Smart Mobs

I found the concept of “smart mobs” very interesting. I especially understood that there can be disadvantages to being so technologically advanced. For example, the great lack of privacy. Rheingold shows this through his statement “When you piece together these different technological, economic, and social components, the result is an infrastructure that makes certain kinds of human actions possible that were never possible before”. He is talking about radio chips, and wireless internet and ways that people use technology, all of that makes up this puzzle of a “smart mob”. I really agree that we are doing things now that never in a million years we all thought technology would be capable of. Back to the privacy issue, surveillance is a technology that is increasingly developed to new levels. When we used to know very little about people, we can now know almost everything due to surveillance. It is almost scary how people can get information about you.

I remember watching the movie “V for Vendetta” and seeing how surveillance plays a huge role in that film. The government has the power to see almost anyone and the use of cameras and video footage really brings to life that these people are being watched constantly. When I watched it, it made me really question if I was really had all the privacy I thought I had. I fully understand that in some cases surveillance can be a good thing. Video cameras in convenience stores and banks have saved lives. However, it is a real privacy issue. And with the Patriot Act in effect since after September 11^th, it is as if we have no privacy at all. This is a definite disadvantage of “smart mobs”. While they are good for many things, they are not very respectful of privacy.