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This is the storyline behind a new film from writer and director Spike Jonze, Her, in which a lonely middle-aged writer (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with his computer’s automated Siri-like voice (Scarlett Johansson). What makes the film so gripping, is its proximity to real-life.
For many of us our phones are the first thing we look at in the morning, and the last thing we touch at night. A retweet, like or comment, tells us that we are loved, noticed, validated, our opinion counts, we are special. But isn’t that the role your partner should be playing in your life?
In reality, most technology works to facilitate human interaction rather than replace it. When a phone bleeps enthusiastically to notify us of a Facebook comment, it is simply bringing to our attention an interaction with another person. It hasn’t made the comment itself. In the same way as people once ran enthusiastically to the letter box, or snatched up the home telephone, we are excited by what the tool can do for us, not the tool itself.
NameTag, is a current example of technology working to bring people close together. The new Google Glass facial recognition app, can facilitate interactions with complete strangers. By matching the face of someone in real life to their online profile, Google Glass can bring up all available online information about that person, before the Glass wearer has even asked their name. Although there is some debate over how well “I’ve just Googled your face” is going to work as a pick-up line.
When you’re ready to move your relationship to the next level, technology is there to support you. Bluetooth Teledildonics are the next generation of sex toys. Thankfully Phoenix didn’t get his hands on any of these, or Her would’ve been a very different film. Teledildonics are tech enabled sex toys that deliver sexual pleasure via remote control. Suitable for solo, couple of even group use.
As fast as new technologies are brought to market to facilitate human interaction, new technologies are being developed to replace it.
Siri is seen by many as a fun, but largely ineffective virtual assistant, and is certainly no substitute for a real person. The next generation, Bright, takes the role much more seriously, by monitoring your habits and using the information gathered to pre-empt your needs. Designed for high pressure environments, it’s inevitable that this technology will filter its way down to the masses, and one day our phones will now what we want before we do.
Also in development is the snappily titled Passenger Seat Girlfriend, a GPS that can make conversation to keep you awake, while directing you to your destination.
Whilst the majority of new technologies facilitate relationships between humans, there are certainly developments underway that increasingly rely on interaction between an operating system and the user it serves.
An increasing amount of time spent interacting with tech products combined with the improved sophistication of those tools could conceivably lead to feelings of love. After all, doesn’t it make us feel good if someone asks how are day has gone, or reminds us to take coat if rain is forecast.
Of course technology can never replace genuine romantic relationships, as the computer is doing only what it is programmed to do, not acting spontaneously through genuine affection. The danger is, however, that the interaction between computer and user is so nurturing and attentive, genuine feelings of love are created for the human, leading to heart-break when those feelings are not reciprocated.