People love technology, and love gadgets. Companies know this, and they often do their best to release new devices or features that they claim will change the way you do things. Most of the time it's all hype, and often times we'll buy into it — only to later discover that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Here, a roundup of what I think are five of the most overrated tech devices and features. Do you agree?
1. Segway
To me the Segway has to be at the top of the list. When it debuted every news station was talking about it: "This is going to revolutionize transportation". (I'm just realizing I watched daytime news then.) They unveiled it, and although it's very cool, I'm just not convinced it's the revolutionary invention they claimed it would be.
The Segway fizzled and now serves as not much more than a fun way to tour the city, or an indoor vehicle for mall cops. It likely didn't catch on due to price and practicality. Where do you park one of those things anyhow? Do you chain it to a bike post?
2. Siri
Ok, be honest with me. Do you really use Siri? Does it really work? Is it faster than manual entry? It's no secret that I think Siri is pretty useless. I've yet to encounter someone that uses it reliably* or with any convenience even close to what's shown in the commercials. Siri gets confused on business names with more than one word, gets stuck waiting for better reception, and most of the time just has no clue what I'm asking. After three attempts, I do things manually — maybe even quicker than Siri may have been in the first place. I hope Apple is making some serious improvements to the voice recognition software, because right now it's broken. I'm definitely not going to ask her for the score of the game in a public place, because she just won't understand me.
*Full disclosure, I JUST met someone who claims to use Siri reliably, but I'm going to need to encounter a whole lot more to tip the balance in its favor.
3. 3D Movies
Again, lots of hype, lots of disappointment. 3D was touted as being the next big cinema revolution, but it rarely impresses. Part of the fault is that content has been diluted by studios converting standard video to 3D just to put a "3D" label on the finished product and charge a higher ticket price. When 3D is done well — Transformers 3, Hugo, Avatar — it is impressive. It's just not mind-blowing, and definitely not the way you want to view all your content.
4. Facetime
Another Apple feature makes the list because they have mastered tech hype. Watching one of the first ads for the iPhone 4 and Facetime makes you feel like you're watching the last scenes of Titanic — you want to cry but, must… hold… back. After watching those advertisements I was ready for the video revolution. Yet again, all hype. I can't remember the last time I used FaceTime, I forget I have the option until I walk by a billboard or see an ad — and most of my friends have iPhones! It's not used because Apple doesn't do a good enough job of letting you know when you can use it. There should be big bright "Answer in Facetime" and "Call by Facetime" buttons when you receive a call from a capable iPhone or call a contact with an iPhone — then we all might use it more.
5. NFC Technology & Google Wallet
Lots of press conferences and media hype surrounded the mobile payment solution that would be Google Wallet. Yet, it all realized into a pipe dream that couldn't make an impact due to lack of partnerships with credit cards, and a shortage of compliant point-of-sale terminals. A new version of Google Wallet has just recently opened up the service beyond Citi Mastercards, but until nearly every vendor has an NFC-compliant terminal it's going to be hard to get in the habit of using it.
That's my hyped-five. What do you think is the most overhyped technology?
(Images: 1. Shutterstock 2. Apple, Shutterstock, Animation Dynamics, Google)
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I am a fan of Siri. I use it to set reminders, alarms, and to play music that I have in my iTunes Match library. It is a real time saver.
Siri is huge for me. It's the first thing I use to add reminders and alarms and quick web searches and text messages.
I definitely agree with 3D movies and FaceTime though. I cringe when my girlfriend opts for the 3D option whenever we see a film.
My family, including extended family, all have iPhones and iPads because of Facetime. I know there is Skype, and we use that too, but for the tech disfunctional Facetime is much easier for them to use. For us it's great, but it's more of an ecosystem thing than it being a great product.
I agree that it will be very difficult to get differing parties with their own interests in payment systems to come up with a NFC payment standard. I think the real issue was more the lack of support for other cards from the outset, not necessarily the availability of terminals (I see them at a number of the places I shop) which killed any initial momentum Google Wallet may have had.
Unlike you, though, I don't remember this one being hyped nearly as much as some of the others above.
My #1, though, is definitely 3D...
love love love facetime! i have family living overseas and being able to talk and SEE each other for free is really super.
