Fire and Knowledge

Kottke quotes from Wallace’s Infinite Jest on why videophones might die out. Here’s a summary quote:

The answer, in a kind of trivalent nutshell, is: (1) emotional stress, (2) physical vanity, and (3) a certain queer kind of self-obliterating logic in the microeconomics of consumer high-tech.

I think video is a great option to have and I’m sure I will use it (especially with family). But for casual long-distance conversation, audio-only will reign for a while yet.