In a rapidly changing age, it is difficult to focus on anything but the immediate future. My generation is arguably the first to be totally immersed by technology. Literate in the vernacular of personal computing we are more than previous generations more comfortable with changing technologies. Following this pattern, you can expect that subsequent generations will be even more technology and media savvy and will expect their technology to keep up with them: make their lives more comfortable and convenience, which is after all what well made technology should do. Because we have grown up expecting prompt technological growth, it is of no surprise to me that Bill Joy mentions in his article "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us," that many major technology changes will be subtle and incremental, that it will not be jarring to us. I discuss futurism, I agree more with Ray Kurzweil's argument about 'The Singularity,' roughly that technology will only encourage longer life spans, encourage creativity and greater ease of life for most people.
While examining technology advances of the past, I am reaffirmed that I should not fear technology, but rather fear what we may do with technology. The practicality of the steam engine provided thousands with jobs world-wide and for the first time in history made transcontinental travel relatively easy and convenient. Technology that does what it should, serve humanity in the best possible way, making our lives easier. However, you should also examine innovation for war's sake. What might these upcoming advances in technology hold for humanity's ability to hurt? While I am a big fan of science fiction, and fear the opportunity for imposing technological integration/alteration, such as the borg in the 'Star Trek' universe. I must also persist to believe that some of humanity will endure to seek justice and an ethical way of life, much like the crew of the Enterprise. We subsequently should not fear technology (as rapid as those advances may be), we should only fear what we may do with technology.
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