Justin Germino knows technology: As the Dragon Blogger, he’s constantly on top of the best technology. He spoke with us about running a technology blog, and what to be focused on in tech.
What first interested you in tech?
You could say when I was 4 years old and my family got the Commodore 64 computer was when I first became obsessed with technology; this went into the Commodore 128, Amiga 500, 3000 and then into the PC platform with 286, 386…on up. I have always been obsessed with technology and particularly where it can go in the future and how it can make people’s lives better, connect all and further improve humanity one innovation at a time. Star Trek and Star Trek: TNG only fueled my passion and obsession for technology of the future, and I have been pretty much consuming any new tech I can get my hands on just for the sake of testing and playing with it, pushing it to its limits and seeing what it can do. I tend to be more interested in computers, consumer gadget technology and medical and bio-technological advances.
How has technology changed as you’ve been covering the industry?
Technology as a whole just gets smaller, faster, flatter, but in the past six years is when phones and tablets really started becoming the centralized databases of our lives. People literally rely on so much information and communication stored on their phones now, it is like losing one of your senses to remove your phone from your life for a week, for example. We also see more and more integration with smart devices into our daily lives and will continue to see this more where phones control elements of our house and vehicles or inter-operate even more seamlessly than they do now.
The biggest area of interest to me in recent years is 3D printing, which grows in capability at an astounding rate and was virtually unheard of in 2008 compared to now; consumer 3D printers are becoming so widespread, and the cost is coming down to where colored laser printers were a decade ago. With 3D printing, we will see a revolution in self-printed accessories that have never been possible before, as well as innovation in healthcare and other fields. I imagine 3D printed prosthetics and organs are going to be the greatest medical solutions of the past decades in the near future.
What’s the oddest gadget you’ve ever come across?
Personally reviewed, a smartwatch, ironically. I found the one I reviewed to be so “unnecessary” and add so little value over just using your phone that I can’t see them really being more than a niche for the obsessed, but to me, a smartwatch in its current version is a fad. Perhaps a device on your wrist that combines with glasses you wear and an earbud can replace a full smartphone, but a smartwatch in itself just doesn’t appeal to me as the industry is pushing.
If you could give everyone in the world one piece of technology, what would it be and why?
A seven-inch tablet with Wi-Fi and cellular access. Probably either a Google Nexus 7 or the new Google Nexus 8, if rumors are true on its specs. The reason is because it provides so much access to everything, connection to people, stored applications, entertainment, ability to learn, ability to keep connected, video call, translate and so much more. Provided eventually we can get Google Loom or other floating / satellite devices to provide Global Wi-Fi coverage for all at near free rates, this would be the biggest asset to organizations. People rich and poor need to be connected, need to have voices that are heard and need to be able to learn without restriction; only free access to devices and online freedom allow that. Now of course, you said technology, but in some countries where there is humanitarian, food and clean water crises – those need to be addressed; technology itself is secondary to basic survival needs. Though technology will facilitate those basic survival needs. I predict printed foods, printed medicine supplies and nano technology will eventually change the landscape of the future. Nano technology will be able to turn salt water and filthy water into pure fresh clean water someday, and cure disease. Nanobots will eventually be the antibiotics of the future, in my opinion.
What are some of your favorite apps right now?
Honestly, most of my favorite apps are ones that aid me with my blogging or keeping in touch. Skype, of course, is one of my favorite apps for free calls via Wi-Fi to my friends and family; I Skype with business partners and potential clients all over the world and for no cost. I love Google Docs and everything about it. I like using Hootsuite as my favorite social media management tool; the PC and the iOS/Android apps are fantastic and useful. WordPress is awesome, and the app for iOS is a lot better than it used to be. The Netflix app gets a lot of use in my household as well. Despite the coolness of tablets and smartphones, I still do the majority of my work on PC platforms, so leverage software and browser sites / applications vs. mobile apps for most of the work that I do. I do review a lot of games and apps, but nothing so far on mobile devices can give me the efficiency as a full PC when doing my work. I don’t see this changing anytime in the near future. I need a full keyboard; no Bluetooth compressed keyboard or touchscreen can keep me typing as fast.
What upcoming tech trends should we keep an eye on?
Obviously there is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence, 3D printing and nanotechnology; these are the big three that are going to change the landscape of human life forever as they progress and advance. 3D printing will probably start helping people in their lives much sooner than AI can be developed to do that; nanotechnology to actually cure illness / infection is probably just under two decades away, but I hope sooner than later. 3D printing will be where it is at for housing; as overpopulation rises, people will be able to order 3D printed house and other 3D printed livable spaces that you can assemble yourself or with a team. People will have to shift to smaller living spaces to accommodate growth; people don’t really need 4,000 square feet for a family of three or four. 3D printed houses will be dramatically more sturdy than wood, brick and framed homes because like a Lego creation, they will interconnect at multiple joints and be ridiculously sturdy.
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