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Agree:

“The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised.”

I absolutely agree with this statement. There has never been something so widely used that has such infinite possibilities. Anyone can access anything from anywhere in the world which is kind of hard to really grasp because it is just such a large concept.

"New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other.”

This is incredibly true. Everything we do currently is vastly different to the way we did things even ten years ago thanks to technology. As a younger generation than our parents, college students tend to “over share” things on social media. I can only imagine what it will be like when I have children that are college age and they have their own forms of social media.

“It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty.”

This is very true. As I said in my initial response to the chapter, in 1950 they thought we would have flying cars and robots in homes so really we have no clear idea where we will be in the future.

"Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure"

Boundary lines are certainly blurred now because of the way technology is so integrated in our lives. I remember being in elementary school and being talked to about not posting any photos that were unprofessional and now people my age will post almost anything they want online.

Disagree:

“Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness”

This is an extremely far-fetched idea. There is no clear way that I could see this happening any time soon. This concept is often brought up in movies and television but it seems much more like a science fiction plot than anything else.

“The future of the printed book under threat from e-technology, in the form of digital downloads.”

I struggle a lot with this because as a former journalism major that’s all I ever heard about. But in reality digital is the way to go, I just can’t picture it happening in my lifetime. I feel like there are too many people that value the feeling of a book in their hands for it to become a reality anytime soon.

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Four Agreements

1. "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other” (Robinson, 19).

There is no doubt in my mind that this quote is true.  I think back to when I joined Facebook in 2008.  At first it was a fun way to waste some time and share what I was doing at the time.  It used to say, “Cindy Seley is …” and you had to finish the sentence.  Fast forward ten years, and it’s part of the fabric of modern American life.  Not only do people share what they’re doing at the moment, but there are all kinds of groups on Facebook, public, closed and secret, where people with similar interests or issues go online to share ideas and talk.  Most businesses have a Facebook page and regularly interact with their customers.  The fake news that was shared on Facebook during the 2016 election probably had the negative effect of Hillary Clinton losing.  Even my children will do something funny and either beg me not to post it on Facebook, or insist that I do.  People document new jobs, engagements, weddings, babies and even death on Facebook.  Of course, there are other apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, that are also popular, but Facebook is the most popular and pervasive.

2. "The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (Robinson, 26).

The Internet has made it possible for us to look up any information we want to know simply by typing a question or phrase into a search engine such as Google, and in a matter of seconds, the information is there.  My children can’t possibly appreciate what this means.  When I was a kid, there was no easy way to look things up like this.  It required going to the library and looking in an encyclopedia or some similar resource, which we usually never did.  We had a lot of unanswered questions.

The Internet is also amazing in the way that it has connected people from all over the world who have similar interests.  In the past, you may have felt like you were the only one in your small town interested in a certain topic, but thanks to the Internet, you can now connect with others who agree with you, no matter what the topic.  It has revolutionized society.

3.  “This may sound far-fetched, but if someone had told you fifteen years ago that you could sit on the beach with a small wireless telephone and search the Library of Congress, send instant email, download music and videos, book your holidays, arrange a mortgage and check your cholesterol, you would have thought they were being ridiculous.  Now we take it for granted.  If you could go back in time and hand your iPhone to your great-grandparents, they’d think you were Captain Kirk from Star Trek.  The impossible yesterday is routine today.  Wait until tomorrow.”  (Robinson, 34)

It’s hard to imagine what kind of technology my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will be using some day.  My parents remember getting their first television, and their parents remember listening to the president on the radio.  The iPhone itself is an incredible invention.  When the first iPod Touch came out, we were so excited because we hoped that someday there might be an iPhone.

4. “Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers” (Robinson, 41).

When my grandfathers worked, it was common for someone to start with a company a spend their whole life working there.  By the time my dad and uncle starting working, things had started to change a bit; my dad changed companies quite a few times, but my uncle has worked for the same company that he started with right out of college.  I have had many jobs in the last 25 years or so, though they were mostly in the same field – teaching.  With each generation, changing jobs has become more and more common, so it only stands to reason that it will continue to be more frequent, and that people will also change careers.

Two Disagreements

1.  “The future of the printed book under threat from e-technology, in the form of digital downloads.”  (Robinson, 21.)

While some people enjoy e-readers and tablets for reading books, there are still a great many people who prefer to hold a real book in their hand and turn the pages.  Digital books work fine for light pleasure reading, but if it’s something I need to study and remember, I usually prefer a paper copy.

2.  “Or it may be possible to have language implants.  Instead of learning five years learning French you can have it implanted in time for your summer holidays.  (Robinson, 33)

If we give him the benefit of the doubt and try to imagine this is possible, simply inserting a ‘language’ into someone’s brain isn’t likely to produce real language.  After reading The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker, I know that being able to speak a language isn’t just a matter of learning vocabulary and grammar.  I don’t believe for a minute that a program could produce real language that sounds anything like what a native speaker would say.  Applications like Google Translate are improving, but I don’t believe that a computer, implanted or otherwise, will ever become a native-like speaker of a language.

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4 Agreements:

"The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised" (Robinson, 27).

I completely agree with this and it made me think about just how big of a role the Internet plays in the daily lives of most people. Even students today use the Internet so often and many careers rely on it as a basis for everything they do.

