Various Views of Technology's Future

Is anyone in control?

The pace of life, the things we "have to do" as distinct from the things we used to have to do are increasing not in the amount of time they take (our modern work is easier in office and home than for our ancestors) but in the complication and myriad of "keeping track" that is needed.

The only thing certain is change itself. The concept that our children will have six careers (if they have any at all!) is daunting.

I don't think there is a "technological solution" to any problem for problems are caused by people. Human nature has stayed disturbingly the same through all of human history.

It's hard to imagine what we can't imagine

I've always believed the best science fiction writers can tell us about the future , not what will happen but what might happen to humans if this changed or that changed. What makes it most interesting is not discussions of the science but influence the science has on the people and society. My latest discovery in science fiction writers is (courtesy of my daughter ) is Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.. virtual reality meets industrial espionage and skateboards, and Cryptonomicon... history, and future, IT and code breakers, privacy and paranoia.

Why don't Australian universities discuss scientific philosophy ...because it's not "real", macho, quantifiable or controllable.. and lately because it doesn't pay. I don't know if it's just an Australian phenomena but it's very clear universities have shifted from when I attended. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the pay off of economic return or career goals and much less discussion of why we are here. To be fair to the students, most have to work at least part time and jobs are much harder to obtain than in the 70's so the single-minded attention to the bottom line is understandable. However, in my opinion, a discussion of why? and what for? "pays off" in the long run. In my current role of teacher librarian, it is clear that you really have to keep purpose in mind or your days can be overrun by trivia. Smart neat shelves of books are not the aim. Those books in the hands, and eventually the minds of students and teachers at the right time.. to meet their needs, that's what it's all about.

Time warp?

There have been lots of change in the technological arena, but really so much of it is promise without performance. Change happens of course, and advances occur, but few are really influential on bettering people's lives. The rate of change is expanding so much, many of us feel out of control, especially us oldies.

I think the prediction about the end of the spiral in 2012 is rather funny. The end of the world has been forecast so many, many times. I think the only certainty is no-one will know the time or the hour, and the only reason someone will get it right is that they keep on guessing when the last date falls due. And even if they do guess right, no-one will be around to congratulate them..or if they are it will cease to matter

A coincidental universe?

Many writers talk about the infinitesimal chance the universe exists because of the small changes that would occur to make it void. Maybe that means God designed it that way. Maybe He just set it in motion and let the chips fall. If not this universe, then maybe a quite different one where human beings didn't occur at all, nor our whole universe. Really, that part of it doesn't matter. We are in this universe. For the moment, it's the only one we have. How about making the best of this one, and not destroying it?

Updated

March 7, 2006

Rosemary Horton

M.Sc; B.A. (Hons) Grad Dip Ed; Grad Dip Lib; Grad Dip Women's Studs

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