
Nonetheless, I remember holding my iPod, the little device that could only play music on a black/gray/white screen. Some weeks later my friend got an iPod that could hold color photos and I went crazy. What else can Apple do? What else will they come out with? At the time I was obsessed with the music video for Lose Control by Missy Elliot and Ciara and could not stop watching it on my computer. I remember running into my mom’s room and saying that I was so excited for when Apple comes out with an iPod that can play music videos because I want to wanted to watch the music video for Lose Control all the time including while in the car to school and other places where I didn’t have access to a computer. She said that would be exciting or something like that, I can’t really remember, but she obviously didn’t think that was soon or was just unexcited. When I think back to that moment now, where I couldn’t wait for the next advancement in technology it is just amazing to see where a company like apple has taken their products in today’s world. What will my mom be skeptical or unexcited about next? What will I be skeptical of? Robot servants? Synthetic brain enhancements?
In our world anything is possible it just takes time, but the exciting thing is that technology is growing at such a fast rate that I could see anything within the next 10 years even. And I am not just talking about a cool new way to listen to music, but advances that could save millions of lives through new medical technology or help to reverse human damage to the planet. Technology that is coming up on the horizon has the potential to do so much and help so many people; it is just amazing to think of the things that will come next. I would consider myself a proponent of technological advances and it seems plausible to me that singularity may be approaching in my lifetime. I really am excited more than anything, but I understand why people could be frightened of it. Singularity means allowing technology to play an even bigger role in your life and for most people today, technology already is in almost everything they do. Singularity would even mean that part of who people are would be technology that technology would have personhood and emotions. It is a lot to handle and it seems like something that is so different from today’s world. But, gradually, I think, singularity will slowly start to come into people’s lives and it will be a change that they are okay with over time. Like I said before, I am not ready to have a synthetic brain, or even part of my brain to be synthetic but I am open to what is to come. Even though I am someone very comfortable with technology the thought of having synthetic parts attached to me is disconcerting. But what I do know is that over time I bet that will change and I will become open with what is to come. This is not me saying that singularity is something that is inevitable, but with the way technology advances I think it is definitely a possibility. Say I live for around another eighty years, I am sure that I will see some amazing things in the field of technology. And as those advancements happen society will be edging closer and closer to singularity and eventually accept it as an exciting new way of life.
I love "lost control" by missy elliot but I realized that I had never actually watched the music video. So because of this post, I watched "Lose Control" and it was pretty legit.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway...
I like the interesting dichotomy created between your innocent "lose control" phase in which all you're waiting for is the new ipod and your current semi-pro-singularity stance.
I agree with you on a lot of your points: singularity is kind of scary thought. it's a lot of change to think about. but it does seem like it's inevitable... or at least, the foundations of it are inevitable.
I think that you bring about a really good point. In our lifetime, we've seen more technologies and advances in just 18 years, and we're ready for whatever will come next. I would say that we are definitely a more liberal generation, open to whatever technologies emerge. I think it will be very interesting to see what happens in the future, and how technologically fluent our kids will be.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting too to wonder if we even have a choice in adopting new technologies as they come out. As much as people tried to resist cell phones or the internet, the integration with every day life became something that was inescapable. The generations of people who grew up without such technologies are continually replaced by those who are much more technologically literate. I doubt that fairly soon in human history we will continue to have a choice in whether or not to participate
ReplyDeleteYour blog was so interesting to read because of your optimism towards the changes that are going to be occurring in the future! I agree that right now the world may not be ready for dramatic differences in our lifestyles. But if we could learn to use smartphones within this decade, I'm sure we will be ready for whatever's coming next!
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