Our reportedly distant ancestors were no doubt highly awe-struck when human-made “fire,” the “wheel,” etc., first came on the scene. As we are today (at least for a fleeting moment) in a rapidly changing world of self-driving cars; artificial intelligence (AI); smartphones that are turning all ages into screenagers; high-tech camera’s; texting “apps” (software applications) that aid spelling and grammar (or hinder such, depending on one’s perspective); TVs and other technology that respond to our voice instructions; and an array of mobile devices that can keep us "connected" 24/7 to everything that walks, flies, and breathes.
Ever-growing technological achievements that seem to be able to do anything we can do, but much faster, smarter, more efficient, and otherwise better.
However, at or before reaching the point when our human obsolescence seems truly and intimidatingly evident, possibly we would be well served to pause, take a deep breath, and get back in touch with some reality.
However, at or before reaching the point when our human obsolescence seems truly and intimidatingly evident, possibly we would be well served to pause, take a deep breath, and get back in touch with some reality.
By, for example, undertaking an Internet search for—let us say just as a starter—an “app” that can perform something as basic as the often taken for granted and seemingly unremarkable task of “tying one’s shoe strings.”
Followed by, and much more importantly, a search for technological innovations that can, for example, provide: a warm, welcoming, reassuring human handshake or other appropriate touch; an approving, affectionate, or otherwise uplifting human smile; a from-the-heart human spoken and human felt expression of gratitude, appreciation, love, affection, compassion, encouragement, sympathy, empathy, or true concern; or a long awaited, much needed, appropriate human hug.
Not by way of computer-generated bells, whistles, balloons, graffiti, smiley faces, or other make-believe graphics, etc. But, by way of, and thus far only attainable from, “human beings.” More specifically, those having the ability and willingness to personally share such universal human wants and needs with one another.
And while at it, we might give a shot at looking for an "app" or other technological wizardry that can demonstrate some basic spirituality, faith, courage, heroism, self-sacrifice, and realization that "we" are not the Supreme Being, etc.
The above suggested or similar-purposed searches in futility will likely reveal that we have not yet totally obsoleted ourselves. For, reassuringly, humankind’s uniqueness and good side not only remain irreplaceable and in strong demand, but likely represent our only plausible firewall against our world’s undeniable abundance of evil and destructive negativity.
The above suggested or similar-purposed searches in futility will likely reveal that we have not yet totally obsoleted ourselves. For, reassuringly, humankind’s uniqueness and good side not only remain irreplaceable and in strong demand, but likely represent our only plausible firewall against our world’s undeniable abundance of evil and destructive negativity.
Realities that hopefully never escape our constructive acknowledgment and appreciation, as we continue to endure the commercial glorification of the many real and imagined wonders of technological advances around us.
Technological advances which are, by the way, of "human" origin. Be they self-inflicted blessings, or curses.
—William James Moore