"As this century progresses, these massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world's human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources, and especially water, on food supplies and its means of production, on energy and the quality of air and the atmosphere" (Robinson, 36).

I'm not as eco-friendly as I wish I was but even I recognize the effects that population growth has on our environment, and I agree that it will only continue to get worse as our population grows rapidly.

"The evolution of the Internet has been driven not only by innovations in technology but also by unleashing the imaginations and appetites of millions of users, which in turn are driving further innovations in technology" (Robinson, 41).

I agree with this because it does seem that the more familiar with technology people become, the more they want and expect. The more people use technology, the more people come up with new ideas to take it even further.

"Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure" (Robinson, 45.)

I agree with this statement and experience this myself. It can be hard to turn off work or even school when we have access to it right in the palm of our hands. Many people will respond to emails outside of their work hours and have a hard time separating their work and home lives.

2 Disagreements:

"In the near future, computers will be small and flexible enough to be worn on the body and be powered by the surface of electricity of your skin" (Robinson, 30).

This seems a bit exaggerated to me, especially the fact that he just generically says "in the near future." A lot of his claims were based on past timelines of technological events, but this one he kind of just threw out there without much evidence and it seems pretty farfetched.

"Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (Robinson, 31).

I also disagree with this and believe that even if this is possible, it is taking technology too far. When he began talking about how we will be able to download thins onto our brains, I began to both doubt it and become nervous about how advanced things may actually become in my lifetime.

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Agree

“New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play and relate to each other” (pg 19)

This is so evident even within the past ten years.  If I think back before everybody had a smart phone and how different it was to interact with people.  Texting and instant messaging were much different things, and now they have become one with imessage.  Which basically lets you send messages instantly, but it goes to their phone.  Before the only way to do this was by getting on a computer and having the other person be on at the same time as you.  Also, the idea of being able to get on your phone, call them, and see their face is unlike anything many could have dreamed up.

“The pace of expansion in computer technology over the past 70 years has been breathtaking.” (pg25)

I remember from looking at pictures of what the first computers looked like, compared to now, and how they first looked basically it was just a room.  And in this room, was all of this technology which literally could fit in our palms years and years ago.  Even from when I was growing up, to now the about that a basic computer has changed is fascinating.  They used to be these huge bulky things, and that was just the monitor.  With the monitor, you had to attach the actual computer.  While there are still desktop computers out there like this, the things they can do are amazing.  And the other computers just look like a thin screen, but can do everything you could ask of a computer.

“The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised. It grows daily, like a vast, multiplying organism; millions of connections are being added at an ever-faster rate in patterns that resemble dendritic groupings or ganglia in the brain” (pg26)

With each second that passes, there are things being added to the internet.  It can be all different types of files, videos, websites, the possibilities are endless.  This along with how fast internet speeds are getting, will only make the growth speed up.

“Whether or not these possibilities actually materialize, nanotechnology promises radical innovations in fields as disparate as engineering and medicine” (pg 29)

With how much nanotechnology is improving, it will no doubt be a large factor in our life, and help out a lot of people.  It has so many uses, and these are only the uses that we see for it right now, more could come in the future.  Or even better, it could evolve into something totally different.

Disagree

“Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness” (pg 30)

While I think that this might happen at some point, I don’t think that they are “about” to merge.  The technology isn’t there yet, and when it is, it will probably take a while to get into action.

“By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning” (pg 33)

Again, I think that this is something that will happen, but it is just too close for something like this to happen.  Because as of right now, the technology that is being put out to us are still things that we use on the outside of our bodies, and nothing that actually connects to us.

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4 Agreements:
1. "The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and education, are rooted in old ways of thinking." (Robinson, 2011, 19)

I agree a lot with this statement. I think that many of our issues regarding politics are because our political figures fail to change with the times. Our world continues to change and our outlook on how we see others has changed drastically in the last 100-200 years but sometimes, we fail to see it in our representatives. I think that this especially carries into education.

2. "The most profound changes haven’t happened in 500 years: most have them have happened in the past 200 years and especially in the last 50 and they’re getting faster." (Robinson, 2011, 22)

I agree with the fact that things are changing more and more rapidly as the years go by. I feel like I have lived through a lot of technological advances that now, advances every year, but used to take years to make. The first one that comes to my head is movies. From VHS tapes, to DVDs, to being able to stream it online, we have been making advances in the entertainment industry every year.

3. "But the indications are that the revolution may only just be getting underway." (Robinson, 2011, 27)

I agree with this statement because there is a little bit of uncertainty, but it makes sense. Sometimes during this reading, I tend to think, "What is she? Can she like see the future?" but this shows that she is not a genie making predictions. I also agree that the revolution is only just now getting underway.

4. "In the foreseeable future, the most powerful computers may have the processing power of the brain of a six-month-old human baby." (Robinson, 2011, 32)

I agree that this is possible for computers to do in the close future. He goes on to say that by 2020, computers will be able to do what a adult brain does. That, I find hard to believe. This an almost frightening fact. The thought of something nonhuman almost being as smart as us is scary.

2 Disagreement

1. ."By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning."
I do not disagree with this being authentic. I disagree with this being a good thing or at it's existence in the first place. This would be an awful advancement to our technology.  Who knows what the government  would do with technology like that.

