Technology in the Future

 

What does the future look like for technology? Filmmakers have given audiences an idea of what technology may look like in the future. Artificial intelligence may be fully integrated, vehicles could be flying, and cities may be floating among the clouds. Let's take the history of communication: from writing on cave walls to paper, then printing presses, then telegraphs, then telephones, then radio, and finally the computer and smartphones. Just by these examples, technological innovations can be seen as a fast-paced change for society to live efficiently and effortlessly. 

Research shows that the sharing of knowledge and technology across continents has increased because of globalization. The choices we make today, in technology, will shape the course of tomorrow (Guorani, 2023). 

Forbes created an article depicting a glimpse of how innovative 2050 will be:

- Technological Integration - Technology will seamlessly be integrated into our daily lives with artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

- Sustainable Living - Climate control will heavily drive impact towards sustainable living involving eco-friendly technologies. 

- Space Exploration and Colonization - Space exploration will become safe and probable, allowing humans to experience the world beyond the rock we live on now. 

- Heathcare Revolution - Advancements in telehealth and medical technology will procure an in-depth development of gene therapies and terminal disease preventions.

- Artificial Intelligence in Governance - Incorporating artificial intelligence in government that can create smart cities with organized systems to improve planning and resource management.

- Cybersecurity Challenges - With technological advancements brings highly dangerous cyber threats. As technology advances, there will be skills and measures that mirror the level of advancement to protect complex data and avert high level threats.

- Global Connectivity - Having a shared connectivity throughout continents will foster in communication and collaboration on a global stage. 

- Work and Education Evolution - Virtual conferences and online learning environments will be more instituted offering more adaptability. 

Gourani, S. (2023). 2050 unveiled: A glimpse into the future. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/soulaimagourani/2023/12/09/2050-unveiled-a-glimpse-into-the-future/?sh=23ab086fb8f9 

Telecommuting During a Global Pandemic

 

In March 2020, the world experienced a pandemic phenomenon. Schools, workplaces, and businesses were shut down and forced everyone to stay at home for an extended amount of time. Public health officials advised limited social interactions to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In response to keep daily activities afloat, work from home and online learning spaces became enacted. Technology had the opportunity to showcase its ability to keep the world running in a smooth and efficient way. But was it successful?

Nora Flanagan said in her TedTalk that "schools without school has been traumatic, it's been makeshift, it's been messy." She was right. Teachers, students, and parents had to adapt to technology and use it in their daily lives during the pandemic. It was not a swift change either. According to Pew Research Center, 49% of US adults said that interruptions in their internet or technology-based services caused immense problems in their daily activities. 

Did online learning and virtual conferences work during the pandemic? That is a very difficult question to answer. Technology was available to students, teachers, and employees to further complete their daily activities, but to some extent. Accessibility to internet was the number one underlying issue to complete those activities. Attention span was another issue in completing those activities. Finally, mental health consciousness became a huge indicator that online learning and virtual conferences played a part in the downfall of technology during the pandemic (White-Gibson, 2021).

White-Gibson, Z. (2021). 'Zoom fatigue' is real - Here's how to cope (and make it through your next meeting). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/zoom-fatigue 

Technology is Making Us Unsocial

 

Social media was invented to keep us connected. Nowadays, networks seem to have taken the attention of most of its users. It is evident on public transits, in coffee shops, even on the corner of streets. There are even users on social media while operating a vehicle. According to Pew Research Center, 68% of US adults utilize the social platform Facebook. Most US adults can be found with their eyes stuck on the screen. While social media may keep us connected, it has made us become unsocial. 

Henry Williams speaks on technology and social media giving users "an addictive chunk of recognition in the form of likes, streaks, followers, views and more" (Williams, 2018). Our culture today is truly addicted to technology in all forms, because it connects us to a global stage from anywhere in the world. If we are so connected to the world through technology, why are users seen alone with their eyes glued to their smartphones? 

When you have a free moment, do you initially grab your smartphone? Do you immediately go to a social media platform? Naturally, the answer to both questions is yes! Technology provides a user access to endless streams of entertainment, news, and information. Within that endless stream, users will try to find the content that most appeals to them. We will scroll through all that information until something appealing pops up and grasps our attention. But it never ends there. We will always continue to scroll through content that is appealing and worth our attention while ignoring those around us.

Williams, H. (2018). Alone, together: How technology separates us [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/henry_williams_alone_together_how_technology_separates_us