Progress
Technology is not neutral. It can’t be, because by definition, advances in tech create change, and change always creates positives and negatives.
We now live in a time of rapid technological change, perhaps the biggest in 150 years. In the face of the overwhelming impact of tech, we might not be enjoying the ride.
Sometimes the problem is the tech itself, and sometimes it’s about our fear of change and unknown.
It’s worth taking a moment to think about which technology we’d rather live without–in other words, when was the golden age that we’re nostalgic for, the one that technology has tarnished in the name of progress?
They’re not in a perfect order, but if you had to draw the line, where and when would you put it?
HousingToiletsMoneyDebtCulverts and water suppliesBooksLibrariesHandwashing and germ theoryEyeglassesThe scientific methodClocksTrainsThe cotton ginThe loomThe origin of speciesElectricityVoting machinesThe telephoneGas-powered carsCredit cardsVaccinesTelevisionAntibioticsSunscreenBirth controlPortable telephonesGPSElectric carsSolar panels and windmillsEmailOnline bookstoresSearch enginesCochlear implantsMapping DNAPodcastsMachine learningImage recognition for reading x-raysWikipediaFacial recognitionAugmented memory implantsGPT and AI writing and creationCloningGene repairQuantum computingThe internet of things