2. "By 2020, it may be possible for $1000 to buy a personal computer with the same processing power as an adult human brain."
My problem with this quote is that 2020 is not that far away. I find it hard to believe that something cheaper than this laptop will be able to do the same things I can. I also do not think that this would be a positive advancement in technology

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4 Agreements:
1. “Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher. In 1934, the great Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget said, ‘only education is capable of saving our societies from possible collapse, whether violent or gradual.’”
1. I find this to be a true statement, I would argue more now than ever. While education has been a staple part of societies for as long as time can tell, it will forever be advancing forward as our technology and understandings of the world continue to change. I also believe that knowledge is power, and one of the most efficient ways to become informed about a variety of things is being immersed in education.

2."It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty."
2. I find this statement very valid and applicable to this chapter, as well as education and life in general. While we may be able to use from what we know of history and current projects to make predictions about the future, we simply cannot predict anything with certainty. It is simply not possible.

3.  "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare."
3. I find this statement so true that is is almost comical to me. I picture living in the same time frame as Shakespere, discussing the use of a small glass and metal tablet with access to the entire world; a tablet where you can see someone's face from thousands of miles away clear as day and speak with them as if they stood in front of you. It is like for us to picture something as allusive as a flying personal car that can get you to China in 3 hours-but who knows, maybe someday...

4.  “New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play, and relate to each other.”
4. I believe this statement could stand as a (sort of) one line summary of the chapter-and life in general. I remember having my first cellphone-a brick with some digits-only good for calling. That was only around 10 years ago, now I have a fancy Smartphone that allows me to carry my life in my pocket. I am reachable at almost any hour in many different forms of contact as well. The way we communicate has become a whole new scene since the implementation of texting and cellphones. The use of technology has changed dating, friendships, knowledge, you name it.

2 disagreements:
Disagree:
1."By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning."
1.While I can give some credit and authenticity to his words here, and I understand what he is alluding to-that technology will eventually consumer our whole lives to the point that it literally lives in us; with that being said, I have a hard time believing in a few short years we will have these forms of technology. It may be moving rapidly, but in my opinion not that rapidly.

2. “The future of the printed book under threat from e-technology, in the form of digital downloads.”
2. I disagree with Robinson on this point, while I see why he could have been once afraid of that, I believe that still a large chunk of society is nostalgic among other things and will continue to read and use print for the foreseeable future. Ebooks have popularity yes, but I have seen in my own experience that many of us still find print books a very clear, reliable tool in education as well as pleasure.

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4 Agreements:

1. "New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play and relate to each other." (Robinson, 2011, p.19)

I agree with this statement because you can see it happening today. With our access to phones, communication between people has never been easier, but at the same time, it takes away from any face-to-face interaction we have with others. It has made our businesses more efficient while also changing the occupations we pursue everyday.

2. "The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (Robinson, 2011, p. 26)

Since the internet was created, it has grown and become more and more complex. The internet has inspired the technological world and unlocked the potential for many of our current devices to be made. It continues to change and adapt to fill different needs. It is nearly impossible for anyone to say they have not been affected by the creation of the internet.

3. "The power of computers will continue to grow exponentially, but in different forms." (Robinson, 2011, p.27)

We have seen this in the past. Computers continue to become smaller, more personalized, and powerful. Most of us carry around a handheld computer. The access to computers and the internet continues to become more and more available to us. It is not surprising that the article mentions computers soon becoming a part of us.

4. " Throughout the world, business and education are faced with a new generation gap." (Robinson, 2011, p. 43)

As technology continues to grow and change, generations are growing up with these new technologies while other generations are adapting to them. This makes students and employees hard to relate to because it is guaranteed that they did not grow up with the same technological influences, distractions, and capabilities as the employers and teachers did. It is hard to relate to something you have not experienced yourself.

2 Disagreements:

1. "  By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning." (Robinson, 2011, p. 33)

I find it hard to believe that we will have neural implants by 2020. I also believe that this is not a step forward. If we want to promote creativity, we should be celebrating what makes us human, not making humans more like machines.

2. " Ostman conjectures that there may come a time “when machines exhibit the full range of human intellect, emotions and skills, ranging from musical and other creative attitudes to physical movement.” " (Robinson, 2011, p.33)

I do not believe machines will ever be able to feel emotion or be able to express it in forms of music or art. This is type of expression is what makes humans unique. As far as I know, computers have only been able to do as they are told.

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Agreement:
“Many of the challenges that we face are being generated by the powerful interaction of these forces. The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and education, are rooted in old ways of thinking”

I think this captures our times so well. The world changes at such an alarming rate that things that have been rooted here or created long in the past have difficulty adapting with it including human beings. I think this is where the discussion of whether people can really change is rooted in. The fact of the matter is that some people are more adaptable to the changing world while others are more stubborn and can’t wield new perspectives.

“The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised”

I think the use of “pervasive” is really interesting here because the author is picking a side in a long debated topic of what life would be like if the internet had never been invented. For one thing, I wouldn’t be able to read this book allowing access to all new learning materials. But, also, people in America would know nothing of the life of people in somewhere like Asia or Estonia because they wouldn’t have access to the information at the tips of their fingertips. However, the internet has changed social culture with social media and texting and has changed the way we interact with the world around us. We have become glued to our phones and computers instead of learning from the world around us. You could go back and forth on pros and cons of the Internet but I could agree with the author on the use of that word.

