Blog 8: Ted Talk

The future as we know it is very unpredictable. When discussing topics, one might say technology is the most unpredictable. In the past few years, technology has advanced at an incredibly fast rate and continues to progress day by day. Goals which seemed to be impossible to achieve are now accomplished with ease, and what many people only dreamed of, is now a reality. Technology is reaching a stage where all human activity revolves around it, and will therefore hinder the human race.

Advanced technology will first hinder society by completely replacing human beings. Kevin Kelly hints at this in his “Ted Talk” presentation when he says “Technology today comes in contact with other machines as it is created and rarely sees human life” (Kelly). If technology continues to expand at such a fast rate, people will begin to be replaced by massive technological machines which perform the same tasks just as well, or possibly better than humans can. As technology continues to progress, human beings will soon become a second option for company employers and technology will be what takes over.

Technology will not only replace human beings but it will also take over peoples bodies. In his “Ted Talk” presentation, Ian Goldin explains, “Technology will create invisible capacities in our bodies, in our brains and in the air” (Goldin).  In today’s world there is already technology that can be attached to the eyes and to the ears. One such technology is Google’s eye glasses, Google Glass. Technologies such as Google Glass will soon become more advanced and lead to technologies that will fit into humans brains. This will result in loss of humanity. Humans will not be able to think for themselves. The computer inside their brains will give them any information they desire to know. There will be no need for education, since the technology inside the body is “smarter” than any textbook ever written.

Finally, technology will affect society in the area of biological engineering. In Juan Enriquez’s “Ted Talk” presentation, he presents instances in which technology gives humans the ability to regain certain senses. One sense which technology will help is that of hearing. “Now we have cochlear implants that go into people’s heads and allow the deaf to hear” (Enriquez ). Another sense that technology will be able to aid is that of eye sight, “A group in Germany is beginning to engineer eyes so that people who are blind can begin to see light and dark”(Enriquez ). Although this technology is wonderful and very helpful to those who are in need, it is not all for the better. Modern technology can be helpful, but what will occur when this technology reaches the wrong type of people? In his “Ted Talk”, Martin Rees explains how psychopaths now have the ability to destroy the earth due to immense advancements in technology (Rees). If people with mental problems or criminals gain the knowledge on how to use the advanced technology, life as we know it will never be the same.

As is presented by scientific examples and professionals, it is important to be aware of burgeoning technology in today’s society. It is observed through examples of technology replacing humans, technology becoming part of a person’s body, and technology in the hands of the wrong type of person. When all this is taken into account, it is visible that technology will not have the best influence on years to come.

• Posted in: ENC1102