Roller coaster of technology
My thoughts for today have to do with technological advancements. There's good and bad in technology. People disconnect from reality, not usually a good thing. People can productively work from home, which is usually a good thing.
Yesterday, my city's internet service went down at about 11 am and didn't return for roughly 24 hours. People in my city threw a fit in many instances. I had to request a 1/2 day personal, because I couldn't leave the house; I had two roof estimates yesterday, assuming I would be home working. I had to go to my mom and dad's this morning, just to find out that the Windows updates that happened yesterday morning [before the internet went out], made it so I could NOT connect to any WiFi signal. So... I connected my personal phone to all of my work things; Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Authenticator, etc. and joined a meeting from my phone. Then... I had to take my laptop to my boss's house [good thing he lives close] so we could fix the issues with help from one of the local IT managers [my boss, my team, and I deal with engineering computer tools, not regular IT stuff]. We finally got it up and running again. I went back to my mom's for my next two meetings and needed to come back home to let my dog out... we're back online now. I can't complain too much, because this is the first medium to long term outage of internet service I've had in the 18 years living in this city.
There were people that said to just go to McDs or a cafe somewhere and use public internet service... well, my work-supplied computer won't allow me to connect to a public domain very easily and because COVID, I chose not to go that route. I had to take my 12 year old with me too, because the "adopted one" went with my husband this morning to work, my daughter is in school, and I'm not leaving my 12 year old home alone for potentially 8 hours.
In the end, I'm very grateful for having an understanding boss, the company I work for that provides the means for working from home, and the technology to do so.
Despite my gratefulness, there's definitely downsides to technological advancements. I personally don't see it as a good thing to have instant and global media constantly available in most instances. It causes stress and division over matters that don't affect the people that it's dividing in many instances. It brings attention to more negativity than positivity. Positivity doesn't get the ratings. Today, more than ever, it's clear that everyone has an opinion, but that doesn't mean everyone wants/need to hear it... just like a fart. As someone here has put it... "the urination Olympics" is frequently underway, but it's not a contest that I want or enjoy being a part of, but maybe that's just me. I suppose I'm a good mix of my mother and father that way. My dad doesn't want confrontation at any time; he'll cave just to avoid it. My mother loves to fight and will even look for one sometimes. Me... if something will affect myself or my family [that includes my friends], I will fight, but otherwise I see no need. I usually try to make light of things when it isn't something that will affect those around me. That I think comes from my uncle. I don't know that anything really stresses him out.
Another downfall of technology... in automotive; some is good, but the shit they have coming out now... which yes, it pays my bills [working for an automotive electronics tier 1 supplier], it has made people dumber behind the wheel. Parallel parking? Nah... no need to learn that, the car has auto parallel parking. Manual trans? Nah... no need to learn that, everything in the US market comes with an automatic, even foreign automakers make automatics available to the US public. Glancing in your mirrors? Nah... no need for that, there's an idiot light to tell me whether I can change lanes or not. Glancing over your shoulder for blind spot? Nah... no need... see previous statement. Knowing when you should brake? Nah... cars have auto-braking features now.
First of all, parallel parking for those that cannot afford a new vehicle, is a must still; same goes for the auto-braking, mirrors and blind spot. Next, manual trans... better learn before traveling overseas! And don't even get me started on the idiots that think that a Tesla will do all of their driving for them. A fully autonomous vehicle is not available for the public yet! I don't know if that will ever be available to the public, because how does a catastrophic failure get covered [insurance-wise]? Personal insurance will cover if someone is behind the wheel, but there isn't any policy existing yet regarding driverless vehicles and I'm not sure how they'd go about writing such a policy either. What happens when it's a component failure that causes the crash? You think that an automaker is prepared to take on that responsibility? Me neither. Especially having been a person that was in charge of documenting global recalls in the past and seeing the results from them.
Those are just a few of my thoughts for today. If you made it this far... thanks for reading!
NO POLITICS! NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT!
NO POLITICS! NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT!
Stress??? Not being able to talk with some of my friends 'cause they're always on the damn electronic wave. Really frustrating when we're playing golf. Tee off, guy runs to the cart to "continue" his conversation/reading shyte, has to be told where his ball is 'cause his mind ain't even on the game. So, we've banned cell phones during our playing times. Oh, they can have them, but they have to take a "time-out" to respond to a "real" issue.
Luv stick shift - have a manual six speed shift and thoroughly enjoy hitting the backroads and playing with all the gears. Wife is petrified of it but, when she actually HAS to drive the car - man, the look of joy on her face and her confidence level - couldn't ask for more.
You work/live with good people - very good thing.
Don't blame you there. In my house, when we're eating dinner, no tech allowed. When we're playing board games or cards... you know, spending time with each other, no tech allowed.
I had to order my 2012 Ford Fiesta because I wanted a manual trans and the sad reality is... my car was cheaper to order the exact way I wanted than buying an automatic off of the lot... I'm really glad I decided to order too, because Ford has been plagued with a massive issue with their CVTs in the Fiesta and Focus lines in the US. They never figured it out; they stopped producing those two vehicle lines. The last Fiesta and Focus vehicles that were produced in the US were the ST or RS versions, which were manuals.