“By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning”

Despite my beliefs on artificial intelligence and the pervasiveness of technology, I think it is amazing that we are developing ways to help people with disabilities cope with or eliminate their disabilities.

“As the century progresses, these massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world’s human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources, and especially water…”

I think that humans need to be very careful of the rate at which we grow either in population or our technology. The world was created and has thrived for so long on its own resources and ability to die and be reborn. However, if we continue to manipulate it in a way that is unnatural, we could set us on an exponential course of destruction.

Disagreement:
“Nanotechnology is also leading to the extreme miniaturization of computer systems and will further revolutionize how we use them.”

I am not stating that I am an expert on technology but I have been extremely bothered by how small computers have become. My laptop is 17in. and has a disk drive and I love the size of it. It is small enough that I can take it with me to class and not have a back ache but big enough that I can actually work and multitask on my computer. I think that there reaches a point that something, especially something with a touch screen, can get too small.

“Computers will be capable of learning…By 2030, personal computers, whatever form they take by then, could have the processing power of not one but of a thousand human brains”

This scares me a lot because this is entering the concept of artificial intelligence. If you ever watched a science fiction movie, artificial intelligence always tries to take over the human race. I know that’s exaggerated for drama but still it is very dangerous to have machines that are smarter than us. We will become more and more dumb because we have no reason to learn or invent because the artificial intelligence will do it for us. Eventually, the human race will cease to have a need to exist.

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4 Agreements:
1. "New technologies are transforming the way we think, play, and relate to each other" (Robinson, 19).

I agree with this considering I have lived through it. Growing up I was very active when it came to playing outside and being very social with neighborhood friends. Now a lot less of my free time is spent playing/being outside in the sun. And, I still am social and spend time with my friends but I can barely think of any times when we hangout and there are not texting and showing each other tweets/videos involved. I don't think these changes are entirely bad, I think it's just very important to recognize the control it may have you and take the time for physical interaction in person and physical activity outside.

2. "The rate of technology innovation in the past 50 years has been breathtaking. But the indications are that the revolution may only just be getting underway" (Robinson, 27).

This quote by Robinson is probably one of the most relatable quotes thus far in the book. When he made to 3000 year comparison in 60 minutes it truly showed how technology has advanced only in the last fifty years. There have been so many advances in such a short amount of time, but they are so advanced I can't possible think what else we could possibly come up with.

3. "Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers" (Robinson, 41)

This is something I think has already come into play. There are so many options and opportunities in today's modern society that weren't around fifty years ago. I personally am having so much difficulty trying to choose one thing I want to do for the rest of my life. Technology gives opportunities to achieve your dream job with online schools and allowing people to have connections even with thousands of miles in between.

4. "Education is the key to the future and the stakes couldn't possibly be higher" (Robinson, 47).
This statement could not be more true. Education is so vital to success in the future and I think the first step is  making that connection with technology and education. When we begin to enhance the use of technology in our school systems I think we will begin to make huge strides and advancements within society.

Disagreements:
1. "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including power of memory and reasoning." (Robinson, 33).

I don't believe this presumption to be true. It is already 2020 and by putting in neural implants that takes away diversity within human beings. Taking another step to make all humans more similar. I also believe it would take away competition with the education system. If you could control your memory and reasoning skills then every student will achieve similar results.

2. "Computers may be about to merge with our own mind and consciousness" (Robinson, 37).

This is another statement I just can't imagine happening. Again, this takes away diversity from human to human. Allowing all humans to think alike and be controlled by, for lack of a better word, a robot. I don't think that merging our minds with computers would be that beneficial.

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4 Agreements:
1. "The rate of technological innovation in the past 50 years has been breathtaking. But the indications are that the revolution may only just be getting underway" (Robinson, 2011, 27).

It absolutely astounds me to think about how far technology has come in my lifetime alone, let alone the 30 years before that. When I was a child, my parents had a landline telephone and that was all in our home. We got caller ID for the landline and thought ourselves quite sophisticated. My first cell phone was a flip phone--my family did not have a plan that included texting, so I would call my friends to respond to their texts. Now I have a smart phone and am able to call, text, Facebook, Snapchat, watch videos, listen to music, check my email, play games, and more. Considering the changes in just the last 20 years, it makes perfect sense that innovation will continue at the same, if not an even faster pace for the next 20.

2. "The very boundaries of philosophical questions concerning where life ends and something else, yet to be defined, begins are at best soon to become a very fuzzy grey zone of definitions...." (Ray Kurzweil, quoted in Robinson, 2011, 34).

This quote from author Ray Kurzweil really caught my attention. As medical technology in particular advances, it becomes harder and harder to distinguish the body from the tubes, plates, and implants keeping it alive. I myself have implants in my feet, received stitches as a child, have had my collarbone reset, and had my wisdom teeth extracted. I am extremely grateful for all of these procedures, but it does cross my mind every so often how much is too much. Will we soon begin to measure percentages of the man in the machine?

3. "Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both the prevention and treatment of diseases" (Robinson, 2011, 36-37).

