Technology is a two-edged sword. We applaud advances to make things easier and faster while failing to consider the human aspect. The psyche of so many is that they want things fast – they want it yesterday. Patience is no longer a consideration. IMV, automation means eliminating people. It is true that there are humans involved in creating automation; however they are specialized people and few in number. Simple jobs are taking a big hit. That includes the checkers at a food store where some stores have self-check-out. Automation means loss of jobs. We have machines doing farm work eliminating the back-breaking job of workers. What will these unskilled workers do to earn a living? Eyeball to eyeball communications is disappearing. How many make a personal visit with friends or do they just send a text message? How many send a message in handwritten form? Human relations are taking a big hit. Eyes focused on an electronic gadget while ignoring those around us.
The race to succeed is causing stress requiring medical treatment. Many fight age or the appearance of age with cosmetic procedures. Hiding ones true selves is a form of cover-up. Advances in technology provide the means to falsify who we really are. When we were young we couldn’t wait until we were older. As we age, we want to extend our life and often that means giving the appearance of being or feeling younger.
We are not robots. Robots may replace many of the functions of humans, but they cannot replace human feelings. Interaction is the key to who we are. In my travels I came to realize that people have the same basic desires. They want to live a happy life. They desire friends. They want to provide for their families. Some are content to live a simple life while others are programmed to strive for more. Wanting more may be natural for some while for others it is an unnatural struggle. “Keeping up with the Joneses” means having more material things and that, IMV, is attributed to the capitalistic society. The things that have true value cannot be acquired with the acquisition of “things”. A robot cannot give us love. Only living beings can do that.