I was wondering long and hard about what the future of the internet would be for many of us.. and for now, i still do not know an exact answer.. Or rather, i would say the future holds many possibilities for all of us!(so there is no one answer!) :) I do know one certain thing: the internet will revolutionize our lives and be integrated into our lives much more than today. Increasingly, we are becoming dependent on the internet for many things and one can only wonder how the internet can serve us better in the near future.
Anyway, I was browsing through the internet today and found this interesting video from Nokia which shows how Nokia can literally connect people to people in the future if their invention was really created. Really interesting as the sunglasses which doubles as a screen to see the latest news is useful yet quite stylish at the same time.. :) Unique concept if you ask me!
Browsing further, I discovered another video, this time on cars. It's really amazing how cars of the future would probably be so smart as to be able to see if there's a motorcycle in a blind spot to sensing whether our eyes are focusing on the road in front of us while we're driving! Indeed, the future holds much promise as it would save many lives from getting into accidents that could be prevented.
And one of my favorites: for all the housewives and for any of us out there who hate long lines in the supermarket, here's the video for you!! :D Now we don't have to wait so long to scan each and every one of our products, we just need to walk right through the barriers! Now that's really something to look forward to in the near future.. ;)
After seeing all the above videos, you're probably thinking, "YAY! the future looks bright!" or something along that lines.. well, i do have one small concern: I really do hope the internet does not take over our lives and make us SO DEPENDENT on it that if anything should happen (for e.g, a major power outrage), our lives would come to a standstill. That would be such a disaster!! :( And not only that, i have another worry: there may be a possibility that we will all be using less and LESS of our brain since we would be increasingly allowing the technology around us to do our thinking for us. In short, we would be reduced to mindless souls that just take the easy way out of matters.
Nonetheless, i will still cross my fingers while i await the future that's closing in day by day on us...
Nonetheless, i will still cross my fingers while i await the future that's closing in day by day on us...
4 comments:
Technological advances are for our betterment. However, I'd agree, that the issue of dependence is a problematic one. With our reliance on technology ever growing, it is a worrying phenomenon that can end up being more dangerous than useful. I guess at the end of the day, it all boils down to the awareness that technology is just an aid to our lives, and ultimately we have to be the ones to make decisions for ourselves.
The issue brought up by the blogger about human kind (possibly) evolving backward is sound, and so is the importance of being aware "that technology is just an aid to our lives" (as mentioned by the previous person). Ultimately, I guess the main issue now is that of knowledge retention and human control.
In some scientific communities, the holy grail of technological advancement is AI where computers/robots can make decisions on their own without the constant supervision of their human brethren. As good as that might sound, one must also consider its consequences; a key factor lacking being morality. The actions of the AI has always been based on calculated arithmetic logic (no matter how 'cold' the final decision might be), and thus far, scientists have yet to figure out the method in which to incorporate morality into the equation.
With that said and done, I definitely second the comment that "ultimately we've to be the ones to make decisions for ourselves". And to do that, we would still need the use of our brains and the awareness to be in constant control.
I think because of how popular the internet is now, the relationship between people is getting colder and more distant. Internet is so convenient now we can basically do anything with it, shop, communicate are just a few examples. It also makes people lazy. Meetings can be held through online mediums and maybe in the future, we do not even have to go to our office to work,
Truly, with all this hype and excitement about up-and-coming technologies of the future, life does seem easier and more convenient compared to the present.
However the point that you brought up at the end does speak volumes on our reliance on technology. People armed with smart phones and laptops become frantic when their information is lost due to a virus or crash, just because there was no backup online or in a thumb drive. Yet that back up is dependent on technology again, which can be subjected to similar failures. Sometimes it would help to have a hard-copy version instead.
It still remains to be seen whether we will be too dependent on such technologies when the time does come, but I believe certain activities cannot be replaced and we can instead be focusing our brain on that.
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