Dreams are here. Details have changed.
2009-05-24
Science fiction predicted that by now, we'd all be cyborgs like The Six Million Dollar Man or Robocop: humans with some parts replaced by bionic or robotic ones. Machine-enhanced abilities to see, hear, and communicate - our brains tapped into the central computer.
But if we let go of the idea that these robotic parts have to be under the skin, we realize we're already there.
Our mobile cellphones do all of that, and they're practically glued to our hands or ears. (In Finnish, the word for “cell phone” loosely translates to “extension of the hand”.) Thanks to the internet, we're all tapped into the central computer, able to know anything, anytime.
The point of the science fiction prediction was our machine-enhanced abilities. They didn't really need to be under the skin.
Yesterday, a musician friend said he really wants distribution for his CD.
I had to ask, “What do you mean? You're already on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, and everywhere else.”
He said, “I want my CD to be in record stores.”
“Why? Are people who want your music getting in the car and driving to one of the few remaining record stores, then coming back empty-handed, and giving up? Is anyone unable to buy your music?”
After we talked a while, he was actually really happy once he realized he already had full worldwide international distribution. Everyone who wants his music, anywhere on earth, can buy it instantly. He had been stuck on a 20-year-old detail that it had to be on plastic discs in wooden bins in certain kinds of shops that were popular 20 years ago.
Ever wanted to be on TV, or have your own TV show, watched by millions of people worldwide? You've got it. YouTube. A typical Baywatch episide had 20 million viewers. So does Fred.
(Or maybe you were more looking forward to the fights over creative control, having a dozen different producers and writers in the mix, and all of that?)
Ever wanted to publish a book? Write it, then put it online as a PDF, and let go of the detail that a big company needs to print it for you. People can print it themselves, if they want.
Even old dreams like retiring, sailing around the world, or living in a mansion can be done cheaply and easily if you revisit some old expectations of exactly how it needs to happen.
We can't predict the future, so what old dreams of yours might already be do-able if you let go of some details, and remember the real point?
(Photo is of my friend Jon from Audradrone.)
We can develop 'robotic' behavior patterns in our lives. I look-out for this in myself. Drop them when I find I am being robotic around elements of my behavior.
I used to read at least a Science Fiction book every week as I grew up so I'm pretty well schooled in future possible realities. There are a few I still expect to appear before I'm not here anymore.
Anti-gravity. Teleporting - we can already do it on a micro-level - and widespread understanding and development of our birthright psi-powers. Fast inter-stellar travel. Why not?
However the real deal will not be any of these modern miracles, it will be going from where we are now, humanity's difficult, often self-destructive teenage years, to adulthood, where we genuinely live in balanced ways, in peace and fairness, not just paying lip service to those ideals while punishing those who think differently to us, or happen to look different - the old prejedices and thought patterns that demoralise us as a species.
Now that would be improvement!
Ever since I got an iphone I think I =am= a cyborg, such is the extent to which it's permanently in my hand.
Last week I audioboo'd a new tune in the basement of the club I was about to play and had it online, getting listens, in three minutes flat. Didn't even have to use a computer. How cool is that?
We really are living in the future.
The first mention I heard of what eventually became the Internet we know today was in HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (sub-etha net) and STAR WARS (holonet). Douglas Adams, an early Mac fan, predicted the Digital Village where people would group together based on common interests and ideas. An amateur guitarist, he also predicted that how we record and distribute music would be revolutionized by technology and de-monopolize the industry. He died in 2001.
Hologram video is already here and our cell phones, with all those extra bells and whistles (digital Swiss Army knife), bear a very strong resemblance to the com-links from the original STAR TREK episodes. That was the fist TV show to feature a black woman in a prominent position (Lt. Uhura), another groundbreaker. The only thing I can disagree with is inter-stellar travel and that's because of the curvature of space/time. But who knows? Nothing is impossible, just very very improbable.
Many Sci-Fi and Fantasy writers have written that by merely turning our head a slight angle we can perceive an entirely different reality. Good metaphor! And good article.
Thanks again Derek. I've known for a while that I need to create a performance for YouTube and now I have another nudge. And thanks for the link back to "we can't predict the future."
This quote from there is pertinent to what I can do this week:
"If you’re a performer, make weekly improvements on your ability to captivate an audience, and make a goal of really connecting with 10 new people every week."
For me it is best to focus on what I can do.
Keep writing!
Nicely said!
I refer to this as the "cyberbellum."
http://xrl.us/betzib
Amazing times we live in!!!
- Noel
I'm glad that the musical industrial wheel has turned; it's exiting to have complete independence in a sea of artistic dreams with the means to be heard. This is an age of creation, of performance, of excess, where struggle brings forth innovative art, spit on Buddha and god save the queen.
Some years ago I had a dream - if I could make enough money, I might be able to buy a beautiful house in the countryside. With a little more money, there would even be a lake. Then I would get up in the morning and swim before breakfeast.
This morning, I just returned from swimming in the beautiful natural lake that is within walkin distance from my beautiful house and studio in the countryside.
The lake is not mine, and the house is rented, not owned.
But everything I envisioned a decade ago has become reality - letting go of the details can make one`s dreams come true
Unfortunatly, or may be fortunatly I may have to go that rout for real with my cronic ulcerated foot proplems. No biggie, I'll adjust, when it's time of 'course.
I think it's great that people can get music so easily these days via the internet. But nothing beats listening to vinyl on a sweet system. Hopefully younger generations will be exposed to the joys of that experience. Otherwise, they're being cheated out of the best way to listen to recorded music in one's home. Long live vinyl and record shops!
BTW. I'm under 30 ;)
My big question is, with all of this technology, what is the emphasis on live music these days? Is that still important? Or do bands only perform live to promote the sale of their latest album?
Just wanted to thank you for this post.