I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s blog for years and for all that time it has never been less than an astute, insightful and intelligent read. But for once I think he’s got it completely wrong.
In today’s post (‘An End Of Magic‘) he references the old Arthur C Clarke quote:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”, suggesting that with so many possibilities being realised by technology in recent years, the word ‘sufficiently’ is being stretched. He writes:
“…one reason for our ennui as technology hounds is that we’re missing the feeling that was delivered to us daily for a decade or more. It’s not that there’s no new technology to come (there is, certainly). It’s that many of us can already imagine it.”
I don’t feel any ennui. I don’t miss that feeling. I am continually surprised, delighted and enchanted by new technologies, not least because (as Maria Popova put it) we live in the golden age of serendipity. I don’t see an end to the magic. Sorry Seth, but I think you’re wrong.
Image courtesy the magical Dentsu/BERG Making Future Magic
Original Post: http://neilperkin.typepad.com/only_dead_fish/2011/05/no-end-to-the-magic.html
