One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
By Dixie Darr
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
--Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
Normally, I like to encourage as much creativity and entrepreneurship as possible, but here are a few new products I hope will not make it.
In an era when obesity is becoming the new national sport, Trinity College in Dublin is developing a "smart sofa" that could turn us all into permanent couch potatoes. It will be able to determine who is sitting on it and then make adjustments to the room according to that person's comfort level. The couch will be able to turn off and on appliances, adjust the temperature in a room, and turn on the stereo to play the style of music that the individual sitting on it prefers. Just what I need: a couch that’s smarter than I am.
Shades of Dick Tracy! Fossil Inc. introduced a wristwatch earlier this year that can display weather, headlines and instant messages along with the time. Well, we knew this was coming. All they had to do was put a wrist strap on a PDA. My only question is why this product doesn’t include a cell phone and an MP3 player? I always said my idea of hell is a place where you could always be reached by phone. The cell phone made that a reality years ago. Is there anyplace left where you can really get away from it all? Or do we even want that any more?
Finally, LG Electronics has developed a refrigerator that contains an LCD screen, Internet hookup and a stereo system, and allows you to search through its database of recipes, leave a video memo for other family members, and play your MP3s. This seems like an appropriate companion to the smart sofa above. With this refrigerator, I wouldn’t have to get up and walk to the kitchen (sometimes the only exercise I get) when I want a snack. I could do my surfing and snacking without moving a muscle. They call this progress.
And now a note to all the salespeople out there. I recently received a sales letter addressed to “Dear Senior Citizen.” At 55 I qualify at best as a geezer-in-training. Trust me when I tell you that this is NOT the way to address me if you want me to buy whatever you’re selling.
9:35:23 AM 
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