A friend just sent me an article about the Forecast app,
which claims to help predict the future. It seemed silly, but I thought I’d
check it out.
Read the article: Have Facebook? You can now check into the future with Forecast.
Basically you can tell friends where you’re going to be and at what time, so they can plan to join you if they want to. The beta version launched last summer, but I don’t know of anyone who’s using it. And I’m not sure why they would.
“The groundswell is about to get embedded within every activity, not just on computer but on mobile devices and in the real world.” (Li and Bernoff, 235)
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| A new way to make plans? |
Just like Foursquare, Forecast could be a great way for advertisers and companies to learn more about you and target you with relevant products or services. But is it really socially more helpful? If I wanted a friend to meet me somewhere, I’d invite them. If a friend wanted to know where I was, I’d tell them. To me this app seems like one more way to avoid actual human interaction.
Don’t get me wrong, I downloaded the Facebook app immediately after purchasing my smart phone, and I use it almost every day. I also stay connected with my Gmail app. But I wonder if I any of the other apps I use are actually making me more social.
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| Do you prefer solo games like Tetris, or social games like Words with Friends? |
If I’m bored I’ll use my Tetris app, but I try to limit
myself to one game. It’s so addicting, I
swear I’ve seen the shapes in my head even when I’m not playing! It’s great to have in an empty waiting room,
but I’ve caught myself playing it when I’m out to eat with my family, which is
not only anti-social but just plain rude!
I haven’t tried Words With Friends yet, but I know that way I could play with other people. I think I do need to expand to more social apps, but I don't think I'll be downloading Forecast anytime soon. Would you use Forecast? What are you favorite social apps? Any suggestions for me?
Is there really an app for everything? (YouTube)
Ashley, I totally get your point.. you are concerned that these apps in fact make us distant... but not all apps do!I have a different point of view and I am going to cover this in my blog. I have found some interesting apps/social networks to learn languages (my favorite pass time)... some of them actually connect you with new people/friends...
ReplyDeleteNice blog relating to social apps available to us today. To date, I have not used an app on my phone. I can’t, it is too old. Although, I have found the weather app on selected friends' phones to be helpful in planning a day out. As for apps that allow you to tell people where you are or where you are going - such as Foursquares and Forecast, which seem to be popular with the younger generation - I find them funny. Though it is social, it seems to be anti-social at the same time. Maybe kids are more afraid of hearing audio rejection than reading it? Call me old fashioned, but if I am free and want to meet up with someone, I’ll just give them a call and ask. Sometimes, I may arrange a time through email, but we almost always follow up with a phone call. And yes, games can be addicting to the point that a person can't even look up to say "hi." I have witnessed this several times.
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