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gizmodo.com: Wakie is an Android and Windows Phone app (iOS is currently in the approval process) that lets complete strangers dial you up to help get your ass out of bed, and I couldn't think of anything more terrifying.
I think this app is a very strange and vaguely sexual idea, but in terms of adding a humanistic and personable aspect to technology, it is on point. Sometimes people can't wake up unless they are woken by other people, and if some people live alone or have roommates that are not on the same schedule, it can be devastating for their routines. This app allows people to get the service they need in an easy and efficient way.
I agree with Kimberly- this (admittedly odd) app lets some people get the wake-up call they need. Thought it may not be what most people want first thing in the morning, it is an interesting way to bring human interaction back into technology. Perhaps this same idea could be applied in another, less romantically-driven way?
Although the idea of human interaction with technology is an interesting idea I don't think it is needed. This is a prime example of how blurry the lines are getting in regards to privacy and safety on the internet. Some people love the interaction and excitement of meeting/talking to a complete stranger. Such forums like Chatroulette exist to foster to these demands. Even networks like Omegle advertise "talk to Strangers!" as if it's safe and fun. As many people know these forums are no longer innocent... and we would be fools to think that similar affects will not stem from this app. Although this is not a direct interaction between two people it is a direct problem with how people ignore safety and trust because they feel protected by a screen. I certainly don't think this is a huge risk to safety because most people are good people but if you think this is 100% ok and innocent you're in for a wake-up call.
In our world, human interaction is becoming more and more obsolete. Part of the reason why I love theatre is because of its innately human qualities. With that said, I think this application is taking it way too far. The only thing that can be worse than no human communication is extremely odd and unhealthy human communication. Communicating with a stranger right when you wake up is oddly intimate and awkward. If anything, I think this app is sending a message that human interaction should be anonymous and kept very brief. This type of interaction is not only unhealthy, but it is also unsafe.
Even with all of that aside, I cannot imagine anyone who would willingly want to be woken up by a complete stranger every morning. I would imagine this type of interaction first thing in the morning would be nothing but unsettling and awkward.
I understand how this can bring verbal communication back into a digital world, but one thing that Kimberly pointed out was the vaguely sexual nature of the app's design. I like the idea of starting your day with a pleasant conversation with a stranger, but it doesn't seem very necessary to make it a dating experience. This app takes the practical purpose of getting up and conflates it with a more alluring idea of finding a soul mate, and although this may sell more apps, I believe that these two aspects of human interaction do not mix. Not every form of interaction needs to be boiled down to a romanic nature.
Also, just a thought... Is there a place where you can identify as a member of the LGBT etc. community? Because there might be an issue there.
Although this app is very weird I also have trouble with walking up with just a regular alarm clock. I always just keep hitting the snooze button and not actually getting up. I think that having to speak to actual person will help wake me without sleeping through multiple alarms. Even though it is very strange having a random person call you in the morning it could prove affective for certain people.
Despite the initial feeling of discomfort at the idea of some potentially creepy 18-year-old guy calling me at 7 in the morning, I think this is a kind of fun idea. True, we tend to assume that something like this will go downhill as quickly as an Omegle or Chat Roulette (Thomas), but if we just think for a moment that perhaps some people might actually enjoy bringing a smile to someone else's face when they get up in the morning, it could be a really cool advancement in a world where our technology usually is the only thing to greet us in the morning. For those who don't wake up next to someone else, the first human interaction of the day comes from a classroom or a work space, which sometimes carries enough negative energy to invalidate the want for any human contact. So, yes, I think this is a fun idea! I would love to be able to wake someone up and wish them a nice day. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.
This is hilarious and something that I would definitely do. Although the thought of someone random waking you up in the morning is a tad creepy, it also adds a level of excitement and unpredictability. I'm assuming instead of the alarm signal the sleepyhead receives a call from a stranger and talks to them overt the phone. It would be funnier it you woke up to someone already talking to you over speaker phone. I find it interesting that Russia has found the most interest in this app, with over 1.5 million users sending over 30 million wake up calls. I need to try this app out someday, sounds like a truly unique experience on either end of the phone.
This sounds terrible. There's really no other way of describing it. While I like the idea of putting human interaction back into technology, I'd really rather not have to talk to some random stranger first thing in the morning. If part of the goal is the possibility of connecting to someone who is your age and the opposite gender, if I have to have someone randomly call me in the morning to wake me up to start a friendship or something more, I think I'd rather be alone. I also think that the people calling would get a fair amount of abuse, although I guess if you are electing to use an app that has someone call you it would be harder to get mad at the person. Either way, while the idea of increasing the amount of human interaction in technology does sound interesting, this seems to be one of the most pointless ways of doing so.
I actually think this is pretty cool from the encouraging human contact stand point. What better way to foster new genuine connections then when you're at your most vulnerable? Having it as an alarm was clever although I don"t know how I feel about it pairing with people of different genders; there are enough dating apps out there. Is definitely clever but I don't know if its particularly well done.
I feel like this is a good idea in theory, but would be very strange in practice. I think this app could very easily be abused by people. Anyone who has it could talk to people and never have to see their face and simply be talked at (possibly sexually or rudely) until they were awaken. It is forcing a private conversation with two people who have never met, and is simply put, very strange. I personally would not be comfortable with letting just anyone call me (I don't know their intentions) just so I can wake up in the morning. I have an alarm and roommates for that.
