Questions

How Do You Envision the Future of the Web?

The Internet has profoundly affected the story of our lives. In the future, things will get a whole lot more interesting. Here are some of my predictions:

Face Recognition

At present, people can post photos online and add a name/keyword tag to the image. In the future, every image currently on the Internet will be searchable (like text is now) and faces will be recognized. You’ll be able to search for your favorite movie star or your latest hiring candidate by name, but get results by image. If a face has not been identified by name, their images will be pooled with other images of the same or similar looking faces. Perhaps surveillance camera footage will be included as well. Any photos you have online right now will show up in face searches. 

Web-wide Video Search

Imagine being able to search for every occurrence of, “I love you,” and media-mash a video based on the results. You could also search video for scenarios such as “car crash” or “space ship fight.” You won’t be viewing the whole movie, just the part that contains the searched topic. Initially, people will label the scene sections much like they currently tag images. Eventually we’ll embed our video media when it is authored to be able to perform well in the searches.

One Profile

You will have one profile to manage but it will have many pages. Your “professional page” could be used for sites like LinkedIn or Monster. Your “fun profile” could be used for sites like FaceBook and Twitter. An “alter ego” page would be employed when you need an avatar for video games. And your “private profile” could be used for dating. You’ll have a financial page containing what you’re worth, how much you owe, and how much property you own.

Big Corporate Buy Ups

In the nineties it seemed like everyone was an ISP until they got purchased by Comcast and AT&T. One day all of the corporate branded websites will be owned by five companies and they will create five private webs. Everything outside of those major five will be considered renegade media.

Location Tracking

A single hand held device will become the laptop/cellphone/camera/camcorder/voice recorder of the future. Combined with GPS you will know exactly where a person is at any given moment. The term “online now” will turn to “in Minneapolis now.”

Wired Airplanes

Forget free wifi in the lounge at the terminal. Each seat on the plane gets a screen and a connection. You provide the input device (keyboard, track pad) or rent one for $10 for the duration of the flight. Passengers enjoy playing games with other passengers and even play for prizes.

Intelligent Vehicles

As electric vehicles become commonplace, it won’t be uncommon that they get fitted with constant wifi. Your car will have a national ID that will get registered to its owner so that nobody else can drive it (sorry teenaged kids) unless you program in a co-driver. We’ll stop using ignition keys and start using finger print sensors or eye scans. Online services will include voice activated web searching and compu-voice “reading” services so you could listen to a Wikipedia entry as you drive.

What does the future of the web look like to you?

What Is A Hook?

How do you define a hook in storytelling and story writing? Can you give an example? How do people create hooks? Why do people respond to them?

Do You Consider Storytelling A Tool?

I’ve heard salespeople say that storytelling is a great way to make the sale by connecting with people.

Managers are saying that storytelling is great for team building.

Consultants are saying that storytelling is the secret language of leadership.

Some game designers say storytelling is key to a good video game.

And storytellers often say that storytelling is magic.

What is storytelling for you?

How Do You Define Story?

Story is often defined as, “Beginning, Middle, End.”

And while that’s a good descriptor, it doesn’t really define story.

Can story be defined? If so, how do you define s-t-o-r-y?