Technology...

I know this was not even on my radar of things I was going to post, but as usual I became distracted and had to get this out there. Technology is insane. I know it is becoming increasingly commonplace, all these gizmos and gadgets that we employ on a daily basis to make life easier (or at the very least more convenient) but when one steps back and truly thinks about what we have become it is almost awe-inspiring.

As I type this I am sitting at the library. I noticed my cellphone was running a little low on juice so I brought out my charger, popped off the wall plug to expose the usb connector, and just plugged that sucker into the computer which I was already using. Talk about convenience.

Its not necessarily my cellphone that amazes me but merely the fact that how ingrained all of these things have become in our lives. The new iPhone was revealed today. Now I have never been an iPhone supporter but it does boast some interesting uses. On top of being able to basically run your house remotely via apps (which has been happening for longer than I realised already) now you will be able to videochat with others from your phone, provided they also have an iPhone 4 naturally.

Our appliances, even the most basic, are taking on this juggernaut life of endless upgrades. Smart toasters, smart coffee makers, voice activated can openers (ok maybe I made that one up but I sincerely doubt it). Every aspect of our lives is touched by this endless march towards bigger, better, smarter all through electronics.

Is this a good or a bad thing? I cannot say. Well I could, but I'm afraid I would not like the answer that I came up with if I did. All of these advancements, regardless of how minute, make us increasingly dependent on technology.

Do you doubt me? Leave your cellphone at home when you go out and see if you get that "naked" feeling as you are walking around.

The internet, smart phones, streaming video, keyless cars that can park themselves, lights that turn themselves off when no one is in the room, etc. Virtually anything that can be touched by technology has been or soon will be probably within the next five to ten years. And once it has been touched it will continue to advance, adapt, evolve (and no, that is not too strong of a word for it) and make everything that came before it feel obsolete and antiquated. It is a slippery slope. It's amazing and truly awesome in the exact definition of the word. But what happens when all comes crashing down?

What if the possibility to digitize your exsistence becomes a reality instead of just science fiction? How many people would make that leap?

"Let me show you an endless trail of sunsets."

If that is too far fetched, then at the very least consider what would happen to us as a society if a massive catastrophe were to befall? How many people could fend for themselves if need be? I know this is a fear that has plagued people ever since the industrial revolution, and most likely before, but it is valid. And the more reliant we become on technology the greater our fall will be when it fails.

I know I have just rambled quite a bit in this post. The ultimate example of my mind gushing out pretty much whatever came to it as fast as my fingers could convert thoughts to keystrokes. But these are the things I think about. Sometimes these are the thoughts that keep me up at night in a cold sweat. That and the chaos in the world around us, but that is another post for another time.

And if you think I'm being dramatic, you are probably partially right. There are a million other things to worry about in this world. Technology is only one small part of it, and the benefits of ever increasing tech for now still outweigh the potential negative outcomes. However I ask you to think about it for a minute: What happens when your toaster decides it doesn't need to char bread for you anymore?

Err...

I suppose I have nothing worthy to contribute at the moment. But upon looking at this blog I realised (yes with an "s"...I sometimes like the so called English spelling better) that I have been neglectful when it comes to regularly updating. A ton of stuff noteworthy has been happening as of late in the world. I have ideas in mind for comments regarding the Gaza blockade, the protests of the National Spelling Bee, and other such fun topics.

But it just so happens that whenever I make a plan to post, I get very angry at my subject matter and pull away from the world, or else I get distracted and never actually get around to saying anything. It is a horrible cycle to find myself in, though it is one I hope to rectify shortly.

Until then, may all four or five people that have ever actually read this blog (thank you muchly for that by the way) keep the faith. I might eventually type something worthy of a read yet!