19 votes

Anyone else get irrationally excited by new technology?

New devices, new apps, new websites, new tech, all these things get me irrationally excited. Almost like getting a package in the mail...

25 comments

  1. [4]
    Emerald_Knight
    Link
    For me it depends on the novelty of the tech, or whether or not it fills a need that I have that hasn't been filled yet. I don't get excited about the next chat bot, for instance, but the...

    For me it depends on the novelty of the tech, or whether or not it fills a need that I have that hasn't been filled yet. I don't get excited about the next chat bot, for instance, but the advancements being made due to machine learning are amazing to me.

    6 votes
    1. [3]
      efraimbart
      Link Parent
      I somehow convince myself that I need to have all new tech, there's something in my life lacking if I don't get it.

      I somehow convince myself that I need to have all new tech, there's something in my life lacking if I don't get it.

      1. [2]
        Emerald_Knight
        Link Parent
        That legitimately sounds like an addiction. It's not exactly the self-destructive variety like with drugs or alcohol, but it might be a good idea to consider speaking with a professional. There...

        That legitimately sounds like an addiction. It's not exactly the self-destructive variety like with drugs or alcohol, but it might be a good idea to consider speaking with a professional. There could be something underlying that could be causing problems in other areas of your life.

        5 votes
        1. efraimbart
          Link Parent
          That's a possibility, though I seriously hope not.

          That's a possibility, though I seriously hope not.

          2 votes
  2. [4]
    Durinthal
    Link
    I used to, but now I'm more of the "interested but wary" type. I've lost count of how many things that looked awesome upon their initial reveal just never materialized or were disappointing when...

    I used to, but now I'm more of the "interested but wary" type. I've lost count of how many things that looked awesome upon their initial reveal just never materialized or were disappointing when they did. And these days I have more of an eye on how new tech could be used to harm people rather than help them but of course most people don't want to admit those kinds of downsides up front.

    3 votes
    1. asdf
      Link Parent
      I call this the Google glass effect.

      I call this the Google glass effect.

      2 votes
    2. efraimbart
      Link Parent
      I see the grains of salt, but I still have difficulty applying them to my excitement.

      I see the grains of salt, but I still have difficulty applying them to my excitement.

    3. asdf
      Link Parent
      I call this the Google glass effect.

      I call this the Google glass effect.

  3. [4]
    Neverland
    (edited )
    Link
    You mean like a new social media site? :) ~ Yes ~ Here is some interesting work by a neuroscientist on the matter in general. Just one small excerpt: Source Edit: clarity

    You mean like a new social media site? :) ~ Yes ~

    Here is some interesting work by a neuroscientist on the matter in general. Just one small excerpt:

    a neuroimaging study revealed that Apple products activate the same parts of the brain in its fans as religious images trigger in a person of faith.

    Source

    Edit: clarity

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      efraimbart
      Link Parent
      I definitely do not relate to that.

      a neuroimaging study revealed that Apple products activate the same parts of the brain in its fans as religious images trigger in a person of faith.

      I definitely do not relate to that.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Neverland
        Link Parent
        Me neither, but it is really interesting. One of my most upvoted comments on Reddit is “I don’t understand why people get so religious about consumer products.” But I do relate to OP’s main point...

        Me neither, but it is really interesting. One of my most upvoted comments on Reddit is “I don’t understand why people get so religious about consumer products.” But I do relate to OP’s main point in general.

        That article I linked to has some interesting stuff on the topic.

        2 votes
        1. PatrickRes
          Link Parent
          Yeah maybe not Apple, but I feel as if this could also apply to many other types of tech in our lives. Good quote!

          Yeah maybe not Apple, but I feel as if this could also apply to many other types of tech in our lives. Good quote!

          1 vote
  4. lesalecop
    Link
    I just hope I don't die before I get to live out my transhumanist furry dreams.

    I just hope I don't die before I get to live out my transhumanist furry dreams.

    2 votes
  5. [3]
    Fires
    Link
    Definitely! I'm not for anything crypto or "blockchain" as these days it's nothing but garbage novelty. Might be an unpopular opinion

    Definitely!

    I'm not for anything crypto or "blockchain" as these days it's nothing but garbage novelty.

    Might be an unpopular opinion

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      Gyrfalcon
      Link Parent
      I think blockchains can solve problems in the world, but you are right that most of what is coming out of that space is not that useful. The problem of money in general, or specifically for...

      I think blockchains can solve problems in the world, but you are right that most of what is coming out of that space is not that useful. The problem of money in general, or specifically for transactions online, has been solved well enough for most people. And far too many are just jumping in to use buzzwords and make money, not to solve a real problem.

      Ethereum does catch my eye, not for the thing itself, but that pretty much anyone can build something on top of their system. From my point of view, tools like that are what gets the real innovations to market.

      2 votes
      1. Fires
        Link Parent
        This is very relevant. I think Ethereum is a very good medium for getting into crypto, but just all this other stupid stuff like "blockchain video games" is pointless and irritating

        And far too many are just jumping in to use buzzwords and make money, not to solve a real problem.

        This is very relevant. I think Ethereum is a very good medium for getting into crypto, but just all this other stupid stuff like "blockchain video games" is pointless and irritating

        1 vote
  6. PatrickRes
    Link
    Yes! Consumerism is a scarier beast than it used to be, and I think one of the most important things somebody can learn in this day and age is the ability to reflect on their your own purchasing...

    Yes! Consumerism is a scarier beast than it used to be, and I think one of the most important things somebody can learn in this day and age is the ability to reflect on their your own purchasing habits and what desires really drive them.

    Is there something you think you can do better when you get something new? Will owning it make you feel more sophisticated, higher class? It's not about making sure the boxes are checked, because if you want it, one of them always will be. It's about making sure you know which boxes are checked, and being able to prioritize purchases based on that.

    2 votes
  7. [2]
    Silbern
    Link
    Yep! I get irrationally excited by old technology too. I get irrationally excited by all technology :P it's pretty fascinating!

    Yep! I get irrationally excited by old technology too. I get irrationally excited by all technology :P it's pretty fascinating!

    1 vote
    1. efraimbart
      Link Parent
      Unfortunately old technology doesn't get advertised enough.

      Unfortunately old technology doesn't get advertised enough.

  8. [2]
    Gyrfalcon
    Link
    Recently I saw a youtube video about this wireless power system. I got super excited. I also can't wait for this week since there will be tons of videos about Computex coming up with hopefully big...

    Recently I saw a youtube video about this wireless power system. I got super excited. I also can't wait for this week since there will be tons of videos about Computex coming up with hopefully big leaps forward in the PC space!

    So to summarize, yes I get excited about new tech.

    1 vote
    1. efraimbart
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I keep seeing wireless power systems, but they never seem to actually come to the market.

      I keep seeing wireless power systems, but they never seem to actually come to the market.

      1 vote
  9. [3]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [2]
      efraimbart
      Link Parent
      Hopefully sooner, it's already getting cheaper...

      Hopefully sooner, it's already getting cheaper...

      1. PatrickRes
        Link Parent
        Yeah you'd be surprised! I built a relatively cheap machine, and sure I'm not playing Ashes of the Singularity, but I've yet to run into a game that is too hardware intensive for me to still...

        Yeah you'd be surprised! I built a relatively cheap machine, and sure I'm not playing Ashes of the Singularity, but I've yet to run into a game that is too hardware intensive for me to still enjoy.

        Admittedly, this was before the big demand-pull inflation that resulted from cryptocurrencies.

        1 vote