Rise of technology

Imagine a world without computers, without mobile phones, transport, lighting… The list just goes on and on… Can we live without technology? I find Bill Joy’s article on “Why the Future doesn’t need us” quite intriguing and enlightening.

In this age, we are highly dependent on technology; we have grown up in this world of technology that we can’t break free from it now. Technology has integrated so well into our society that it has become one of us. It is not surprising to hear the news reporting of medical or scientific breakthroughs daily; the advancement of technology has become so rampant that people are stepping over the line between controlling and losing control. In fact, we have become so accustomed to living with routine scientific breakthroughs that we fail to realize the threat that new technologies such as robotics and nanotechnology poses to our society. Rapid advancement of technology could mean further exploration in areas like curing diseases and development of vaccines, however, these technologies, although useful and important, might pose a bigger and more substantial threat to our society. Older technologies like nuclear technology are indeed dangerous, but it is costly and requires large-scale activities. Compare this to nanotechnology, for example, which has the ability to self-replicate and quickly get out of control. It seems that films portraying massive destruction by these new technologies are not really on the wrong track.

The control of technology has always been a controversial topic. As always, there are two simple sides to this issue – Men created technology, hence they control it, or that technology is slowly gaining control over men. Many argue that men created technology; hence they are intellectually superior to them and would not be so foolish as to give up their power to the machines they created. Yes, nobody would be foolish enough to give up control, but the main concern here is that our over reliance and dependence on technology may result in humans having no other practical choice but to accept the machine’s decisions as the best. The problem here is that humans are creating things far beyond their own comprehension. We created atomic powers without having any idea what it was capable of and now we are living with the consequences. We say that we are in control, that we have brains as compared to machines, but are all these just pathetic attempts at self-reassurance?
In fact, there are many examples which are living testimony of our over reliance on technology resulting in our inevitable fall to it. One simple and familiar example would be computer. Who doesn’t use the computer?

Personally, I have become so attached to my computer that it has become a part of me. Turning on my computer is on the top of my to-do list immediately after I reach home. Surfing the net, searching for information, playing computer games, I believe that these are part of many peoples’ daily lives, including me. Addiction to computer games can be a perfect example of showing how technology is controlling us. In this case, the computer represents technology, and we represent the addicts. We, the addicts, have become so lost in the world of technology, the computer that our brain has programmed us to recognize it as our real world. We are willing to do anything to obtain technology as we cannot live without it.
What about robots? Recent scientific exploration has shown that the developments of robots with intellectual powers are possible. Besides becoming totally lazy and uncritical people, this would be another quantum leap in terms of our dependence on technology. The creation of robots, which has always been in the realm of science fiction, seems to be becoming more realistic and imminent.

The impacts of a world without technology? The list goes on and on… Aimless people, helpless people – we just can’t live without technology.

Now, since we have established that technology is salient in our life, what can we do to prevent technology from controlling us?

Referencing to Bill Joy’s article, one of the solutions was to place control over large systems of machines in the hands of a small group of elites. However, with access to powerful technology and control over the masses, these elites will become dictators; they are able to do anything as the technology is in their hands. In this case, humans will no longer be needed and we would have been reduced to the status of mere domestic animals.

In conclusion, the rise of technology and our over-reliance on technology is indeed worrying as it might lead to world-changing incidents and affect our whole human population. Maybe not now, but one day.