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richardleis's review
4.0
The TED format for short books about specific topics is part of a promising publishing trend. In Hybrid Reality, the authors provide a quick, information-rich summary of current technological trends that appear to be merging the real with the virtual, and the human with the technological. The resulting Hybrid Age will lead to "a new mode of arranging global society" and "human-technology coevolution".
What I appreciate most about this book is how it provides a useful new lens for viewing these trends: geotechnology. This is part of yet another trend in repositioning technology as one of the primary movers of the world, a trend I whole-heartedly endorse. To paraphrase: "technology is the most important source of power and well-being". Meanwhile, generativity - that is, the ability of people not originally involved in the development of a technology to help said technology continue evolving - is the means by which technology trends are accelerating, often in surprising ways. The book provides several examples of how generativity in the Hybrid age is rapidly changing education, health care, and governance.
The authors ends with challenges in this new age. The very technologies that are rapidly changing everything around, and within, us could also lead to our destruction. The authors do not provide much in the way of solutions, but I think this will come out of the general discourse this book is trying to enhance.
For those not usually inclined to read such books, "Hybrid Reality" is more of a friendly primer than an in-depth technical manual to the future. I think it is the one of the best resources for being introduced to these ideas, and I hope more people read books like these to at least get started thinking about the impact of all of this change.
What I appreciate most about this book is how it provides a useful new lens for viewing these trends: geotechnology. This is part of yet another trend in repositioning technology as one of the primary movers of the world, a trend I whole-heartedly endorse. To paraphrase: "technology is the most important source of power and well-being". Meanwhile, generativity - that is, the ability of people not originally involved in the development of a technology to help said technology continue evolving - is the means by which technology trends are accelerating, often in surprising ways. The book provides several examples of how generativity in the Hybrid age is rapidly changing education, health care, and governance.
The authors ends with challenges in this new age. The very technologies that are rapidly changing everything around, and within, us could also lead to our destruction. The authors do not provide much in the way of solutions, but I think this will come out of the general discourse this book is trying to enhance.
For those not usually inclined to read such books, "Hybrid Reality" is more of a friendly primer than an in-depth technical manual to the future. I think it is the one of the best resources for being introduced to these ideas, and I hope more people read books like these to at least get started thinking about the impact of all of this change.
jennilynft's review
4.0
An optimistic portrait of our possible future relationship with technology.
A lot of really interesting ideas and predictions. Really made me think about where techno,of will progress as I grow older, and the rapid rate it will happen.
A lot of really interesting ideas and predictions. Really made me think about where techno,of will progress as I grow older, and the rapid rate it will happen.
obnorthrup's review
4.0
Provocative, like a TED talk, with more meat, but still not a lot in the way of direct citations. I was hoping for a little less pop and a little more science.
manuel_d78's review
4.0
Around half of the book, the author starts the use of the German word Technik, for the responsible use of technology with a long term benefit.
The book goes on showing that benefit and technological advances can never be held to a local or otherwise group, but must spread and be used by all groups of people globally, so that different uses of technology interact, create synergistic effects and new technologies and the use of these technologies.
The book goes on showing that benefit and technological advances can never be held to a local or otherwise group, but must spread and be used by all groups of people globally, so that different uses of technology interact, create synergistic effects and new technologies and the use of these technologies.
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