How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Robert leaned forward to get a close view of the paper. It didn't glow; it didn't even have the glassy appearance of a computer display. It was just plain, high-quality paper. Reed pointed at the outline items. "Now press the menu option that corresponds to your favorite system."
Robert shrugged. Over the years, the Department had upgraded through a number of systems, but—he pressed his finger to the line of text that said 'WinME'. There was no pause, none of the bootup delays he recalled. But suddenly a familiar and annoying musical jingle was in the air. It seemed to come from all around, not from the piece of paper. Now the page was full of color and icons. Robert was filled with nostalgia, remembering many frustrating hours spent in front of glowing computer screens. (3.26-7)
First, let's marvel at the wonderful technology of the future: Robert's computer is a piece of paper—lighter and more powerful than the tablets we have today. Want want want. Second, we love that Robert uses this new computer to run a very old program; and that when he runs it, he feels nostalgia for something that he hated in the past. Is this the first sign of his change to being a techie?
Quote #2
Robert sat down beside Miri. "You know," he said, more to probe reactions than anything else. "This all seems a bit primitive to me. Where are the robot servants—or even the little automatic hands to put the TV dinners in the 'wave and take them out?" (3.70)
Call this the "where's my jetpack?" reaction to being in the future. Robert grew up in a time where they thought the future was going to be all robots and lots of hardware. But the future he wakes up in has lots of software and virtual changes. It's not always easy to guess what future tech will look like.
Quote #3
Blount's eyes narrowed. "I made it a point never to wear. I thought wearing was a demeaning fad." He shrugged. "I was wrong. I paid a heavy price for that. But things have changed." (5.23)
Speaking of people who get the future wrong—hello, Dean Blount! Blount is a good reminder that the future might be full of awesome toys, but not everyone is going to be happy there. For Blount, wearable computers were "a demeaning fad" and now that they've become the normal thing to do, he's been left behind. And while he seems open to change here, we know there are going to be lots of people who aren't. (See "Old Age." Also, see Our Grandparents, who have to print out every email before they read it.)