[T]he future is not real-time. Instead, we will find ways to artificially stem the constant flow of information through algorithmic summarization. We will find

[T]he future is not real-time. Instead, we will find ways to artificially stem the constant flow of information through algorithmic summarization. We will find ways to bring information we are truly interested in back to us at a pace and time that is more manageable. Instant notifications will be reserved for those few precious individuals and apps that absolutely need our attention, rather than those that simply want it. I agree, and expect the retreat-from-realtime to be fed both by technological innovations -- better ways to reorganize, filter, and reprioritize -- and by a cultural maturation/backlash. Those services that "simply want" our attention, and use interface patterns to trick us into giving them incrementally more of it, will be recognized as abusive. Even the traditional reverse-chronological timeline, by its mixing of wildly different (and often repetitive) messages, tends to falsely signal more importance/urgency/novelty than is actually present. It's been an easy and familiar bit of interface 'sugar', but in the wiser future we may consider it as tacky as tabloid front-pages and cable/headline-news teasers.