homes plan to subscribe to an Internet service within the next 12 months. Age and economic status do play a small role, but more important is the overall attitude of those who are not connected that these tools would offer no significant benefit to their lives on a daily basis. [Source: News.com]

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, digital divide, DigitalDivide, e-mail, internet, luddites, surveys

Polish PM Dismisses Online Voters As Porn-Watching Beer Swillers

by Peter Mychalcewycz (RSS feed) — Mar 12th 2008 at 12:03PM

Jaroslaw Kaczynski has, shall we say, an aversion to technology and those who use it. The former Prime Minister of Poland and current opposition leader has drawn attention to himself with a barrage of pointed opinions regarding online voting.

In a quote from his political party's Web site, Kaczynski believes that online voting should be a non-option for Poles because the Internet is for people that watch "pornography while sipping beer." Kaczynski elaborated on his distrust of Internet users, saying: "I am not an enthusiast of a young person sitting in front of a computer, watching video clips and pornography while sipping a bottle of beer and voting when he feels like it." As if further clarification was needed, he adds that Internet users are simply "the easiest group to manipulate, to suggest who to vote for."

The premise that a large contingent of internet users is of the beer-swilling, porn-addicted variety is not a new one. To imply that such a contingent should be somehow cleansed from the voting process, well, that's just crazy talk.

We are sure Kaczynski, in all his repressed rage, has sipped a glass of expensive wine while slowly reading a steamy work of fiction. In all fairness, we shouldn't be too hard on the man since he's never claimed to be tech-savvy. He doesn't use a cell phone or have a bank account, and his can only assume that his carriage has been in the shop for weeks (we're kidding about the last part, but the first two are true).

There are definitely potential drawbacks to online voting -- stability, security, among others -- but the character of those who have the capability to vote online (i.e. a very large amount of people) is not one of the more important ones.

From Reuters

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Tags: expire-images:2008-4-11, luddites, poland

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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