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At what point does our ability to create technology outweigh our wisdom to use it.
As we look around the world today, we see hundreds of millions of humans who have been displaced from their jobs by technology. It is predicted that this trend will continue and accelerate going forward.
Our children are suffering higher and higher rates of birth defects and developmental disabilities.
We see our farmland so polluted with pesticides that we need to genetically modify plants that can grow in the poisoned soil.
Our drinking water is polluted by antibiotics, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals.
We see a nuclear power plant that is poisoning the Pacific Ocean and as of yet a problem still uncontrollable.
We are storing ever increasing amounts of nuclear waste that we cannot make safe and which carries with it catastrophic risks.
We are seeing more and more countries adding to the nuclear problems by becoming nuclear states in order to achieve the political power that comes with that title.
Fukushima was a very clear example of what happens when the forces of nature which cannot be predicted come in direct contrast to technology which we cannot fully control.
At what point will our ability to create technology outpace our ability to control its effects on our lives and our environment.
Just look at what it's done on the micro scale.
Everyone walks around with their hand holding their smartphone.
They can't make a move without "checking in" for further instructions.
At what point does our ability to create technology outweigh our wisdom to use it.
As we look around the world today, we see hundreds of millions of humans who have been displaced from their jobs by technology. It is predicted that this trend will continue and accelerate going forward.
And we see hundreds of millions who have jobs today solely due to modern technology.
Our children are suffering higher and higher rates of birth defects and developmental disabilities.
And we have lower rates of infant mortality than ever before, can perform surgeries on maladies that were previously untreatable, and can pull people back from the brink of death. We are close to having technology that can regrow limbs for amputees
We see our farmland so polluted with pesticides that we need to genetically modify plants that can grow in the poisoned soil.
And an acre of farmland produces food at a more efficient rate than ever before, giving us resources to feed those who 60 years ago would have gone starving
Our drinking water is polluted by antibiotics, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals.
Even the most remote village in Africa will soon have access to clean drinking water thanks to technology. We have the technology to air drop filters on remote places so that they can avoid basic diseases caught through contaminated water
We see a nuclear power plant that is poisoning the Pacific Ocean and as of yet a problem still uncontrollable.
We are storing ever increasing amounts of nuclear waste that we cannot make safe and which carries with it catastrophic risks.
And we have provided power to millions of people who previously did not have power. In 1950 25% of this country did not have electricity on a regular basis. Look how far we have come.
We are seeing more and more countries adding to the nuclear problems by becoming nuclear states in order to achieve the political power that comes with that title.
And how is this different from any other arms race, from developing the english longbow to concocting black powder to developing the tank to developing the airplane?
Fukushima was a very clear example of what happens when the forces of nature which cannot be predicted come in direct contrast to technology which we cannot fully control.
At what point will our ability to create technology outpace our ability to control its effects on our lives and our environment.
There is always a give and take with technology, and every new technological breakthrough has had risk associated with it. That doesn't mean we stick our heads in the sand and refuse to move forward. There are absolutely disasters along the way, as there always have been. We will run into problems with nuclear power, but we will soon develop a process of nuclear power that is safe, efficient, and can dramatically improve the lives of more people than you can imagine.
We now have the technology to 3D print human bones for medical use. We can communicate with each other in the blink of an eye so that people can get out in time and avoid disasters, instead of waiting to see what is happening. We can provide water to those without clean drinking water through technology. Computerized systems are providing people the tools to provide micro-loans to those in the developing world so that they can start a business and feed their families.
Are there problems? Sure, but that is nothing new, and is no reason to be wary of innovation.
It's not technology, it's human development. Capitalism justifies all development and religion justifies any/all procreation. So it'll continue to be an orgy of unrestrained breeding and earth rape.
Last edited by Back to NE; 11-25-2013 at 01:52 PM..
Reason: typo
At what point will our ability to create technology outpace our ability to control its effects on our lives and our environment.
we don't know for certain that it will.
we may invent technology that eliminates pollution. we may invent technology that allows us to inhabit new planets.
hell, for all we know, we may invent technology that alleviates the need for humans to have physical bodies, where we exist as digital entities inside of a simulated reality hosted by a giant matrioshka brain that orbits a sun we haven't yet discovered.
There are some truly amazing things coming, Genetic, Robotics, Informational, and nanotechnology. IE GRIN. Theres research going on into integrating our brains with some of this technology, primitive things at first like artificial eyes, and ears. But even more amazing stuff is coming.
But with it comes new threats, bioterrorism, nanotechnology has some serious dangers. But you know what? As soon as the first human killed something with a rock, there was no stopping our advance. And we're generally OK folks. Yeah the news makes us sound evil, and the political propaganda makes those who disagree into monsters. But heres the reality-we're mostly wanting to do the right thing.
Theres stuff to deal with aids, diabetes, heart disease, and more coming down the line. And computer systems, artificial intelligence, and the ever advancing manufacturing technology like 3D printing is going to change the world. Theres a TON of good things.
My biggest worry is that the US will be slow to recognize just how much these things change everything. We need to adapt more quickly, and in advance of some changes.
we may invent technology that eliminates pollution. we may invent technology that allows us to inhabit new planets.
hell, for all we know, we may invent technology that alleviates the need for humans to have physical bodies, where we exist as digital entities inside of a simulated reality hosted by a giant matrioshka brain that orbits a sun we haven't yet discovered.
I know you were somewhat joking, but there is actually a russian billionare who has made it his life's work to eliminate the need for a physical body.
He is 100% serious about it, and claims to be on track to finish the first phase (getting the person's consciousness into a computer, with a hologram-like avatar) by 2045. Here is their website
There have always been Luddites in society that dread innovation or technology.
Every new technology has a price, and we as humanity need to identify, stop, and repair that damage. We need to take the time to take that technology and use it wisely.
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