I was really glad Robinson included this section in his chapter. I completely agree that one of the biggest challenges facing the modern world is its huge population growth, and I thought Robinson did an excellent job of listing some of the main problems we will have to confront. We now need to produce more food than ever (since there are more people than ever before), generate more energy than ever before (since there is a greater demand than ever before), and protect against the spread of disease more than ever (since much of the world is now connected at the global level, increasing the risk of epidemics). And, of course, we need to do all of this without further damaging the environment.

4."It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty" (Robinson, 2011, 37).

While I think there is a lot of value in understanding history and how we have come this far, I agree with Robinson that it is especially hard now to try to project where we will go in the near future. I think many of the sorts of things we think of as futuristic (flying cars, computer implants, etc.) may in fact be possible one day, but it is far more difficult to say how soon that day will be. And, as the recent trend in dystopian fiction reminds us, it is entirely possible that we may never get there at all.

2 Disagreements:
1. "Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers" (Robinson, 2011, 41).

I disagree with both parts of this assertion. While it may be true that a greater portion of the population will begin to career-hop, I think many people will continue to commit to a profession for their entire lives. And, some professions are far more suited to frequent job changes than others. My coder brother and graphic designer sister-in-law have probably changed jobs 3-4 times each in the last 5 years, whereas I will be far more likely to stay in a single teaching job in that same amount of time. The perception is different--they are expected to stay ahead of the latest trends and broaden their skill sets, whereas I would risk being questioned about why I couldn't hold a job.

2. "Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure....the compulsion to answer the cellphone implies that the incoming call is more important than the face-to-face conversation you were having" (Robinson, 2011, 44-45).

I disagree with this section of the chapter, which argues that technology is becoming an addiction. While I have seen some negative effects on friends and family, I do not think technology necessarily deserves to be painted in such a negative light. For one thing, Robinson uses a flawed argument: much of the time, the phone call from your coworker IS more important than the casual weather-related chit-chat you were obliged to have at the water fountain. And secondly, there are many ways to prevent your work and home lives from becoming "blurred"--some people set up an auto-response email on evenings and weekends, some turn off notifications on their home devices, etc. Just because technology is changing our lives does not mean it is for the bad.

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Agreements

1.     "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other” (Robinson, 19).

I agree with this statement. Technology is changing the way we do everything now. Its changing the way we interact with one another to how we purchase products we want. Work environments are much more tech savvy now with all the tech gadgets that put business men and women ahead of those who don’t have the up to date technology. Communication is the biggest change, what was once a strong nation of face-to-face contact has reverted back to communication through social media and through texts and phone calls.

2.     “The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (Robinson, 26).

The internet has had many effects on people and is very pervasive communication system. The information that can be obtained from it is almost never ending as it can provide just about any piece of information you ask of it. The ways in which we can communicate now is amazing. We used to only have face-to-face communication and writing hand letters, but now we have text, phone calls, email, face time, and IM. The possibilities are endless and communication now has never been easier.

3.     “They both take a long time to get going but advances build on one another and progress erupts at an increasingly furious pace.” (Robinson, 27).

Technological advances build on each other and take off like a wild fire. When Robinson talks about the time frame of the technological advance, it comes down to a few minutes on the clock in his example that everything really happened. Once we invented the first main frame it was off to the races. Now just 40 years later we have personal computers and phones that are more powerful than any device in the world.

4.     "Responding to these rapid changes in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both the prevention and treatment of diseases” (Robinson, 37).

With new technological advances, new ways of using and caring for our energy sources will need to be addressed. Today there is a ever growing population with people thirsty for using the resources we have so maintaining them and monitoring how much we have to offer is going to be pivotal.

Disagreements

1.     “The effects of transformative technologies are hard to predict for the very reason that they are transformative” (Robinson, 37).

I disagree. The transformations in technology are more of a step-by-step process and we can see what is going to be the next big thing before it happens most of the time. There are projects that we are working on that once developed enough will take off and be the next big thing and are easier to predict than expected.

2.     “Computers may be about to merge with our own mind and consciousness.” (Robinson, 37).

I do not think computers will ever have a consciousness about them. We have all seen the movie about robot having human like characteristics and the bad things that come about it. Its hard for me to believe that they could think like humans think completely but do think there will be something of an extent of it happen.

# data[].attributes.body
4 Agreements:
1) "The rate of technological innovation in the past 50 years has been breathtaking. But the indications are that the revolution may only just be getting underway."
Most of us in this class have grown up, and continue to grow up, in a tech-era but I personally am beginning to feel out of touch with the latest technology. As a kid I felt like I could tackle any new technology put in front of me but now new technology is almost too advanced for my comprehension. I feel like this is because of the insane rate at which technology is advancing and the average rate at which I am advancing.
2) "Technological change is one driver of change. But there's another: the sheer numbers of people on the planet and the shifting patterns of population."
I occasionally think of how many people are on this planet and it amazes me. And the fact that most are crammed into several cities throughout the world is even more incredible. I totally agree that the size of our population is a major force in the changes that the world is going through and hope that technology can keep up to the issues that overpopulation presents.
3) "Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers."
This idea is really cool and mysterious to me. The ways and structures of the past seem to be fading and how people will react to it will be very important. There has to be individuals who are able to adapt, create, and think critically in the world of the future.
4) "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher."
Most people agree, at least to some degree, that the education of the youth is pivotal in our world's future. It is the foundation of our society which without we have very little to build upon. That is why it is so important that we, as future educators, take our training and profession seriously. As change continues to move faster and faster our education system must keep up with it.
2 Disagreements:
1) "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning....Instead of spending five years learning French you can have it implanted in time for you summer holidays."
I do not necessarily disagree with this statement but I really take issue with the idea of manipulating our cognitive abilities in such a manner. Doesn't the process of learning a language or having a unique ability which others tend to lack make me special as a human being? What makes me incredible if everyone else can do what I do mentally just by purchasing some sort of software or implant. I think this idea takes away from what it means to be human.
2) "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness."
Once again, I do not necessarily disagree with this statement, I just cannot fathom it. At this moment it seems that computers are certainly separate from merging with our minds. One of the closest things I can think of are those glasses with cameras on them which would likely connect to your phone in some way. Now I am sure that there is some advanced technology in this world that connects much closer than that but trying to imagine this technology as a public good is very difficult for me.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreement:

