Age of Context

Mobile, Sensors, Data and the Future of Privacy

By: Robert Scoble, Shel Israel

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2006, co-authors Robert Scoble and Shel Israel wrote Naked Conversations, a book that persuaded businesses to embrace what we now call social media. Six years later they have teamed up again to report that social media is but one of five converging forces that promise to change virtually every aspect of our lives. You know these other forces already: mobile, data, sensors and location-based technology. Combined with social media they form a new generation of personalized technology that knows us better than our closest friends. Armed with that knowledge our personal devices can anticipate what we'll need next and serve us better than a butler or an executive assistant. The resulting convergent superforce is so powerful that it is ushering in an era the authors call the Age of Context.

In this new era, our devices know when to wake us up early because it snowed last night; they contact the people we are supposed to meet with to warn them we're running late. They even find content worth watching on television. They also promise to cure cancer and make it harder for terrorists to do their damage. Astoundingly, in the coming age you may only receive ads you want to see. Scoble and Israel have spent more than a year researching this book. They report what they have learned from interviewing more than a hundred pioneers of the new technology and by examining hundreds of contextual products.

What does it all mean? How will it change society in the future? The authors are unabashed tech enthusiasts, but as they write, an elephant sits in the living room of our book and it is called privacy. We are entering a time when our technology serves us best because it watches us; collecting data on what we do, who we speak with, what we look at. There is no doubt about it: Big Data is watching you. The time to lament the loss of privacy is over. The authors argue that the time is right to demand options that enable people to reclaim some portions of that privacy.

©2013 Shel Israel (P)2013 Shel Israel

Great content by a great narrator!

If you could sum up Age of Context in three words, what would they be?

Technically relevant geekinfo.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Age of Context?

I especially enjoyed the section on Google glass and how most people are initially opposed to it until they wear one and within 5 mins they want to own one.

Which character – as performed by Jeffrey Kafer – was your favorite?

Robert Scoble's persona really resonated with me via Jeffrey Kafer. I felt as though Robert was really speaking.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I listened to this book while commuting to work and on two plane flights. I prefer to consume audio books in small snippets so I can contemplate what the content is about. Especially with technical content such as this. I even found myself going back and re-listening to some sections to clarify some questions I had.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book content and narrator. Jeffrey Kafer has a clear and concise voice that is well suited for many book styles. Thank You Jeff!

A great challenge issued to us all

Would you consider the audio edition of Age of Context to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version, but felt the audio version was terrific.

What about Jeffrey Kafer’s performance did you like?

He seemed to really capture the voice of the authors.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is an incredibly thought-provoking read. Exciting and terrifying at once.

Any additional comments?

While some of this book is futuristic, a good portion of what is illuminated is already here. The authors have provided great context for many of the current and coming innovations. There is something for everyone interested in grasping the changes headed our way.

Interesting Stuff

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This book was really enlightening in terms of where we've been, where we are and where we're headed.

Which character – as performed by Jeffrey Kafer – was your favorite?

Jeff's narration of this title was easy to listen to, well paced and intelligent.

Any additional comments?

If you want to get a clear understanding of the state of our digital world, this book is a worthwhile listen.

A look into the future (or the now) of business.

This is a look into what is going on right now in the world of business, since writing this, Israel has written another book on the same topics that update things and bring everything into the new and ever-changing world of social media.

Narration was done by Jeffrey Kafer, and boy does he nail this. How hard do you think narrating a book about technology and business is? I can’t imagine that it’s easy by any means, but Kafer seems to do this flawlessly. I’d first heard Kafer when he narrated the newer book written by Israel, and I had to go back and listen to this.

Like I mentioned before, I read these books out of order so some of the information felt redundant and outdated to me, but with that being said, this is a really great “intro to technology for business owners” type of a book. Written with the business owner in mind, Age of Context explains the different forms of technology and how they are being used/implemented in the world of business.

Israel and Scoble really have a grasp of what is going on, and it shows in their expert analysis and explanation of these sometimes confusing technological topics. They will definitely be added to my list to read in the future, and I sure how Kafer will narrate for them again!

This book, being written in 2014 isn’t outdated yet, but it will be in the next few years. The authors seem to understand this and write everything out as it stands now and even go into detail about things that are coming soon.

This should be required reading for business majors at all major colleges. These are topics that, sadly, mostly college professors don’t talk about at all in class.

Interesting points with poor delivery.

Scoble and Isreal have a lot to say and many interesting points we should all think about. However, the organization and delivery of this book made it borderline impossible for me to follow.

An excellent, quick read

Any additional comments?

I can strongly recommend this book with a significant caveat. You must read it within the next year or so. Since the focus is so bleeding-edge, it’s many specific company and product references are aging very quickly. In fact, in the ~6 months since publication, there are already a handful of dated references that remind you how rapidly this industry is evolving.
Beyond that, it’s very competently written. There are plenty of stimulating examples and conjecture for the hardcore tech enthusiast, while still being accessible for the interested layman.

From a vision perspective, I think Scoble and Israel largely get things right, although some of their timelines might be a little optimistic. Companies seem to be progressing a little more slowly in developing competent analytics than many would expect. But then, futurists seem to consistently overestimate software advancements – writing intelligent, context-aware software is proving challenging.

In conclusion, this is a great listen, but make sure you can get to it before it’s stack of supporting examples gets too stale.

An interesting look into the future of technology

Would you listen to Age of Context again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to Age of Contest again. I'm not the biggest fan of non-fiction books but Jefferey Kafer was able to keep me interested.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Age of Context?

I was very interested in the section about advances of Context as it relates to the medical field. As someone who has a family history of cancer, any kind of advance detection is a benefit to me.

What about Jeffrey Kafer’s performance did you like?

I liked the way Mr. Kafer kept me engaged in the story. As this was non fiction, the content could have been 'dry' but Mr. Kafer's narrating kept me entertained.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The future is closer then you think

Masterful read by Jeffrey Kafer

Where does Age of Context rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is a great listen, especially with Jeffrey Kafer's narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Age of Context?

Jeffrey allows the listener to digest the information about the future of technology in a way that is enjoyable and allows the listener to get the full meaning of the text.

Any additional comments?

If you would like to know the future, take a listen and enjoy.

Loved it!!!

Recommended read for companies wanting a glimpse of advertising in the future and wearable contextual devices. A Very easy read

Compelling look at technology today

What made the experience of listening to Age of Context the most enjoyable?

The content. Scoble and Israel are well-qualified to speak on the state of technology and where it is heading. I have enjoyed following Scoble's career and this book is a great extension of his career.

Have you listened to any of Jeffrey Kafer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Jeffrey sounds professional and is enjoyable to listen to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, The book is intriguing. It keeps moving and each facet of technology is more interesting than the last. I found many new "apps" and gadgets to research and explore. I loved it.