| The advance of technology and by extension, the dependence on the use of computers has brought clear advantages to society in the twenty-first century. We now have connections that link the most remote areas of the earth and the facility with which we can communicate and organize our daily lives has made for increased productivity among other things. In spite of all the progress that has been made, I am of the opinion that a balance needs to be struck between the use of the machine for its own sake and having it serve the machine be subservient to human needs. The clear and present danger is one where the machine becomes the focus and quite possible a societal shift that favors the more technically inclined at the expense of everyone else, the rise possibly of a class of ‘technocrats., This is not to take away from the marvels of the machine, just a reminder that there are in fact more than one kind of intelligence as Gardner noted in the 1980’s. In referencing the human potential, Gardner noted that there are ten (at last count) different types of intelligence and several of them had very little to do with ‘book knowledge, (which roughly corresponds to computer knowledge and literacy in our time). There are human resource capabilities that stand to be overlooked especially in this era that is looking to be overtaken by the incipient rise of artificial intelligence. I am still of the opinion that some of the best and most creative (and natural) solutions spring to life in the minds of some very ordinary people. In sum, let us not be slaves to the machine! |
New millenium, new life
Emerging Technologies 