About a week ago, there was a google picture montage from all around the world. A few things stood out to me: There are too many guns, a lot more prostitutes than I thought and a whole lot more Segways.
Yes, I use siri. "Siri, set the timer for 7 minutes", "Siri, make an appointment with the orthodontist for next thursday at 3:00", "Siri, how tall is Jake Gyllenhaal?", "Siri, open the podbay doors", "Thank you, Siri"
"I live to serve"
I used to do real 3D at work with Crystal Eyes glasses. The 3D movies are not there yet.
Facetime comes in handy when your kid is in Germany on a study trip and you are here and you don't want to pay for an international phone call. Love it.
Never used the wallet thingies but I suspect I'd just screw that up.
Agree with @KAZ above, I don't think NFC was nearly as hyped as the other technologies. 3D is definitely number 1 on my list as well, because it was so over-hyped just to sell more TVs without any actual gain for the consumer.
I don't think FaceTime has fizzled as well, granted its user base is not huge, but its god send for those who use it to stay in touch with (long-distant) relatives like me. My mom actually teared up the first time we were on FaceTime. And the ease of operation matters.
Agree on Siri. Why no one points out that it has been a huge abysmal failure is beyond me.
I use Siri ALL. THE. TIME.
HATE 3D movies and never use Siri. I've really only used Facetime 2-3 times to show my 3 month old to his grandparents.
I still want a Segway. It looks cool. Alas, out of my budget. I think it'd be great for getting around on a college campus or some place like that. Or even in large office buildings.
Right after it was announced to the world, cities started passing laws banning the Segway, because they weren't ready to have something motorized on the sidewalks.
Interesting read. I guess I would go with 3D. It's cool from time to time, but there's too much attention in this.
I use both Siri and Facetime regularly and LOVE them!
I think the Segway is amazing not for the product, but for the technology. Dean Kamen used the same technology to create a wheelchair that can climb stairs and other obsticles and raise the user to standing height - huge things that help to level the playing field for those with disabilities (who have the money for such a chair, of course, but that's another issue). The Segway was mostly a commercial bi-product that they could make money with.
(By the way, I think Dean Kamen is kind of awesome. He helped to invent the first insulin pump [which helps the patient to better and more easily control lood sugar levels], the device for peritoneal dialysis cycler [which allows dialysis to be done at home automatically several times during the night, which really changes the quality of life for renal patients], and has also worked on things like water purification for 3rd world countries. Some pretty revolutionary devices in my opinion.)
I use FaceTime everyday.
I use Facetime all the time. I travel a lot and its great for staying connected to my husband and kids. It lets my kids have relationships with their grandparents.
siri is good when you're in the car and looking for directions (for instance) and can't manually input anything.
Siri is the reason my wife uses her iPhone. I got her the newest one with Siri, and now she actually texts people... and actually answers e-mails... sets reminders, alarms, makes lists, googles things..... Siri saves a stay at home mom who can't sit down to a computer- but who needs to quickly get a task done.
I would not use siri as much because I'm at work- or in public places. "Siri, search the web for 'how do if fix toe fungus". out loud. doesn't save any time- and only embarrasses people.
I still want a Segway. The other four, I don't care about.
I've actually been told by people who have taken Segway tours that they get extremely uncomfortable after a while. Since you're standing still the whole time, your legs and lower back start to get stiff and cramped.
Do you have kids? That might change your perspective on Facetime.
I was able to Facetime my parents right after my daughter was born so they could see her face all the way across the country. It was an incredible, wonderful, unforgettable moment. And we continue to Facetime every few days so they can see her grow up. It truly lives up to the hype in my eyes.
The rest, though? Totally agree.
Siri is life changing for the visually impaired. Those making negative comments about Siri may want to reconsider their definition of the universe.
I use Siri all the time.
And the reason why Facetime doesn't get used more IMO is that it's only available over WiFi. iOS6 will change that to make it available over cellular (depending on your cell provider and the terms of your contract).
