Whao! Whao! Whao! Technology disruption and independence are perceived synonymous in the modern-era. This is an era that is over excited with saying “Oh, that! That’s obsolete; even the other way of doing it yesterday is replaced by this new technology, but we may have a newer option tomorrow, stay updated.”
Further, “smart way” of doing things has been taking centre-stage with the technology revolution that happens every then. That is great! Technology is deployed in the interest of time, so that human beings should have to invest it in productive pursuits. Besides, technology is adored as it is becoming more interactive. Wait! Interactive or intrusive? I quit the discussion here to embark on discussing the growing technology dependence, while it is said to free human beings; let us see how – on a lighter vein.
Every tool, from Stone Age to this day, has been snatching a natural human ability; but at the same time, it has helped humans doing something in a new way. For instance, since when there were calculators, there occurred steep fall in the mental arithmetic abilities of humans.
Yes, calculators are good for people who are not so good at mental arithmetic, but the irrational use of it by people who are good at it only for the want of comfort is painful. I do not complain the calculators, but point to ourselves who wantonly let go of one of our innate abilities, and yes abacus is picking around the corner. My friend was warned at college (Malaysia), when he attempted to use calculator, with his teacher stating “students from India should not use calculators; they are good at mental arithmetic”. Look at the case today!
Ages back, the role of assistants was to be by the side and serve when beckoned (as long it was a human assistant) and they never attempted to “autocorrect” their bosses; at least computers enjoy such freedom now. Unlike today’s AI that almost dictates us, the typists then were even able to “recognize the voice” that dictated them the letters.
In the past, people in the Indian landscape had no clue of what data was, except for the “bio-data” (then a mistaken common name for a resume), they submitted for employment or for floating in a matrimonial market, and the only privacy threat people feared was a gossiping neighbourhood.
Today, data is big and has behaviour; it has grown beyond the tarot cards to tell about perfectly about us. The data bots are after us, and get clue of us from the digital footprints that we leave on the already closely woven World Wide WEB! It would not be a surprise today, if the HR fraternity attempts to self-introduce the candidate across the table.
Scanning was related to reading a book for the gist, medical treatment etc. Predominantly machines were huge and were stationed; humans were on “roaming free” mode. Today, machines are highly mobile and we are in a dream “we carry them” but are literally tied cordlessly and run behind them in a frenzy.
Sharing was more of an emotional expression that has become a status quo in the world of information. We share, what we mostly don’t care, with eyes stuck to the device, more often even the continuously learning masses unmindfully share information that create chaos.
Humans are hard to tame, but fall to fame; social media has given this opportunity and keeps us dozed, believing that our aura is boosted.
While there are many implications, mental, physical and spiritual, I stop hereby having given shots to make people not think, but re-think about our increasing technology dependency.
Wherever possible, make your physical presence; wherever possible contribute your emotional support. Whenever possible pay a visit to your own thoughts, and keep them positive and fresh. Do all these “wherevers” and “whenevers” at all times, whatever it costs to be real in the real world, and not virtual in the real.
Let us walk off from “in dependence” to “independence”