When I read the story about Microsoft going all in on voice-controlled computing (“more ambient, pervasive, and multi-modal”–lol), I had similar thoughts as Atrios did (boldface mine):

I do not understand the fasciation with voice input. Sure it has limited useful applications – hands free in your car, for example – but otherwise it’s incredibly inefficient and inevitably imprecise. Typing and clicking is fast and precise!

Also typing and clicking do not annoy the person in the cubicle next to you.

Talking to the computer on Star Trek is a storytelling device. “Computer, [do this]” is for the TV audience. It explains what is happening in a way that merely pushing the “[do this]” button does not.

You can’t have 10 people on the bridge talking out loud to the computer.

Anyone who works in an open office plan, or the less genteel version, the cubicle farm, automatically realizes this is a disaster*. But the people who think these are great ideas typically have office doors, and if they don’t, people make sure not to bother them**. This is really no different when people thought back to the office full time improves efficiency–it really doesn’t.

We are ruled by fucking dumbasses.

*This can be good for some disabled people, but that’s an (worthwhile) exception.

**Also, it’s weird how the conference rooms closest to the big cheeses who work in an open office are often permanently reserved….