When the subject of information tracking comes up, it often invokes a reaction full of words like "frightening," "creepy" and "scary." I however, tend to react with "awesome," "convenient" and "useful."
We've all dreamed of being rich and famous enough to have a personal assistant to go fetch us a coffee or a good book when we don't have the time or desire to do it ourselves. The city of New York relies upon the existence of 24 hour convenience stores that deliver (insert "awesome" here) to answer the desires of people who need that bag of chips at 3am. Information tracking on the internet is really no different, yet because it involves technology (and thus some insidious plot for world domination) people are suspicious and tend to freak out and cry privacy violation and everyone's favourite thing to fear (GASP!) identity theft. People already rent dvds, buy books, clothes, music and more online - most of us have already succumbed to the romance of convenience and in doing so, have volunteered personal information as part of the exchange. Why this is such a big deal, I just can't understand. The internet having the information required to recommend books or music that I'd like doesn't mean any personal and/or private lines have been crossed. If the internet knows what I like to read and listen to, it doesn't mean it knows me. It doesn't mean it somehow knows my deepest, darkest secrets (except perhaps that I think Buffy is the greatest show of all time) and what's really going on in my life. Also, the internet's not alive, so why people care if it knows things that will make your life so much easier is beyond me. I mean, I get it, but I don't get it. Because of the abundance of information on the internet, information tracking is a godsend. If I had to sit down and go through all the books and music on amazon and itunes without having any tools to assist me, I'd get frustrated and give up. The tools available on these sites that are made possible by information tracking are essential to their function and popularity. What would be the point of them if they couldn't offer you an experience that differed from that which you'd get in a traditional store?
The last point I want to address is the idea that the internet is making us lazy. I disagree. There is a big difference between being lazy and just not wanting to. We all spend a lot of time doing things we don't want because we have to, so when you have the option not to do something you don't want to do, why would you do it anyway? It also makes absolutely no sense to do something the hard way, when an easier, more efficient way is available. It's kind of like choosing to take the train from London to Toronto that takes over 3 hours instead of the one that takes 2 hours or doing all your banking at the branch instead of online - why, why, WHY would anyone choose to do this?!
So when I find a book in the google library that would otherwise have required I go to Huron to get it, I will happily use the google library. When I buy an album on itunes and it recommends other things to me, I will listen. When my ipod shuffles songs based upon how much it knows I love them, it makes me happy. Information tracking is awesome and does so many fantastic things that I could, but would prefer not to live without. I often smile at the genius of my computer and I look forward to the day that I get a text on my phone reminding me to get milk and letting me know I can get said milk right around the corner.