I just feel like I have more control over my own vehicle with a manual. I used to love going around snowy / icy corners in my Ford Ranger (2WD) with a 3.0L V6 and 5 speed manual trans. I'd downshift, hit the gas, let the tail end loose, press the clutch in, straightened right back out, and go on my merry way.
Mudding in my 2004 Jeep Wrangler inline 4 cyl. with a 5 speed manual... and the advantages of changing into 4WD High on the fly... AWESOME! Can't do that shit in an automatic!
Ya don't really need the snow !! Lol
You don't...
This one is actually mine:
It's got an Olds 455, bored .30 over with a mild cam, an Edlebrock Performer intaks, and a 750cfm Edlebrock carb. 3" exhaust off of headers. All new interior, new paint, and new glass. Completely rebuilt from subframe / chassis up.
WOW FUN FUN FUN !!!
I'm jealous
That's an Olds??? Looks like a Firebird.
It is a Firebird. It has an Olds engine in it.
it pays my bills [working for an automotive electronics tier 1 supplier], it has made people dumber behind the wheel.
LOL
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Don't feel bad some people like to be dumb. Some know no other way.
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IMO: Technology like most advances is a two edged sword. Yep bad and good.
To see the advances in the medical field that technology has brought forward is totally amazing !!!
On the other hand:
The destruction technology brings forth could end the world.
Of the new technologies, hypersonic weapons are particularly problematic for the nuclear realm. These new weapons, which can deliver conventional or nuclear payloads, differ from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Their speed and manoeuvrability enable them to have unpredictable flight paths, which can evade traditional missile defence systems. A target thousands of miles away can be hit in a matter of minutes, severely shortening the time for the target country to decide its response.
Agreed.
I wasn't going to go quite that dark with the subject matter, but yes.
Maybe I am different on this, but I never really see a downside to technology. What I do see periodically is a downside to the way individuals use that technology. I cannot, off hand, think of any specific form of technical advancement, that can be considered bad, even though some of it can be used by bad people.
Ransomware would be a good example.
Computers have made lives infinitely easier, putting all information at your fingertips, and allowing people to stay home with their family while still working and bringing in a paycheck to support that same family. But because of that reliance on computers, it has allowed people to misuse the technology. Corporations are paying out millions of dollars each year (maybe billions), just to be able to use those necessary computer systems, because of a small amount of individuals that have figured a way to extort money from them.
But is that really the technology's fault? Without computer technology we would be stuck somewhere in the 60's era technology, being less productive and having to spend more time away from your family.
I definitely don't want to revert. You're right that it's the people using the technology abusing it in the several methods that I mentioned as well as what you and others have mentioned. That's why I called this article roller coaster of technology.
Technology will lead to a dystopian society. I don't believe human beings are meant to live through devices. Although at this point it cannot be changed.
Nah. If society is going in that direction, technology is not a requirement for getting there.
Human beings have communicated through devices since the time of the telegraph. If anything technology has allowed people to communicate easier and more frequently, it is much better than the old picking up a phone and dialing a number hoping someone answers.
But you are correct in that they should never live "solely" through devices. Personal interaction is necessary to connect with other human being and have empathy for others.
It is changing almost daily. 2 years ago you would never have guessed how video calls would have taken off like they have.
Do you remember the game "Pokémon Go"? It came out on cell phones several years ago, and the result was suddenly children and adults, outside, walking/running around trying to catch stupid little monsters on their phones. They formed clubs, went out in group excursions, they were outside playing with friends and being active.
And how fast it went away. I'd rather be playing Frisbee or catch with a football or baseball, playing cornhole, badminton, riding bikes, swimming, etc... however, I don't live in a state that has fair weather year-round. I am not good on skis, not that there's anyplace near my house for that, and ice skating is fun, but no one else I know likes to do it.
Anyways... I'm off point here now. Phone games are quick to go by the wayside. It doesn't have the staying power that other activities do.... at least that's my experience anyways.
One aspect of a dystopia is a society where the truth is abused. On that level we are almost there already. People want the "truth" to be whatever they say it is and that is not the way it is supposed to work. We also see the distortion and rather ubiquitous misuse of images. One can invent video "proof" for almost anything. That is also dystopic.
Broadband high speed internet access is barely 20 years old. The even higher internet speeds we see today are only a few years old. Social media as a constant intrusion is only about 10 years old and "smartphones" just a couple years older than that. (first I phone was released in June of 2007)
It just seems these things have always been around. All this madness doesnt even date back a full generation.
How do I feel about technology? Scotty, please, PLEASE, beam me back to the early 1950s.
I only want the cars and music. I don't like the way women or minorities were treated in the 50s.
Well, it's true my mother cooked all the meals, but she wasn't BAREFOOT in the kitchen. The one exception, when she was given a break from the kitchen was Sunday dinner, when we always went out for Chinese food. Maybe that's why I've always loved Chinese food and am happy where I am now - it was always considered special.
I had women in my family that really fought to break the "norms" of society and I'm grateful for their fight. While I had to fight to get where I am today, it was easier for me than it was for them.