Internet Appliances: Enough is Enough!
by Chris Rogers
August 24th, 2000

Being connected has become a certified "Thing" today. People are walking around with web-ready cellular phones, wireless laptops, and connected handhelds. Hey, I'll admit I have one. All of these devices are capable of being connected to the internet with just a push of a button. My question is, how far are we going to go with this? So far I have seen some nifty gadgets that I will admit are cool geektoys. For example, the iOpener from Netpliance allows you to access the internet without the help of a full-blown computer. The Palm VII is also another cool geek toy that you can use to get snippets of information whenever you need (great for waiting in a doctors office, or in the middle of a boring lecture).

The truth is, however, sometimes the internet shouldn't be everywhere.

Imagine you are in the Marriott hotel in Hawaii. You have been working so incredibly hard that you deserve this vacation. As you leave the lobby, dropping off your luggage with the bell boy, you step into the elevator and notice a screen. There on this screen is your daily weather, stocks, and AOL Instant Messenger! You figure your on the 25th floor and have a second or two to see if any of your friends are on. You sign on and someone you haven't talked to in years is on ( I know this has happened to you!) so you decide to drop them a line. Turns out you had a very good conversation, problem is you've been riding the elevator for three hours chatting with this person. You now hold the world record for longest time in an elevator.

Sound farfetched?

I saw on the news the other night that they have already installed computer internet terminals in elevators somewhere in LA. Why would anyone want to surf the web in an elevator? Televisions in an elevator I can understand. Most hotels and convention centers already have a closed network for their televisions. Is having the internet everywhere such a great idea? Do we really want to be able to surf the internet wherever we are including those small gas stations out in the middle of Arizona and New Mexico? Where are these internet appliances going to end up next?

Soon we may be seeing little internet terminals in our CD-Players, watches ( I think they are already there), bed sheets, and socks. We'll be able to roll over on our favorite pillow and see who won the NFL playoffs. Do we really need to be connected 24/7? I personally think we don't, but feel free to state otherwise in the iTeen Forum. I would like to know your opinions.

Though the internet is cool, and being able to have information right at your fingertips is a neat idea, we also need to be humans and interact with each other. It seems now that the computer, once an invention to make our lives easier, has begun to take over our lives. If our world does become overrun by Mr. Coffee's with AOL I ask you to please take a break and go see a movie with a friend. Being connected is a cool idea, but everyone needs a break, don't’ you think?

Please let me know what kind of wired appliances you would and wouldn't like in the iTeen Forum!

P.S. I would also like to say Rest in Peace to the sailors who died in the submarine Kursk. Our prayers our with you and your families.

Peace,
-Chris-