Siri helped me during a huge panic. I live in Utah, and if you've followed the local news, we've had more than 1000 wild fires this calendar year. One happened just a few miles from my home. I was driving home one afternoon and looked up to see a mushroom cloud over my neighborhood and FREAKED out when simultaneously my friend called and said, "are you evacuating?!" I asked Siri to put me through to the local dispatch office to find out if evacuation orders had been issued. I learned that I had had time to get home and get my husband, dogs, and cats and get what we needed before we had to go to a shelter. This helped calm me down... I had no idea what my local dispatch number was, and calling 911 would not have helped!
Jannann's got it. Siri was a huge development for people with visual impairments and limitations in manual dexterity. Game changer.
I use the skype video chat feature often, but not facetime directly due to the wifi limit. however it will be a happy day when the front facing camera matches the back in quality as 16bit family members are not nearly as awesome as those ads pretend to be.
I've seen several accidents on segways and I remember this story.
Segway Founder Dies in Segway Accident
Jimi Heselden, the owner of the Segway company, died on Sunday after he rode a Segway off a cliff at his estate in Britain. His death appears to be an accident—police say they do not believe it to be suspicious. “A Segway-style vehicle was recovered,” said a police spokesman. Heselden bought the Segway company in December 2009. He was ranked 195th on the Sunday Times’ list of rich Britons, and had recently given some $15 million to charity.
I use Siri and FaceTime on a daily basis, except for the odd time when Siri doesn't work due to signal issues, it is very reliable. I cannot live without FT either, my parents, me nephews and nieces- so many connections come to my mind strengthened through FT...
As a visually impaired person who lived in an area with a poor transit system, the Segway I own allowed me to earn a LOT of overtime, and allowed me a much better quality of life. They also allow a lot of other disabled people a better quality of life, they're not just for tours and mall cops.
For the 'average' person, they're the cost of a car. But for those of us for whom a car would be a lawn ornament, they're a really good way to get around.
I have to disagree about Facetime. It is SO awesome for keeping in touch with people who are far away.
My partner is out of the country about half the year. With Facetime we can have a real conversation. Plus, we can show off our latest projects live. So I know if he really does like the color I painted the dining room - facial expressions are helpful! :)
As for the rest I reckon you're right. I'd never even heard of Siri.....
I am hopeful that the mobile wallet will take off over time. It hasn't even made an appearance in this country yet. But, given time I think it will take hold and be awesome.
Yes, I said awesome twice in one post. :|
Forget implanting RFID's. We need compulsory injected bullshit detectors.
I use Facetime all the time!
The point about adding an option to "answer with Facetime" is a good one, but it hardly lands Facetime on this list. It's easier than Skype because it doesn't have a separate login and password, you just have to have an Apple product and an email.
The point about adding an option to "answer with Facetime" is a good one, but it hardly lands Facetime on this list. It's easier than Skype because it doesn't have a separate login and password, you just have to have an Apple product and an email.
iPhones and iPads and Mac computers. I live Steve Jobs, and Apple is okay, BUT... I have yet to use an Apple device that is more user-friendly or reliable than my HTC phone or Toshiba laptop.
The Segway is actually really good for you're core...my proof is a friend who works at a Segway shop and owns one, who claims this. You obviously don't chain them up like a bike, they use a key just like other types of small motorized vehicles and cannot turn on to operate without it.
Siri saved my bacon this afternoon.
I was running extremely late and the traffic was not just heavy but very slow so I had to take an alternative longer route. Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal in Australia, which meant that I didn't want to get into a conversation but I could use Siri to text the person I needed to meet that I was running late and why, and where I was. I think I held the phone for only a few moments and could keep my attention on the road.
I use Facetime regularly as I travel overseas quite a bit.
Maybe a better title would have been "hyped tech that I don't like."
So interesting to hear Siri working so well for so many people - makes me jealous quite honestly. I too thought it's main advantage was for adding a reminder or getting directions to a place while in a car, but alas, it doesn't work for me. I must talk at a particular cadence that is bad for it. Seriously every time it asks a "yes" or "no" question, and I respond "yes" it thinks I said "yet." And if I ask a not even too complex question it gets way out of line.
