The "Future": Perceived vs. Reality
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We were having a conversation at the dinner table the other night, about how the implementation of technology is so much different than what the dreamers had imagined. Once upon a time, we looked into the "future" and imagined a day when we would be able to communicate in "cyberspace", parallel to our actual reality, and how we would use this technology for all kinds of productive things. Reality: we carry a piece of tech in our pockets that holds nearly instant access to just about every bit of knowledge ever conceived (like Orlando Jones' character in "The Time Machine"), and what is it used for? I think the overwhelming majority is looking a cat pictures and watching porn. As we look ahead, we yearn for the day when large payloads can be effortlessly transported over great distances, through teleportation, changing the face of reality itself. I imagine the typical use will be something more like sending perfectly-timed bags of flaming dog poop outside random people's front doors, and making getting dressed even less necessary for a trip to Wal Mart. I mean, people are still photocopying their butt and 3-D printers are great for making coffee mugs. What do you see for our bright "world of tomorrow"?
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You totally forgot about the use of cell phones for the ultimate time waster... cat porn.
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And my personal favourite use.... pictures of food. (I actually enjoy this.)
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@scottalanmiller said:
You totally forgot about the use of cell phones for the ultimate time waster... cat porn.
I believe you if you tell me that is a thing, but I'm not looking it up. Seriously.
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I think that expecting people to dramatically change just because better technology is there is the big mistake that most people make when looking at the future. People rarely used awesome technology of the past to make awesome things. Look at the printing press. Sure, a few encyclopedias were made, a few important writings. But mostly it was used to print copies of Cosmo and Playboy and comic books. The bulk use of any technology is not the impressive use.
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It's tough to say for sure how the future will unfold. One thing is for sure, the human race will become lazier as a result. I see drones playing a big part of the future. We already see Amazon is trying to use them for quick delivery of packages. I think its safe to assume that 30 minute delivery is a real possibility of the future.
There are some exciting things in the pipeline such as some serious medical advances for those that paralyzed or facing other inhibiting conditions. Alternative energy for vehicles seems to be a real possibility in 10 years or so. We are seeing different types of vehicles that are self charging and such.
There are some scary things about the future, too. Drones used as weapons will become more widespread as cost continues to decrease. We are already seeing mass surveillance since most people are linked to the internet at all times. Maybe I need to get out my tin hat, but history tends to repeat itself. Those in power always seem to abuse it.
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@IRJ said:
It's tough to say for sure how the future will unfold. One thing is for sure, the human race will become lazier as a result.
I don't feel that way. Humans appear to becoming less lazy with each generation. Doing more, working more smartly. We are just shifting from manual labour to mental labour. We are living in one of the first eras where the youth routinely point to the laziness of the past rather than the opposite.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
It's tough to say for sure how the future will unfold. One thing is for sure, the human race will become lazier as a result.
I don't feel that way. Humans appear to becoming less lazy with each generation. Doing more, working more smartly. We are just shifting from manual labour to mental labour. We are living in one of the first eras where the youth routinely point to the laziness of the past rather than the opposite.
I see what you are saying, but our bodies are meant for manual labor. We are going to lose our roots if we aren't careful. Kids don't want to spend time away from technology anymore. We are all old enough to remember not being connected 24/7, but our children are not. It makes me sad to see young teens hang out and message each other on facebook while they are in the same room. I think it will be even worse for young teens 5-6 years from now. Those kids have had tablets in their hands since they were 2-3 years old.
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@IRJ I think you'll see a technology back-lash in a few years when those kids grow up and realize they don't want to carry a leash around with them all the time. I'd bet $20 on it happening in less than 2 decades.
Edit: Hell, I'm there already. I leave the damn thing at home when I'm not on call.
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@MattSpeller said:
@IRJ I think you'll see a technology back-lash in a few years when those kids grow up and realize they don't want to carry a leash around with them all the time. I'd bet $20 on it happening in less than 2 decades.
Edit: Hell, I'm there already. I leave the damn thing at home when I'm not on call.
There are just too many benefits to having your smartphone on you at all times. Especially for kids that don't know how else to entertain themselves. They don't seem to understand that everything you do online is recorded, either.
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@IRJ said:
There are just too many benefits to having your smartphone on you at all times. Especially for kids that don't know how else to entertain themselves. They don't seem to understand that everything you do online is recorded, either.
Kids never knew how else to entertain themselves. They used to just not be entertained.
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@MattSpeller said:
@IRJ I think you'll see a technology back-lash in a few years when those kids grow up and realize they don't want to carry a leash around with them all the time. I'd bet $20 on it happening in less than 2 decades.
It's never happened before. This would go against all of history. There was never a backlash against printing, telephones, television, etc. It would be unprecedented for it to happen with the Internet.
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@IRJ said:
I see what you are saying, but our bodies are meant for manual labor. We are going to lose our roots if we aren't careful.
If we aren't careful? Why would we be careful to make ourselves do manual labour?
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@IRJ said:
Kids don't want to spend time away from technology anymore.
When did they ever? This isn't new. Remember kids with phones in the 1960s?
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@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
There are just too many benefits to having your smartphone on you at all times. Especially for kids that don't know how else to entertain themselves. They don't seem to understand that everything you do online is recorded, either.
Kids never knew how else to entertain themselves. They used to just not be entertained.
I used to go in the woods all day when I was kid. I'd also ride my bike 4 miles to fish, and I would just do some general exploring.
All the kids in my area did that kind of stuff and I'd assume all kids did something similar. I understand growing up in the city is a little different, but I believe those kids entertained themselves by playing sports or having different type of hobbies.
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@IRJ said:
It makes me sad to see young teens hang out and message each other on facebook while they are in the same room.
But why? They are still spending time together, communicating and sharing with even more people. I know adults love to hate this stuff, but what's the actual negative component to it? People are more social, more connected, more in touch than ever. I see it as wonderful. My kids will never face the loneliness and disconnected world we had no option but to face. Just like other advancements, our kids don't need to hunt for all of their own food or face a world without vaccinations. They can travel farther, faster, more safely. They can attend school and not be afraid of wild animals at night.
That we have improved our lot is not a bad thing.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@IRJ said:
Kids don't want to spend time away from technology anymore.
When did they ever? This isn't new. Remember kids with phones in the 1960s?
Yes, but the difference was that a landline wasn't portable. If you went to a restaurant or out in the woods, you didn't have the landline with you. The fact it's not portable and not tied to a location makes the effect that much worse...