11 comments:
I think this app is a very strange and vaguely sexual idea, but in terms of adding a humanistic and personable aspect to technology, it is on point. Sometimes people can't wake up unless they are woken by other people, and if some people live alone or have roommates that are not on the same schedule, it can be devastating for their routines. This app allows people to get the service they need in an easy and efficient way.
I agree with Kimberly- this (admittedly odd) app lets some people get the wake-up call they need. Thought it may not be what most people want first thing in the morning, it is an interesting way to bring human interaction back into technology. Perhaps this same idea could be applied in another, less romantically-driven way?
Although the idea of human interaction with technology is an interesting idea I don't think it is needed. This is a prime example of how blurry the lines are getting in regards to privacy and safety on the internet. Some people love the interaction and excitement of meeting/talking to a complete stranger. Such forums like Chatroulette exist to foster to these demands. Even networks like Omegle advertise "talk to Strangers!" as if it's safe and fun. As many people know these forums are no longer innocent... and we would be fools to think that similar affects will not stem from this app. Although this is not a direct interaction between two people it is a direct problem with how people ignore safety and trust because they feel protected by a screen. I certainly don't think this is a huge risk to safety because most people are good people but if you think this is 100% ok and innocent you're in for a wake-up call.
In our world, human interaction is becoming more and more obsolete. Part of the reason why I love theatre is because of its innately human qualities. With that said, I think this application is taking it way too far. The only thing that can be worse than no human communication is extremely odd and unhealthy human communication. Communicating with a stranger right when you wake up is oddly intimate and awkward. If anything, I think this app is sending a message that human interaction should be anonymous and kept very brief. This type of interaction is not only unhealthy, but it is also unsafe.
Even with all of that aside, I cannot imagine anyone who would willingly want to be woken up by a complete stranger every morning. I would imagine this type of interaction first thing in the morning would be nothing but unsettling and awkward.
I understand how this can bring verbal communication back into a digital world, but one thing that Kimberly pointed out was the vaguely sexual nature of the app's design. I like the idea of starting your day with a pleasant conversation with a stranger, but it doesn't seem very necessary to make it a dating experience. This app takes the practical purpose of getting up and conflates it with a more alluring idea of finding a soul mate, and although this may sell more apps, I believe that these two aspects of human interaction do not mix. Not every form of interaction needs to be boiled down to a romanic nature.
Also, just a thought... Is there a place where you can identify as a member of the LGBT etc. community? Because there might be an issue there.
Although this app is very weird I also have trouble with walking up with just a regular alarm clock. I always just keep hitting the snooze button and not actually getting up. I think that having to speak to actual person will help wake me without sleeping through multiple alarms. Even though it is very strange having a random person call you in the morning it could prove affective for certain people.
Despite the initial feeling of discomfort at the idea of some potentially creepy 18-year-old guy calling me at 7 in the morning, I think this is a kind of fun idea. True, we tend to assume that something like this will go downhill as quickly as an Omegle or Chat Roulette (Thomas), but if we just think for a moment that perhaps some people might actually enjoy bringing a smile to someone else's face when they get up in the morning, it could be a really cool advancement in a world where our technology usually is the only thing to greet us in the morning. For those who don't wake up next to someone else, the first human interaction of the day comes from a classroom or a work space, which sometimes carries enough negative energy to invalidate the want for any human contact. So, yes, I think this is a fun idea! I would love to be able to wake someone up and wish them a nice day. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.
This is hilarious and something that I would definitely do. Although the thought of someone random waking you up in the morning is a tad creepy, it also adds a level of excitement and unpredictability. I'm assuming instead of the alarm signal the sleepyhead receives a call from a stranger and talks to them overt the phone. It would be funnier it you woke up to someone already talking to you over speaker phone. I find it interesting that Russia has found the most interest in this app, with over 1.5 million users sending over 30 million wake up calls. I need to try this app out someday, sounds like a truly unique experience on either end of the phone.
This sounds terrible. There's really no other way of describing it. While I like the idea of putting human interaction back into technology, I'd really rather not have to talk to some random stranger first thing in the morning. If part of the goal is the possibility of connecting to someone who is your age and the opposite gender, if I have to have someone randomly call me in the morning to wake me up to start a friendship or something more, I think I'd rather be alone. I also think that the people calling would get a fair amount of abuse, although I guess if you are electing to use an app that has someone call you it would be harder to get mad at the person. Either way, while the idea of increasing the amount of human interaction in technology does sound interesting, this seems to be one of the most pointless ways of doing so.
I actually think this is pretty cool from the encouraging human contact stand point. What better way to foster new genuine connections then when you're at your most vulnerable? Having it as an alarm was clever although I don"t know how I feel about it pairing with people of different genders; there are enough dating apps out there. Is definitely clever but I don't know if its particularly well done.
I feel like this is a good idea in theory, but would be very strange in practice. I think this app could very easily be abused by people. Anyone who has it could talk to people and never have to see their face and simply be talked at (possibly sexually or rudely) until they were awaken. It is forcing a private conversation with two people who have never met, and is simply put, very strange. I personally would not be comfortable with letting just anyone call me (I don't know their intentions) just so I can wake up in the morning. I have an alarm and roommates for that.
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