I was amused to read this article for Wired News discussing a new invention for authors to sign books from afar. Apparently, the author in question, Margaret Atwood, invented a pen that she can manipulate at home, which will then send the data to "two spindly metal arms clutching a pen" that will reproduce her signature and words of wisdom and compassion.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for standing in line for 2 hours to see these spindly metal arms clutching a pen. I also appreciate your devotion to my books and your willingness to pay $25.00 to have them in hardback. I will think of you the entire time I am touring Europe in extravant style.
Love,
The Author
That's what I would sign, anyway, if I were a famous author! Or a famous athlete, as the invention is already signing hockey sticks, and the company is working on basketballs.
Dear Sports Fan,
It's cool that you are shelling out 75 bucks to see me act like the big, nasty NBA star that I am. I also appreciate that you bought my jersey for an ungodly amount of money, and you're definitely a bad-ass for leaving the tags on so that everyone can see it's not a fake. Enjoy this personally signed, licensed basketball--I'm off to make sure that my size 19, $600 sneakers are polished and ready for the game.
Love,
A. Thug
Hee hee hee. It's not that the invention itself is so ridiculous (and I guess it comes with a video uplink so the author can tell people hello), it's just the idea of the applications, that people will no doubt come up with for it, that makes me laugh.
It sure would make the idea of an electronic signature a little less silly, though.
Love,
Me
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5 comments:
HA! You added the "leave the tags on" part! That is hilarious! And weird.
Maybe Chandra could get a signed Tech jersey reading,
Dear Chandra,
Thank you for waiting through the 8 month off season, buying an over priced season ticket for games including Duke and Conneticut, braving the Georgia sun, and enduring the unnecessarily prolonged TV timeouts in order to be able to let me know how much I &*$%ing SUCK. I am signing this with two electronic gadget arms because the thought of facing you in person intimidates me, even though I make a living shouting at 250 pound black dudes.
yours,
Cham Gailey.
Allison,
I was actually thinking of the story you told when I wrote it.
Oh, the Redds... my blogging muses!
And that's funny, any way you read it.
:)
Sam! That's brilliant. Now you know what to get me for Christmas.
How are you and the missus? Have you shaved off your beard yet? Eaten any good tin cans?
I'm going to re-read your comment now, in a British accent this time.
Cheerio!
What I want is a signature from George Lucas:
Dear Star Wars Fan:
Thank you for buying the latest version of this (video, DVD, toy, canonical-book-soon-to-be-noncanonical-when-it-becomes-inconvenient-for-me). Your support has made me truck loads of cash. Have you picked up my latest tinkered-with version of the original trilogy? If not, you should know that Han Solo will shoot no one, but instead will hand them flowers and chocolates. I really feel this is the "true" version of my vision . . . until next year, when I need more cash.
George I-want-all-your-money Lucas
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