http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/technology/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-09-02-2012/ We were having a chat about technology in The Punch office yesterday. Ant was shocked (shocked!) when I mentioned using computers at primary school. As he recalled, when he was in high school, it only had a couple of computers in a lab that you were very rarely allowed to touch. There was at least one in every classroom when I was at school and labs jam-packed with them. And by Year 8 or 9 most had mobile phones. I don’t think I can remember my report cards ever not being typed, whereas the rest of the team could all recall the challenge over having to decipher the teacher’s handwriting. Tory M remembered trying to save up several grand to buy her first computer – when today you can walk into JB Hi-Fi and pick up a laptop for around $800. One day soon all school kids will be typing up their end-of-school exams. Some already do. Times have sure changed. Considering you, our excellent regulars, are of all ages, we were wondering: how have you adapted to the technological changes of the past thirty years? What changes have you seen? What have you had trouble getting used to? Is it exciting? Terrifying? Astonishing? Confusing? What don’t you know how to do? I only found out about Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V a couple of years ago. Thought this was a bit of a talker for Thursday. What do you think? And hey, what else is on your mind? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-09-02-2012/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-09-02-2012/#item7719 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reconnecting-by-getting-totally-disconnected/ FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reconnecting-by-getting-totally-disconnected/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reconnecting-by-getting-totally-disconnected/#item7524 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-using-your-smartphone-at-dinner/ A friend of mine was forced to leave a drinks party with three friends because they spent more time scrolling through their Facebook feeds than having a proper conversation around the table. Does that ever happen to you? Today’s dilemma: is it ever okay to ask your friend to switch off their phone while you’re getting together? And does “where” you are make a difference? For example, is it more or less offensive to check your phone around the dinner table than at a backyard BBQ? While you’re contemplating that, check out this video from clever American blogger, Brian Perez. He’s invented the phone-stacking game. The explanation is over the jump. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-using-your-smartphone-at-dinner/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-using-your-smartphone-at-dinner/#item7522 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-remote-to-rule-them-all/ Who on earth wants to yell at their television? Voice activated smart TVs have been a staple of the emerging technologies I’ve seen at CES in Las Vegas this year and I must say – I just don’t get it. So far I haven’t seen a voice activated smart TV that works as well as it’s supposed to, but even if I had - if I never have to talk to my television, I’ll be better for it. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-remote-to-rule-them-all/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-remote-to-rule-them-all/#item7520 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-joy-of-autosex-I-mean-autolicks-I-mean-autocorrect/ Terrible news. The word on the e-street is that Apple’s super-secretive tech-heads aren’t just slaving away on a new flat screen iDiotBox. They’re also attempting to kill off a wonderfully slapstick glitch in the company’s existing devices. ‘Autocorrect’ is an iPhone function designed to correct spelling mistakes and complete par-finished words. Often, however, it demonstrates a delightfully human tendency to stuff up. Over the past year, it has become infamous for transforming innocuous missives about holiday plans and office schedules into surreal ejaculations about Pussy Hats (instead of Pizza Huts), stroking offs (instead of stroganoffs), backyard transsexuals (instead of trampolines) and earthquake titty scales (instead of the usual Richter models). feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-joy-of-autosex-I-mean-autolicks-I-mean-autocorrect/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-joy-of-autosex-I-mean-autolicks-I-mean-autocorrect/#item7509 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-dream-of-telling-everyone-about-your-kooky-dreams/ Could this be the year we finally get a dream-recording device? There are many inventions I’m hanging out for this year – from automatic cheese graters, to a device that allows Kyle Sandilands to break free from his rage-limiting mortal form and roam the skies as a scowling dragon, hurling damsels with ‘90s haircuts into volcanoes. But a gizmo that could record and playback dreams would be at the top of my list. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-dream-of-telling-everyone-about-your-kooky-dreams/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-dream-of-telling-everyone-about-your-kooky-dreams/#item7475 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/weve-got-our-heads-buried-in-an-exciting-new-world/ I recently attended a VIP media launch for an Aussie singer. This in itself is news as I have two children under the age of two, so going out is rare. But the real surprise was how much the dancefloor had changed. It wasn’t smaller or lit like Saturday Night Fever (although that would have been cool). It just wasn’t heaving. Normally the music would be blamed for a subdued crowd. But I think the real problem was a new one. You see, it’s particularly hard to dance while watching an artist through your iPhone, while tweeting, Instagramming, uploading snaps to Facebook or writing a blog post. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/weve-got-our-heads-buried-in-an-exciting-new-world/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/weve-got-our-heads-buried-in-an-exciting-new-world/#item7373 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-all-need-to-tune-in-turn-off-and-chill-out/ Ah, the holidays. How good is it to relax on the couch to watch the cricket and – hang on, my phone’s beeping. Gee, I’d better respond to some of those work emails. And there are notifications on Twitter. Someone’s tagged a photo on Facebook. Looks like there’s a job offer via LinkedIn. And I should check out who’s on Google+ while I’m at it. Seriously, do we ever turn off anymore? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-all-need-to-tune-in-turn-off-and-chill-out/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-all-need-to-tune-in-turn-off-and-chill-out/#item7448 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/slo-mo-testicle-hits-show-cricket-has-gone-nuts/ When you tune in to a Test Match and see the New Zealand skipper cop a Kookaburra in the testicles in super slow-motion from seven angles, you realise the technology of televised cricket has gone nuts. In 1977 Daddles the Duck skulked across our screens for the first time, accompanying the brooding batsman on his long walk back to the pavilion. Willow under his wing, tear dripping from his eye, the animated quack was one of the first computer graphics to complement the on-field action, and was part of Kerry Packer’s push to package cricket for TV. Three decades on, a glut of high-tech gadgetry and a smorgasbord of stats provide the DNA of every delivery. Atari-like graphics have been superseded by a sophisticated suite of digital devices which make NASA look like a bunch of kids farting about with a junior science kit. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/slo-mo-testicle-hits-show-cricket-has-gone-nuts/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/slo-mo-testicle-hits-show-cricket-has-gone-nuts/#item7418 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/our-hitech-future-is-here-and-its-remarkably-ordinary/ It’s time to get over the hovercar. It’s not happening. You’re not getting one. And for that matter, you’re not going to be flying to Mars or the moon or through the rings of Saturn in a spaceship. Not in your lifetime. The biggest let-down of the 21st century is that humanity has proved pretty poor at inventing the flying technologies that we imagined would be jetting us to Mars or well, Coles, by now. But it’s time we got over that. Because our levitating-vehicle-filled imaginations of the future are holding us back from embracing the future that is already here. And it’s a future that’s far more remarkable than you would think. For instance: say hello to the Matrix. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/our-hitech-future-is-here-and-its-remarkably-ordinary/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/our-hitech-future-is-here-and-its-remarkably-ordinary/#item7367 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 FOR a year now, I’ve had a little quote pinned above my desk. “Tell me,” it says, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” On a particularly joyless day, I scribbled a response: “Make lunch boxes.” But even doctored with my smarty-pants cynicism, that scrap of paper winks at my soul. Some days, I try for ‘wild’ by blasting The Buzzcocks through my office after dropping the kids at school. Other times, I aim for ‘precious’, tinkering with words in the hope they’ll flow from me to you as naturally as breath (they don’t). Now, I’m not one for malcontent. Live well, love well, don’t leave a mess and “yes, please” to another piece of cake is generally my motto. But, recently I’ve felt disconnected, which is absurd because last year I received 13,506 emails, sent 432 tweets and became Facebook ‘friends’ with someone I kissed in 1989.