Ask anyone over 30, and they will probably agree that maturity really does count. I believe this is particularly true when it comes to technology.
There will always be early adopters for any new technology, but they are usually individuals and organisations that can either afford to take a risk or have so much to gain that the risk is worth it. Either way, risk is involved.
A recent case in the United States was a powerful illustration of that fact. Sometimes, fear of the unknown can be a good thing.
Like many early adopters of Internet-based phone services using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) technology, American Peter John was attracted by the opportunity to cut his phone account by half. However, when he and his wife were shot and wounded in a robbery at their home in Houston, Texas, their teenage daughter was unable to call for help because their Internet phone was not compatible with the 911 emergency service.
In the wake of the highly publicised case, US Internet phone service providers are scrambling to make their systems compatible with the 911 emergency service, specifically making it possible to identify the contact number and location of the caller.
The Johns` ordeal has drawn attention to the fact that although Internet-based phones offer cheaper calling rates, they carry risks most users are not aware of because they do not exist for landline or cellular telephone services.
One of the most obvious differences is that most conventional phones will remain active during power failures, but Internet phones rely on power for modems and will not work if there is no backup power supply.
Unlike conventional phones, their Internet counterparts would be vulnerable to any computer virus that could disable Internet connections. Achieving an uninterruptible service still appears to be a major challenge to Internet phone services providers.
US Internet phone service providers are scrambling to make their systems compatible with the 911 emergency service.
Warwick Ashford, technology editor, ITWeb
Experts warn that because VOIP breaks voice signals into small data packets that are carried over several computer networks before being reassembled at the call destination, there are numerous potential points of failure or attack, such as the software needed for the phones to work or the routers where traffic is transferred from one network to another.
VOIP advocates say concerns over privacy are exaggerated, pointing out that it would be extremely difficult to capture data packets moving across a network and reassemble them in a meaningful way as the data packets are sent in separate batches and may use different routes to reach their destination.
Supporters of VOIP are also quick to point out that conventional phone services were not always as reliable or failsafe as they are now, and say VOIP networks will become more robust over time. In other words, Internet phone services will become more reliable as VOIP technology matures, which supports my point exactly.
In the real world, however, I suspect it would be na"ive to believe VOIP technology will be exempt or immune from the kinds of attacks carried out on other IP-based technologies. Given the "talent" of some hackers, I would have to agree with those sceptics who say VOIP could provide opportunities for all kinds of mischief.
As alluring as new cost-saving technology may be, the general consensus around VOIP seems to be: "buyers beware". Like many others I look forward to the day when VOIP is readily available to local users, but hopefully by then, because I am expecting a bit of a wait, all the bugs will be ironed out and we will not experience the teething problems affecting early adopters in the US.
While I am a firm believer that maturity counts when it comes to technology, the closer I get to 40, the less I am convinced that is true when applied to human beings. I think I look distinguished enough without adding any grey hairs. Oh well, perhaps, like size, it is what one does with maturity that really matters.
Share