“An evolutionary process accelerates because it builds on its own means for further evolution.”

This is a logical argument as the next technological improvement increases the opportunity and success of the technologicial achievement that will surpass it. As proof of this logical argument, the entire chapter refers to the hastening of technological advance that occurs because the current technology of the day provides the opportunity to improve it further.

“Technological change is one driver of change. But there’s another: the sheer numbers of people on the planet and the shifting patterns of population. Here again we are faced with an exponential curve of change.”

To my point above, the current technology (or in this case, population) of the day increases the opportunity for it to increase further. With the issue of population, technology must increase appropriately in order to address the needs of the growing population. In this manner, the population is driving the need for technological advancement.

“Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both the prevention and treatment of diseases. Here, as everywhere, innovation is critical.”

At no point in human history is this statement more critical. The planet is experiencing climate change at a prolific rate, the population in many developing countries is rising beyond a presently sustainable point, and the last 10 years has seen the rise of deadly diseases (H1N1, Ebola) that are threatening entire areas of the planet. It is clear that mankind has not figured out how to get ahead of these issues given the population demands of the present day.

“Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher. In 1934, the great Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget said, ‘only education is capable of saving our societies from possible collapse, whether violent or gradual.’”

I find it interesting that this point had to be made in a defensible way in the book. It simply seems to be common sense. In order to have the capability of dealing with a societal collapse or potential extinction event, we have a desperate need and responsibility to train the youngest generation (and every generation to follow) in such a manner so as to prepare the world to deal with these events. Robinson argues that this revamp of education must be imbued with the highest level of creativity and innovation and that is also a true argument given the exponential path on which humanity finds itself.

Disagreement:

“Once nanotechnology makes it possible to synthesize any physical object cheaply and easily, our current economic systems will become obsolete. It would be difficult to envision a more encompassing realm of future development than nanotechnology.”

I find it difficult to believe that this statement can be made with any conviction of true forethought behind it. Similar arguments were made about 3D printing nearly 10 years ago and its influence in the economic system has been nominal. That is not to say I won’t eat my words 10 more years from now when 3D printing is affordable for the average middle-class family. But 3D printing technology has yet to suggest that nanotechnology would shake the economic system in anything but a similar way.

“The fault line in the Times ’ assessment of television was to judge it in terms of contemporary cultural values where there seemed to be no place for it.”

The real fault by the Times was not by judging it on the basis of its nonexistent place in contemporary culture, but instead by not asking history to explain what happens when a more powerful entity (in this case, technology) confronts the prevailing entity of the day. In every mention throughout this chapter by Robinson, we see the current technology fall by the wayside at the expense of implementing the newest technology. The Times simply looked in the wrong historical direction when making their judgment.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1. "The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and education, are rooted in old ways of thinking" (pg. 19).
-This statement is so true to the way things are done. From the beginning of teaching we have kept the same fundamentals that the majority thinks is right. We haven't changed learning or teaching methods and we haven't changed the subjects that everyone thinks is important.
2. "To face challenges we have to understand their nature..." (pg. 19).
-I completely agree with this. There's just no way you can tackle a problem you have if you don't understand where it stems from. Without analyzing the issue, you won't  be able to face it 100%.
3. "The differences are not only in the nature of change but also in the place of it" (pg 22).
-you have to pay attention to the changes and what they are be upgraded or replaced by. Its important to think about changes this way so you can maximize your way of thinking and be able to adjust quickly when rapid changes are always taking place.
4."The internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised" (pg.27).
-This is so true. Think about how fast you are able to chat with someone on the other side of the world, how easily you can look up direction to somewhere you have to be or for a recipe you're making. The internet serves multiple purposes and it's so cool to think about.

Disagree:
1."By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning" (pg.33)
-I personally don't see this happening, the world is changing a very fast rate but I don't think its that fast to have this type of groundbreaking change,
2."In the foreseeable future, most powerful computers may have the processing power of the brain of a 6-month baby" (pg, 32)
-I have a hard time seeing this happening too. The foreseeable future means it would be sometime soon. Computers are capable of a lot but being that advanced is something we all are going to have to wait a little longer for.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1. I agree that teachers will need to be on top of their game when it comes to learning about the new technology the students will be using. It will be hard for teachers to try to utilize all of the continuously changing technology.

2. The author also talks about how the next generations of students will need to be prepared for a number of different jobs, not just one career that they will have their whole lives. In this changing environment, may people are changing around their professions and trying new things throughout their years in the workforce rather than just choosing one job when they are young and sticking with that until they retire.

