~Vitamin Sea~: Folks, This Should Be Your Retirement Fantasy, Too

I recently came across this remote control over at Engadget. At first, it didn't make sense to me at all. Made for Microsoft's new Vista Media OS, the remote will replace full mouse control and has a 100 foot range.

Up till now, I thought Vista was a computer only application, I didn't realize it could be used with the TV (...so slow and 1990's, I am). It's for their Media application, of course. But what was "air-mouse" control all about?

I headed over to the Yahoo article, which explained in more detail. Apparently the Gyrations Corporation has made "...the only Microsoft-approved Media Center remote with mouse control -- allows consumers to navigate the Internet with a PC cursor as part of their HDTV home entertainment experience, including music, video, photos and Web surfing, all with one universal remote."

Imagine that. You can actually sit on the couch and cruise the Internet without a mouse, in one fell swoop!

I don't think I'll be the first to buy one of these remotes, but that could simply be because I'm cheap and also because at this point in time, I like my applications separate from each other. Getting up from the computer to go into the family room to watch Grey's Anatomy is a good thing sometimes. I don't want the internet on the TV in there also.

Still, I probably have that mindset because it's what I'm used to right now, no telling what the future will bring. Remote control technology will soon advance far beyond our dreams. For example, I can see how it will affect my girls in twenty years. Britt will be 34 (holy smokes!!) and Sam will be (oh my God,..I just realized I'll be 65!!). Sam will be 38. Have mercy!

In any event, the way I have their lives planned out for them...I'll be in my gorgeous little beach cottage that is built to withstand cat 5 winds and 40 foot tidal surges, and Sam will be living in a big house in the country with dogs, horses and all the cats I won't let her adopt right now. Her career as a marine research scientist keeps her busy.
Britt will be living in the city because that's the way she is. She will have little dogs because right now, I won't let her have any of those, either. In any event, both of them will be within driving distance.

At the end of a long day, Britt will come home, toss her briefcase aside (because she loved to talk, she's a well regarded TV talk show host in this fantasy).... pick up the remote control, click on the giant TV screen to boot up, and then head to the kitchen where she'll get out a cool drink.

The screen will flash an orange light, meaning she has a video call waiting. She'll then click on the light and a video call will begin to take place. The light will turn green, which means I've accepted the call. Britt will pour herself a glass of the same orange soda she's been bugging me to buy lately (back to the present)
and glance at the screen.

"Good Evening!" I will say as I turn in my chair and face the camera. I put the remote on the little table.
I can see her on my own video screen back at home. She sighs, and waves. This technology, which was only somewhat available back in 2007, is now commonplace. The transmission is as fast and swift as it is in real time. People use it every day, instead of just once in a while or for business conference calls.

I had been relaxing after my own busy day. My ankles were crossed over the porch railing, as I kicked back to watch the sun setting over the ocean and marvel at how good life is since I saved Florida from the developers and bought up all the land before they could ravish it any further. I will do this by buying up all the companies that sell and manufacture cranes, since nobody can build a condo without a crane.
So all the building will come to a screeching halt and I will marvel at the sheer genius behind it all. My new crane recycling plant will make millions in revenue.

When a green light beeps in the house to let me know the call is coming in, I turn to face the camera. I can see the TV through the window inside the house.

I'll hold up a mug of coffee or a glass of wine, or even ice tea and nod an enthusiastic howdy. "What are you having for dinner?" I'll ask. From the living room, Rick groans and shakes his head.

And Britt will roll her eyes, because she knows I've already done a video call with Samantha to find out what she was having for dinner and that I"m trying to decide whom to eat with yet again, based on the meal alone, and she'll say...
"...nothin..you're gettin NOTHIN!"

And I'll sigh, because that's what I used to say to her when she was fourteen and wanted me to buy more of those awful tasting Bagel Bites in the freezer department at the grocery store.

Oh yes, with an internet remote, the future is gonna be awfully fun!

Comments

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I'm not sure about the rest of it, but I'm reasonably confident that, in 20 years, when you're 70, you WILL be driving your daughters crazy. Because you're a mom, and that's what moms do.

Posted by: Nils | January 10, 2007 at 10:14 AM

Sounds like a lovely situation. :)

Posted by: Gypsy | January 10, 2007 at 10:52 AM