Academics are increasingly interested in how technology restructures social networks and relationships. While areas of academic research tend to be as trendy as skinny jeans, the seemingly endless stream of information and access most certainly changes how we interact. Today's NY Times reports on a service that represents just that. A new service called Slydial allows users to make a call that proceeds directly to voicemail.
While such a service is interesting (and hey, depending on your personal life, maybe useful) it reflects a growing trend of technologies that are marketed to our generation simply because we use technology differently, and more, than everyone else. It would be wonderful to see academics use such a broad societal shift as an opportunity to work across disciplines. The internet, and many other present and future innovations, offer an opportunity for anthropologists, economists, political scientists, and sociologists to work together rather than simply talk past each other.
I, for one, hope they don't miss this call.
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