3. Another thing that I agree with that the author discusses is the fact that while students are needing to be prepared for more jobs throughout their lifetimes, teachers will need to know all of the new things that the work force will be looking for in their students. Teachers will need to worked to be informed on the new technology their students will need to be confident in using.

4. I also agree with the authors stance on how powerful technology is. The author takes tie to discuss the advances that have happened so rapidly over time in technology and also the advances that are predicted to happen in the future. There are so many life-changing things that are so new relative to humans and it is so interesting when you see all the predictions about where technology will eventually be able to help us in the future.

Disagreements:

1. I don't completely agree with the author alluding to the fact that technological advancements have become a negative thing in our lives. I think there have definitely been things that haven't been perfect but overall I think that many of the advancements have been a positive addition to society.

2. Another thing I didn't agree with was when he was talking about how technology and it's advancements made it so he didn't even remember a trip he went on because life is too fast moving now. While I'm sure that those things are a reality for some people, I think that could have occurred in many generations and isn't necessarily caused by technological advancements.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1. "As a result, many people and organizations are having a hard time coping with these changes and feel left behind or alienated by them"(Robinson, 19).
I agree with this statement because I personally work in a law firm that has been around for awhile and I know that some of the older lawyers find it difficult with some of the technology changes we've made such as a new printer. You can tell that they aren't always the happiest with new technology.
2. "The differences are not only in the nature of change but also in the place of it"(Robinson, 22).
I agree with this because I can relate even to back when I was little and how much cellphones have changed and it amazes me that even in the last 15 years there have been so many technological advances that have been thrown at us. Everyday there is a new model coming out for something and you feel left out when you don't have the latest up to date things.
3. "Many children's toys have more computing power than 1960s mainframes" (Robinson 25).
I agree with this statement because from what I have seen from babysitting and nannying are that toys keep getting more and more advanced. A lot of children have their own ipad that they can do anything with with the touch of their fingertips.
4."The internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised"(Robinson, 26).
I agree with this statement because of how easy it is now a days to communicate with anyone. I have family that lives in Italy and I would have no way in staying in touch with them if it weren't for facebook and facebook messenger. It's crazy how much access to the world we have with our computers and phones.
Disagreements:
1. "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness"(Robinson, 30)
I don't agree with this statement because I don't think that this is something that will happen anytime soon. Well, I hope this isn't something that will actually happen anytime soon. I have no doubt that if we wanted to we have the resources and advancements to do so, but I don't think its something that will be put into place anytime soon.
2. "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning"(Robinson, 33).
I don't agree with this statement because that is only two years away from now and I haven't heard anything about that being made or even spoken of. I understand that hes making a point, but i don't think it's something that's realistic.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1) " Their world is inconceivably different and an epoch away from those of my grandparents and great grandparents" (pg. 22)
-This statement is so true. I work at the front desk at Aspen. When it is slow I have my laptop out and do homework. I have so many older individuals just think it's crazy that we have online books nowadays instead of textbooks. My grandparents also ask me for help all the time with their electronic devices and other apps because it is still all new to them.

2) "The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and education, are rooted in old ways of thinking" (pg. 19).
-My grandparents believe in the old system of doing things like working and retiring when you're 65. If you hate your job you stay at it because you made a committment. Nowadays, technology has taken over jobs and everybody needs to get on that level.

3) "These challenges are global: they affect everyone. They are also personal: they affect all of us as individuals" (pg. 20).
-No matter how much somebody doesn't like something in life, they will probably have to face it eventually. You cannot ignore your problems and act like they are going to go away. It's time to stand up and take action.

4) "The pace of change is quickening everyday" (pg. 19).
-I have experienced this quote first hand. The older I get, the faster the days go by. As the days go by, everything is changing. Evolution is happening at our very eyes.

Disagreements:

1) "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (pg. 30).
-While computers are very advanced, the human brain is more advanced. Us humans created electricity, airplanes, technology, etc. We are very powerful human beings and I believe we will overpower the internet.

2) "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning" (pg. 33).
-It is already the year 2018. That would mean in 2 years this would have to take place. I don't believe neural impants will take place by 2020 YET to help with memory and reasoning.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1) “New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play and relate to each other” (Robinson, 19)

This is definitely true! Technology seems to be favored over face-to-face communication which is sad in my opinion. I do think it is great that we can use technology to help us become more efficient with tasks as well as bringing something new into the classroom, a way to innovate learning and engage students on a completely different level than decades before. I do think it’s sad when I look around and see a bunch of people on their phones not even engaging in conversation or when I am at a restaurant and see a couple both on their phones. Technology does seem to transform all this things but that doesn’t mean we have to let it control our lives.

2) “The most profound changes haven’t happened in 500 years: most of them have happened in the past 200 years and especially in the last 50 and they’re getting faster” (Robinson,  22).

I agree that change is happening faster and faster. We as humans are always producing and also we are run by greed. In other words, we create things even when other things are not completely obsolete. For example, there has been so much advancement in cell phone technology. It seems like 15 years ago we had flip phones and then soon after smart phones, then newer apps, better cameras. It’s all happening so fast! Also, it is really hard to realize this when you are a child. It just kind of happens to you, but when you become older you realize just how fast technology is changing. Now I know how my parents feel!

