'Technology' or 'the Cyborg Syndrome'

[Dragonpit]

I've heard the phrase numerous times now. "Technology is supposed to make life better." To be sure, I believe it, but that just doesn't seem to be the case these days. It's making life easier, yes, but easier doesn't mean better. I remember when I was a kid I was learning to use a corded dial phone, and just knowing someone's name wasn't considered an invasion of privacy. Nowadays, even elementary school students have cell phones, a lot of people are doing everything they can to protect their status of being anonymous online, and on top of that, people are having trouble separating themselves from devices such as iPods for more than a week. They only came out in the last decade! Now admittedly, I do see the benefits. Cell phones do make it easier to keep track of other people, being anonymous online does in fact hinder the process of identity theft, and iPods are indeed nice to have around since there are no cumbersome CDs to lug around. I'm just not convinced the benefits outweigh the risks. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we should take a step back; what would the point be if we did? I'm just saying that I don't we're actually doing ourselves any favors...

...I don't know...What do you think?

 

[.No.]

I see your points, and have to say that I understand your viewpoint. It has it's ups and downs. You don't really say what's so bad about it though.

 

[FalloutJack]

I see where he's going with this. Or...one way it COULD go. In any case, I'm just waitin' around for my full-body prosthetic.

 

[Aidinthel]

Snip.

The thing is, what is superfluous in one situation may be vital to another. If you don't have access to a landline phone and some emergency comes up, that cellphone may just save your life. And to someone hiking through remote wilderness, that GPS is pretty useful. But most people don't encounter those sorts of situations often enough to make the devices commercially viable on that alone, so there has to be some more common usage to encourage continued development.

 

[TheHaunted]

What I'm hoping for is that we start trying to get technology to help ease our transition into space again. There are a lot of usable resources that we could use up there, albeit no organics.

 

[Realitycrash]

Technology is good, but can be used for bad things? Thought that was obvious. And Cyborg Syndrome? Do you even know what a Cyborg is?

 

[korblborp]

What I'm hoping for is that we start trying to get technology to help ease our transition into space again. There are a lot of usable resources that we could use up there, albeit no organics.

agreed. although, some people don't like when you point it out to them. i currently am debating posting an response to someone on dA because they decry my belief that if we hadn't slacked off the world would be a better place as science-fiction ....when their solution to the "standard-of-living" problem is replicators. from Star Trek.

avoid the Politics forum, i tell myself....