One of my favourite films during my childhood has to be the Matrix; the action and stunning visual effects definitely caught my attention. It wasn’t until I got older till I understood the movie references of the dangers of being too reliant on the Internet and machines. According to the the Matrix’s Wikipedia page, it became the fourth highest grossing movie of the year, which came as no surprise to me due to its thought-provoking story. The Matrix illustrates an apocalyptic universe where machines and artificial intelligence have taken over and using humans as “batteries”. This idea of machines able to have free thought might be far-fetched back in 1999. However, nowadays, some machines have been programmed to solve problems like how humans do.
The Matrix
https://subliminalspaces.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/thematrix.jpg
As explained by CNN’s article on the Flash Crash in 2010, a market crash was caused by a system flaw in an automated trading program used by a large investor. Automated trading programs are programmed to execute trade entries and exits based on market changes; they can make business decisions that used to be made solely by humans. We already have programmed machines to think for themselves and adapt which we have thought before to be only a human trait.
The Flash Crash in May 2010
http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/01/markets/SEC_CFTC_flash_crash/
Another rather scary invention is the famous Google Car. With this invention, human drivers may no longer be needed. Traffic accidents due to careless driving may be drastically decreased; yet the economic damage and potential danger are quite daunting. Human drivers will be considered obsolete, and what will happen when the navigation system breaks down or gets hacked?
Google Car
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-google-car-is-a-huge-threat-to-the-auto-industry-2015-1
Microsoft Hololens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aThCr0PsyuA
As time passes, technology advances and we get more and more reliant on these machines around us. Microsoft has recently released Hololens, which is a virtual reality machine for daily use. I can’t help but be reminded by how humans were so absorbed by the virtual reality in the Matrix that they gradually let the machines dominate their lives.
SOURCES
Folger, Jean. "The Pros And Cons Of Automated Trading Systems." Investopedia. Investopedia, 07 June 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/11/automated-trading-systems.asp>.
"Google Self-Driving Car Project - Videos - Google+." Google Self-Driving Car Project - Videos - Google+. Youtube, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <https://plus.google.com/+GoogleSelfDrivingCars/videos>.
Newman, Lily Hay. "With Google Glass’ Future Uncertain, Microsoft Debuts Holographic Glasses." Microsoft Debuts Holographic Lenses. Slate, 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/01/21/microsoft_announces_hololens_glasses_that_show_responsive_real_time_holograms.html>.
Rooney, Ben. "Trading Program Sparked May 'flash Crash'" CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/01/markets/SEC_CFTC_flash_crash/>.
"The Matrix." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix>.
I agree with your sentiment, that as technology develops, more people become reliant on it. For example, I did not receive my first cell phone until I was in high school, yet kids in elementary school these days have cell phones. Mass production of technology allows objects such as cell phones to be more affordable, increasing consumer purchases, and ensuring their presence in every household. Thus, consumers start buying more electronics and become heavily dependent on them even if they are not a necessity to survive, but are instead used as a form of entertainment or to aid in tasks that can be done by humans. Not only that, but also many people depend on technology for everyday tasks. For example, as college students, many of our course materials are found online, requiring us to use computers and the Internet. The main form of communication is through social media, requiring people to use the Internet if they want to communicate with others. Also, banking companies are persuading more people to switch to paperless accounts, and to rely more on their online accounts. Our lives and technology are deeply woven together, making it virtually impossible to give up technology entirely. However, I do not believe that this reliance on technology is necessarily a bad thing. True that the most popular form of communication is through the Internet, but this just allows for a faster form of communication, and a more efficient medium in which ideas can spread rapidly. Also, technologies that involve robotics are not all dangerous. The new field of nanotechnology allows for the development of nanorobots to fight diseases such as cancer. Technology is not necessarily a hindrance on humanity, but has the potential to help humanity progress.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that our society is too reliant on modern technology! When we don't know the answer to something, we have the convenience of just looking it up on the internet using our phones. If for some reason the internet or another huge form of technology shut down/stopped working, people would go crazy and wouldn't be able to completely function. However, I do think that there are a lot of ways that technology can be used in a good way, such as helping the disabled and elderly. But while robots and technology can benefit us, I strongly believe that that we should never get to the point where technology replaces humans (your Google car example) and where we fully give up control.
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