The Misfit Shine: Wearable Tech for Non-Egotisticals

Wearable technology seems to be the “next big thing.” Whether it’s activity monitors, wrist-phones, or eyeglass computers, everyone is talking about these gadgets. But if you are anything like me, you are a little hesitant to buy into this trend. Sure, wearable tech is cool, but is it worth it? Even though I consider myself an early adopter, I plan on letting others test the waters on this one.

The most glaring example of wearable tech is Google Glass. If you happen to live under a rock, Google Glass is a personal computer that you wear like glasses. It is, more or less, a smartphone that you wear and control with your voice. It’s cool, it’s convenient, but for some, it’s 1984. Hesitancy around wearable tech might stem from a fear of Big Brother and the dependency on digital help. Some would argue that we are already overdependent on our smartphones. But something just doesn’t feel right about our technology being part of our wardrobe.

There is also a fear, for me at least, of coming off as egotistical. While the purpose of wearable tech is mere functionality, the application can appear selfish. The constant desire for connection with the online world is one with which I do not wish to associate.

Another concern others might have with wearable tech is their sheer ugliness. Their unfamiliarity draws too much attention, and the design doesn’t do anything to help. Perhaps it’s an attempt at branding, but one cannot wear these gadgets without getting looks from others in the room. And more often than not, these are first looks of curiosity, followed by looks of disgust. In fact, wearers of Google Glass have earned a derogatory nickname because of the latter.

But have no fear, because I have found a wearable technology that I deem to be worthy of the non-egotistical’s attention. Meet the Shine, by Misfit Wearables.

The Shine is where function meets fashion. I think the product video speaks for itself, but for more information, visit Misfit’s website. The Shine is definitely the best wearable tech for us non-egotisticals. While I haven’t yet purchased one, the Shine is at the top of my list. If you want to decrease the time you spend staring at your phone without increasing the time people spend staring at you, go with Shine.

Why You Should Like Curly Fries

In a riveting lecture from the Ted X MidAtlantic stage, Jennifer Golbeck, computer scientist at the University of Maryland, describes what she coined as “the curly fry conundrum.” This talk is an exploration of the effects of “liking” something on Facebook. Surprisingly, a Facebook “like” says a lot more than you might think.

I think there is a great majority of America who sees Facebook advertisements as pure magic. “How in the world did they know I wanted dog diapers???” I’m sure we’ve all heard an exclamative concern similar to this one at some point in our lives. But for many of us, we understand the correlation of Facebook advertisements to our activity. If we “like” a fast food restaurant on Facebook, we are likely to see advertisements for other fast food restaurants on our feed in a matter of days. We know and expect this to be true, and it doesn’t really phase us.

But Golbeck has taken the correlations of our online activity to a new level. Computer scientists have discovered that they can estimate demographic information people who “like” a certain page to a disturbing accuracy. Their basis for this discovery is the idea of homophily. Homophily is simply the concept that you are friends with people that are similar to you. Smart people typically have smart friends. Good looking people typically have good looking friends. You get the idea. Well researchers have been able to make assumptions on other “likers” of a page, based on just a few of the “likers.” For example, it was found that people that “like” the Facebook page for curly fries are very likely to be smart people. Watch the whole talk below for a more in depth explanation:

So what are we to do about this?

Well, Golbeck lays out a few action paths for us, but in the end, I think we should just be more aware of our online activity. We tend to see our online activity as completely personal, or existing solely within our friend group. This could not be further from the truth. When you post publicly, everyone has access to that information. This is simply something we should be aware of in order to, in the words of Golbeck, “improve the way people interact online.”

Be present in online activity, but be aware.

Being Real: The Importance of Online Authenticity

My definition of–or philosophy of–online authenticity can be reached by asking yourself the question: “Are my words and actions in the virtual world consistent with my words and actions in the physical world?” If you can answer that question with, “yes,” then you practice online authenticity. That’s not where I struggle. But let’s take this one question deeper. Ask yourself the question: “Are my words and actions in the physical world consistent with the words and actions of my soul?” This, to me, is a much harder, heavier, and pressing question. This, if anything, is what I struggle with, much before online authenticity. This question requires that we know ourselves, which is something that is hard to do. One can practice online authenticity and still be fooling themselves and all of the world. This is a scary idea that I won’t delve into any further at this point.

Moving on, let’s talk about the importance of–or purpose of–online authenticity. It is important to be consistent in your online and physical presence so as not to deceive others. In the digital age, many relationships occur primarily online (because of geographical distance, schedules, etc.), so there are many who might only see one of the two manifestations of you. The importance of authenticity comes in when there is intention for these people to be with you in real life. For example, if an employer comes in contact with you via social media, they have one view of you, which you can actively shape and adapt on a whim. But if you are being inauthentic, when they hire you, they could be severely disappointed and might even fire you. That is a slippery-slope scenario, but nevertheless, inauthenticity can be damaging to yourself and to others.

My practical approach–or path–to online authenticity is so cliché: “Be yourself.” I know this phrase doesn’t carry much weight anymore, but it shouldn’t have to (because this guy said it). I believe I have enough foresight to know the possible consequences of being inauthentic. So my way of avoiding inauthenticity is simply not thinking about the boundary between the virtual world and the physical world. I know that sounds bizarre, but if you just think of them as one in the same (which I know they are not), you will have no problem acting consistently in both.

NOTES:

The only two places one might call me out for being inauthentic is in my omission (or non-participation) and irony.

Omission, or the holding back of words or actions, is not online authenticity because while it may seem that I have no opinion on certain matters, I really do and would refrain from sharing them just as I would in the physical world. Therefore, I am being authentic to my physical self.

Irony, or what some might call “trolling” (see example) may be unprofessional or impolite, but I am ironic and “troll” people in my physical life. It is all in the name of fun, and anyone who knows me well would know that. Therefore, because of the consistency, it is not inauthenticity (according to my definition).