iConfession (and no, that's not the real name of the app.)

I've recently come across an app for the iPhone that gave my brain a mild case of absenteeism (much like when I listen to anything by the King's of Leon.)

That's right boys and girls and Mom and Dad, I found (I won't lie to you, someone else found and told me about) Confession, (read up) a smart phone program that allows Catholics to "to examine their consciences and confess to their sins."

Before I went into a rant or let any (attempted) hilarity ensue, I got into contact with a Catholic friend of mine (read his blog here) and had what we'll call a 'micro conversation' on the subject, over facebook, in our spare time (his spare time, I have so much of it that calling it spare is dangerously close to hyperbole,) so it was pretty serious stuff.

In short, he talked about how happy he was that the Church was evolving, or at least attempting to evolve, with new media and it's people. However, the app is not actually intended to supplant or replace the act of Confession anyway--it's really a precursor. The iPhone is the coach, and the app is the pregame speech (Mass then becomes the game, Confession the playoffs and Heaven the Super Bowl, so don't let the metaphor take you too far.)

But I got to thinking, if we (loosely: technology companies) are going so far as to take Confession digital, what can we (see above) do next?

iVoting
The last election (for President) had the highest turnout in modern history. That's right. Guess the percentage of the electorate that showed up, votes in mind? 64 percent. That means that over a third of voting-able Americans didn't bother to show up for an event that determines who our leader for the next four years is.

If only 64% of a company's employees decided to show up for work for a week, that company would be 36% smaller. 64% is like a local news rain forecast, it might rain, but then again...

Direct Purchases
I wish I could say this wasn't already happening. But it is. There are commercials about it (in the ads, the guy has a spot to actually swipe the card.)

No one sees the insane amount of potential credit card fraud here? Really?

The iTeacher
An app specifically designed to replace the teachers we already don't have enough of, but won't hire more.

iDoctor
We already have WebMD, the biggest needle in a good doctors already pin-cushioned ass, why not just put the doctor on the phone? Maybe the 10:15 appointment time will actually happen at 10:15 (I'd settle for 10:45.)

iMarriage
Online dating sites (apparently) can be thanked for 1 in 5 "successful marriages" (and 9 in 10 commercials.) We can mail order our brides. Out of state student's marry for instate tuition fees. Forget the Green Card issue. Phone companies are zealously trying to convince us we can live a fulfilling family life on the road. Why not just get over the hump and get the whole thing on digital style.

Citizenship issues can be the next step, national borders? Yeah, there's an app for that.

Maybe I sound a little bit technophobic here, but trust me, when there's an iDMV app, I'll be the first person in line. Digital line though it may be.