May 13, 2011
My generation’s
incredible technology journey:
I read a story many
years ago about a news reporter who was interviewing ordinary people
regarding their personal opinions about the most incredible
technology recently developed. As expected, many identified things
like man walking on the moon, television, computers, medical
technology, etc. One fellow, a street sweeper, thought about the
question for some time and then responded that it had to be the
thermos bottle. The reporter, who was quite surprised, told the man
that he must not have understood the question. The man assured the
reporter that he did indeed understand. He went on to explain that
his wife packed his lunch every day. In the summer when it was hot
outside she always included a thermos of iced tea, and then in the
winter when it was cold she always included a thermos of hot soup.
The man went on to say that when he opened the thermos the iced tea
was always cold and the soup was always hot. The reporter then
said…so what? The man replied, don’t you see, how does it know?
When I was born we were
quite poor and the only technology that we had in our home was one
radio, a wired telephone that shared a line with several other
neighbors, electric lights, and an ice box that had to be kept cool
with ice that was delivered to our home. As small children my mother
heated our bath water on the stove and bathed each of us in the
kitchen sink. We didn't even have an indoor toilet.
Today our lives
includes the most amazing technology imaginable. Our automobiles are
technological miracles that are increasingly controlled and operated
by powerful small computers. We use GPS systems instead of roadmaps,
satellite radio, rear view cameras, air bags everywhere, blind spot
detection systems, electronic skid controls, ant-lock brakes, even
systems that nudge us to stay in our own lanes. Recently I received a
phone call from my car maker’s service department telling me that
my car had notified them that it was due for service. I took the car
in and joked with the service writer about the phone call. He then
told me that the car had indeed notified them that it required
service!
We are rapidly moving
from paper to electronic reading devices. Our entertainment from
music, movies, and television is increasingly becoming electronically
controllable and user friendly. CD’s, DVD’s, cassettes, etc. will
soon be gone as all forms of storable media are digitized. We no
longer have to watch television programming when it is presented
because of the magic of video on demand and digital video recorders.
Our connectivity to
information and each other is increasingly and likely unrelentingly
going to be via electronic media. Who doesn’t have a cell phone on
them all the time now? These phones themselves are increasingly
becoming “smarter”. In fact, I am told that a new smart phone has
more computer power than all the computers NASA had when Neil
Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969. We stay connected with
extended family and friends via technology. We are increasingly using
electronic devices to pay our bills, and most importantly, to tap
into the amazing amount of information that is so easily and freely
accessible on the information highway known as the Internet. I do not
make any major purchases without conducting product quality and
pricing comparisons via the internet. My family no longer allows our
health care to be solely managed by the health care providers and
insurance companies. I am adamant about being an informed consumer,
especially in this critical area. I deeply value our health care
providers, but I want to participate in my family’s health care.
Today, if you can
imagine a question on about any topic…you can find information
readily available. Of course, you have to be careful because all
information is not 100% reliable. As long as you are just a bit
careful and have some degree of patience and discernment, you can
find accurate and objective guidance.
The newer phenomena of
social media is being increasingly utilized by even the older
generations in order to better keep track of what’s happening in
the lives of friends and loved ones.
Sadly some among our
older generation continue to resist the technology that is so
capable of enriching their lives.
I suppose part of that
is just human nature. I was talking to my wife the other day about
buying an electronic reading device for her to use for most of her
reading. She replied that she just enjoys holding the real reading
materials in her hands. I could just see her a few thousand years ago
saying; “I don’t care if papyrus has been developed, I just like
holding these stone tablets in my hands!” Of course I did not say
that out loud!
I have no doubt that
the availability of information for the masses at warp speed will
result in the creation of amazing solutions to many problems that
have seemed unsolvable. However, in the short term, the resulting
loss of jobs due to technology induced automation will continue to be
horrendous.
As usual, these are
just my opinions. What do you think, and what technology has
impressed you the most? Can you even imagine the technology of the
next ten or twenty years?
Mike Tower
Hendersonville
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