I don't mean to sound belittling to people who know less about the Internet and technology than me. I understand that I'm Gen-Y and all that bogus crap that apparently should justify my knowledge.
What I don't understand, however, is that it's 2008 and we don't have flying cars, we still use the same keyboard as typewriters made over a century ago, I can print or watch on my TV anything I can see on my computer screen, and blah blah blah.
I think the reason for all of this is that people in general are afraid of change. While it may seem like the Internet has come upon us pretty quickly, it's still primarily used by younger people who grew up with it. Sure, Myspace users are often over 35, but that's not THE INTERNET. I mean power-using. Understanding simple things like how to download an mp3 is not that hard. If we can't get the majority of society to go beyond using their computers for taxes and email, how are we ever going to see the kind of technology that sci-fi has been promising for decades?
People know how to use computers, but they don't know how computers work. If only the geeks understand these things, and the geeks need jobs. The geeks get stuck making crap for the masses when they could be actually advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. The other problem I have is that geeks are making weapons for the government, because the military seems to be the only organization that fully understands that implications of being vastly technologically superior.
(note that I use the word "geek" with only the most admiration and jealousy)
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4 comments:
Good point some poeple are afraid to change, but me for one; I ready for cars with auto pilot or whatever. I'm sure it won't be like that movie IRobot. lol. Or will it?
I wonder if we're too lazy to have flying cars? Think about it. Of course we have the advanced technology to make them. So why hasn't anyone? Then after they produce them, someone or some company will have to teach the US citizens, new licences would have to be made, etc. It would be a big change.
I agree with you that I think people are always afraid of change. All too often, people are mired in fear, stubborness, or strict honor of tradition.
I look at schools as the biggest culprit. It took far too long for online courses, books, and lectures to exist. With the advent of things like youtube, we could do things like listen to lectures and then maybe respond to them later on a message board.
With electronic books being available, and just the internet in general, it took too long for the internet to be accepted as a credible source. I can still remember many of my old teachers stubbornly proclaiming "no onlinr sources" without even listening to reason.
I'm with everyone on the point that people are afraid of change. Of course they are, change can be scary.
My whole thing is when is it enough? When do we have enough technology so that everyone is happy? Do we need machines to do everything for us and make it all that much easier? How lazy can we, as a society, get? When I think of all of the great stuff is responsible for I also immediately think of all the bad stuff (i.e. nuclear weapons, machines taking over human jobs, etc.).
I also think that there are plenty of good things that go along with technology and Randy touches on the most important one. Technology in schools is great and should be used more. Also, I too remember the no online sources thing and how annoying I thought that was.
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