Could Ubiquitous Computing Create New Relationships?

In class we recently discussed what possible consequences could occur if the country used ubiquitous computing technology. Even though it seems that it would be many years before this technology is even available it seemed to spark a lot of paranoia for people in the class. Now while there were many interesting points people brought up in class the subject of my blog will be to decide if ubiquitous computing could enhance public interaction specifically in places where it would be socially awkward by today's standards to start a conversation. So if anyone comments on my blog don't ask my about the possible negative affects it could have because that is not the theme of my blog, it would just take too long to discuss all possible outcomes.

In the article "Ubiquitous Computing," by R. Jason Weiss, the author talks about four areas that make up ubiquitous computing. Those four areas are nanotechnology, wireless computing, context awareness and natural interaction. In class we watched a video clip of a device that is being worked on at the moment that incorporates all of those. It was a device you could wear around your neck and you could pretty much do anything with it. It was definitely contextually aware and created natural interaction. The one aspect of it that seemed to have the biggest impact on people's minds in the class was that it could theoretically look at a person and display personal information about them to the person wearing the device. Now while there are obviously many privacy issues that come up here, I am going to explore the possibility that this aspect of the device might have on interacting with more people out in public.

As I thought about this topic I decided to do a little bit of research to see what the dominant cultural idea is currently about talking to people you don't know in public places. I came across a blog online written by a guy asking if he would come across as weird if he talked to people on the train on his way to school. He got many responses and most of them supported my assumption that it is not generally acceptable to talk to random people in public. Most of the responses said things like "you would probably creep people out" "you would annoy people" and one person even referred to it as an "American no no." But it was not always like this. Back in the early 1900's it would have been quite the opposite, if you kept to yourself and did not address people in public in a friendly way then that is what would make you creepy. So why the change? Is it a good thing that society has divided in such a way? Things like ipods are making the divide even bigger because now not only do the sit in silence, they actually put headphones on and go to another world, which would just make it harder to talk to people.

Why don't people talk to each other in public places? Maybe because they have no starting point, they know nothing about the other person. Imagine if people were basically wearing all their interests on their sleeves....literally. Is it possible that you could meet someone who had the same interests as you and create a meaningful relationship with that person that you never would have met otherwise? And if this new technology was adopted by the mainstream would it change the social stigma of not meeting new people? Could we get back to where we were as a society in the early days where people would give a kind hello as you walk by them ont he street? Could this increase quality of life for people that are introverted and don't go out of their way to meet new people?