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The Vancouver Province - Cover Story 
January 28th, 2001 

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By Ashley Ford 
Staff Reporter 
 

By any measure, the creation of e-mail was, in the parlance of the Internet, the ultimate 'Killer app' - killer application.  

So is there another "killer app" screaming down the e-highway toward us?  

There isn't one just around the corner, "unless you count wireless," says Tod Maffin of Vancouver, and Internet specialist and commentator.  

"Certainly nothing the scope of e-mail, although wireless is going to have a major impact on everyone," Maffin says.  

"People can understand wireless and see its advantages.  

"It will extend your office and home and other activities to your phone.  

"People like what they can understand.  

But Maffin says he also sees a looming backlash or fatique against technology.  

"I think it's coming because people are so wired, they want to go and get unwired," he says.  

"After all, we're social animals and people will increasingly want to go out an meet face-to-face."  

Maffin and Vancouver futurist Frank Ogden agree the Net is set for some amazing advances, particularly in the area of sensory technology.  

Maffin thinks many of thee advances will be "creepy and pointless" with only niche applications.  

The overwhelming use of the Net over thenext five years will be for e-mail and messaging, the same as it is today, says Maffin.  

Ogden believes the ride hasn't even really begun yet, but admits he doesn't know wherer the future developments might take the web.  

"I can safely say the next few years will see an ongoing technoogical revolution that will transform and greatly enhance the current system."  

Ogden says a major change will see the power base of the Net become truly global, and not North American-centric.  

So what are the next hot items on his horizon?  

Apart from wireless, which will give us all very high-speed mobile connectivity, look for a more sensuous, touchy-feely, interactive Net, Ogden predicts. And aroma technology is just one aspect.  

"When someone sends you a electronic bouquet of roses, you'll be able to smell the flowers," he says.  

And if yo uthink cyber sex is hot today, it could be volcanic soon.  

"Touch video is on its way."  

"It will literally allow people at opposite sides of the world to feel actions and movements."  

"For instance, you'll be able to go into a silk store in Bangkok and with touch video, someone in Vancouver will be able to feel the texture of the material."  

"This is not fanciful thinking on my part -- the software and technology already exists to do this."

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