I agree that Facetime has the potential to be more useful once the wi-fi only restrictions are lifted from it in iOS6. But, I still think it will go mostly unused until they make it more obvious that it's an option on-screen. For planned talks with grandparents or family overseas I can definitely see it being fantastic. But I want Facetime with friends I haven't seen in a while that randomly call, and Facetime with Customer Service or Tech Support.
I use Siri ALL the time. I don’t know how I functioned without it.
I'm going to have to jump on the Siri bandwagon. I use it to set a timer for cookies or a 45 minute alarm for naps. When I'm driving and I am smacked with the sudden realization that I forgot to put conditioner on the shopping list I can add it to the list with the press of one button and a few words. Does she occasionally mis-hear what I am saying? Especially if I am adding a brand name item to the list? Yes, but is it better than being in the shower on a Wednesday morning and realizing I don't have conditioner? Oh dear heavens, YES
I'm sure there are some folks who love the Segway (like the poster above), but I never understood how it was any better than a bike. I suppose the point of it is to use it for around-town errands, but a bike is great for that and much cheaper--and you could always get one with a motor if you're worried about getting tired. And most people need more exercise than they're getting, anyway.
"Overrated" is an overrated concept. If you don't see the value in these things, ignore them but don't waste energy resenting them. I think football, beer, bread, and rock 'n' roll are all overrated but I don't have a cow about it.
FaceTime for the deaf is a great technological advance.
We use FaceTime all the time. When you have a baby who is upset when they can't have daddy right then and there, calling with face time makes it better. It is wonderful to us and our son loves it. - 3D movies on the other hand I HATE. I refuse to see them. They give me migraines and they look awful. I just do not understand why hollywood is pushing them on us so hard when I hear from alot of people that they don't like it either.
DESPISE Siri. My hatred began with the idiotic Zoe what's-er-face commercials, and when I finally remembered to use the function, our interaction went a little like this:
Me: Is there southbound traffic on the FDR drive?
Siri: Sorry. I. didn't. quite. get. that.
Me: Is there traffic on the FDR drive?
Siri: I found 66 listings for restaurants named "Drive..."
Me: NO! Is there traffic from here to 123 W. Broadway?!?
Siri: I found 3 listings for "hair"...
Me: Shut up! Die, die!
Siri: I found 5 listings for...tie dye...
P.S. I don't have an accent -- not regional, national, neighborhood, gang, etc.!!!
Doesn't Siri learn your voice better over time? I ask because my friend has a tough time using the feature, but she lets her kids play with it. Siri on my phone seems to know what I'm asking her to do. Except one amusing time when I asked her to find a Starbucks with a drive-through, and she told me she couldn't find any "scenic drives."
I do use Siri quite a bit...but I've learned which things she is just really dumb about. Sorry, Siri. No insult intended.
3D is definitely overhyped. It makes a movie darker, reduced detail, and causes eye strain. The next emersive step in cinema isn't 3D, in real life things don't pop out at me, it's higher resolution and framerate.
As for NFC, the majority of merchant terminals I come into contact with in Australia now support NFC, but Google Wallet isn't available here, while Microsoft and Apple haven't launched anything yet, so I continue having to get my card out to wave it over the terminal instead of the oldschool swipe.
Lesson: one should not judge "overhypedness" on the sole basis of one's experience.
Your comments about Siri remind me of the usual comments about handwriting recognition. Turns out the people with the worst handwriting have the most complaints. Their friends can't read their handwriting but they expected a machine to. Siri and other voice recognition programs are improving quickly, and they learn as you use them more frequently.
Facetime. I don't think you can say video conferencing is overhyped as it is commonly used in business settings these days. Skype video conferencing is popular. Facetime is only one version of video conferencing and I have friends who use it daily with their families.
NFC is a transmission technology, and there are many. The larger market for digital payments is clearly growing in popularity.
I don't think I would call any of them "overhyped". They're all great technologies that can be very useful, save for the 3D movies. However, I would say they are unnecessary, and because of that it is not inevitable that most people will incorporate them as regularly used tools in their lives.
We also use FaceTime all of the time! That's how my daughter knows who her grandparents are. I love being able to use my laptop to call their phones or vice versa. Also, my husband travels almost weekly for work, and we're very thankful for FaceTime. It's more convenient than Skype (which is what I used to use when I was in college and dating a guy overseas).