No Escape
When the idea of the future was brought up in class, the first thing that I thought of was how often we already use technology. Earlier in the year we talked about how people nowadays tend to get stuck to their technology. And the fact that we had to research ways that people detach themselves from their technology, speaks for itself. I believe that with the way that technology is advancing, we won’t be able to get away from technology at all, regardless of our desires.
When I was born, cellphones weren’t very popular. As I grew, my parents both got cellphones and I even remember playing simple games like snake on them. Then the internet became popular and we got our first Dell computer. I would dabble on it, until I started playing games and chatting with friends on there. Daily routines of checking my messages and playing my video games were slowly put into place. I made my first AOL email account, and started using that to be connected even further than I already was. Then the internet speeds started to increase, and this push the abilities of communication even further. Not much longer after this, did I get my first cellphone. Plastic, flipped up, full keyboard, the basics. I could now talk to my friends at any point in time, any day of the week, from pretty much everywhere. Computers got faster, the internet got faster, communication with others is easier.
Now here we are at present day. I have a desktop, a laptop, a phone that is basically a small laptop, a watch that connects to my phone, and a tablet. People know where I am simply because I have these pieces of technology on my person. People can trade photos, information, unlock their cars, turn their lights on, all with this technology. They are slowly becoming dependent on it. I am always connected to people, and although I don’t really mind it, I know that if I wanted to, I could get away from it all for a while. Simply by just shutting it off, setting it down, or putting it away. But how long will this be the case?
This brings me to my main point. With how quickly technology grew just in the time I’ve been alive, and how focused we are on always being connected with each other, how much longer will it be before we don’t have a choice? Apple just came out with the new Apple Watch. You can send texts to people with it, feel their heartbeat, draw a picture and have it appear on their watch, etc. And this thing is ALWAYS on your wrist. Sure you can take it off, but it’s just as easy to leave on and deal with the constant communication. Now we see google glass, microchips for people’s arms, artificially printed bones, machines that regulate our heart rate, etc. Hell, we even have refrigerators that we can use to access Facebook and Twitter.
[blockquote author=”James Surowiecki”]Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. But too often it seems to make things harder, leaving us with fifty-button remote controls, digital cameras with hundreds of mysterious features and book-length manuals, and cars with dashboard systems worthy of the space shuttle.[/blockquote]
Everything we do, and everything we see is almost always dependent on technology. Everything is connected, but we still have places and opportunities to get away from it all. But how long will it be until we get a small chip in our arm that connects us to everyone at all times? What year will it be when we can just think about Facebook, and it will open up in our in line of sight? With the way technology is advancing, it won’t be very long before everything is run by technology. Most people don’t realize this upcoming “issue”, but they will soon notice.
It is a long video, but if you get the chance, watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TabKiNNJeTc
Whether you like it or not, one day everyone will be “controlled” by technology. No matter where we are, we will be integrated with everyone else, and we will long for the days when we could just step back from technology. Unfortunately, we won’t have the choice. We won’t be able to get away. There will be no escape from technology.