3) “The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (Robinson, 26).

I agree with this since the internet is used all the time and in almost every facet of one’s life. Pretty much throughout my schooling the internet was being used either in the classroom or outside for homework assignments. We can use the internet to communicate to people on the other side of the world, thus making it powerful. Before the internet this was not able to happen. Of course, with It comes some negative things like now it is so much easier to steal identities and commit fraud because of the internet. Like they say with power comes great responsibility.

4) "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher" (Robinson, 47).

I agree with this statement because education can give us so many opportunities to enrich our lives. Yes one can obtain a good job without much education but it is becoming harder and harder to do this. 50 years ago this would not be much of a problem but nowadays without much education you won’t get very far with your career. Being an educated person brings more than just a degree but also knowledge and experience that no one or nothing can take away. In terms of technology being educated about new technological advances is key to helping students become successful. They can use technology to be creative, innovative and imaginative, these are some of the benefits of education.

Disagreements:
1) "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (Robinson, 30).

I disagree with this statement because the author makes it sound like computers will become part of us so soon, and I don’t think this is the case. Maybe in the distant future this will happen but the way I read this quote is that this will happen during our lifetimes. I also think this quote places computers at the same level of humans as far as capabilities go and I don’t agree because I think no matter how advanced computers will go, what sets humans apart from them, among other things, is their ability to consciously think and possess a mind.

2) "It may be possible to have language implants. Instead of spending five years learning French you can have it implanted in time for your summer holidays." (p. 33).

Robinson insinuates that by 2020 this will happen and I think this is simply not the case. I have heard that falling asleep listening to headphones in a language you’re trying to learn is a good way to absorb the language and maybe this is true but having actual implants in us in 2 years is a little bit far-fetched. Plus there is something to be said for the satisfaction one feels for learning a language by speaking with others and working hard in classes. Of course I am biased since I am a language teacher.

# data[].attributes.body
Mandi Roemmich
Mandi Roemmich
Agreements
1.   "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other” (p. 19). 
I completely agree with this statement by Robinson. I think that it is easiest to see the truth to this statement when looking at differences between generations. Children today interact and play in different ways than my friends and I did when I was a child; a lot of kids interact through internet games and staying connected technologically. I am sure that my parents feel the same way when they compare my generation to theirs. 
 
2.   "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher" (p. 47).
I agree with this because I think that education opens so many doors of opportunity, as is evident by looking at the difference that education makes around the world. Innovation is the future, and education needs to find ways to strongly encourage innovation so that our world may continue to develop at the strikingly fast rate it does today. 
 
3.   "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare" (p. 27).
I have no doubts that this is true. It has not been that long since everyone was using flip phones. Technology develops at such a fast rate that I have no idea what new inventions with there will be in fifty years, but I am certain that my grandkids will be playing with toys I never could have imagined. 
 
4.   "Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both prevention and treatment of diseases" (p. 37).
I think that this statement is rather alarming, but I agree with it. With the massive population shifts that continue to occur, I do not doubt that the earth could run out of resources and sustainability if new ways of developing them are not established. The earth only has so many resources, and I hope to continue to see innovative ways to preserve it. 
 
Disagreements
1.   “Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (p. 30).
I do not agree with this statement. While I am continually impressed with the abilities that computers and technology possess, I do not think that they are on the same level as humans. For one, humans created computers, and for two, humans contain emotions and senses that I do not see computers being able to possess. 
 
2.   “Neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning” (p. 33).
I do not agree with this statement that Robinson made because I find it to be unethical. While there is probably a possibility of this occurring, I do not think that it should. I think that technological changes, such as these, to are minds are not only unethical, but dangerous. In order for something of this magnitude to occur, there must be testing, and I think that this testing could leave people very damaged, if not brain dead. 
 
 
 
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Stacie Kjellsen
Stacie Kjellsen
Agreements:
1. The impossible yesterday is routine today,” (Robinson, pg 34). I agree with this very much. I still remember the first time I saw a commercial for an iPhone and thought, “wow, those are only for really rich people. I will never even come close to owning one of them in my lifetime.” Now I have owned 3 different ones. Even 20 years ago, we never imagined all of the technological changes we would see already, and innovation is constantly happening still. 
2. "Innovation is critical," (Robinson, pg. 37). It is critical, because if we do not come up with alternative ways to run our vehicles and power some of our companies, we are going to run our resources dry. Since our population is growing at such a rapid pace, we are using up more resources than ever, and we are coming up with more uses for them. 
3. "If you have an iPhone, it probably has more computing power than was available on Earth in 1940." It seems impossible to think that this could be true just less than 80 years ago. When you look at the timeline for how much transportation, computing, and medical technology has accelerated, it makes sense that computing power has actually come that far in that short amount of time. 
4. "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher," (Robinson, pg. 47). I agree with this statement for several reasons, but in the context of this article, this is true because we need our children to keep up with the technology and to keep advancing it so that we are not outrun by the technology and our population. 

Disagreements:
1. I somewhat disagree with Robinson when he talks about how he actually forgot he travelled somewhere for a week because it is so normal for him to travel all the time, and he said, "I think it is also a sign of the times, (pg. 21). While that may be true for some people in the middle  to upper-class, travel is still a luxury for many of us and would not be something that is easily forgotten. He is correct in saying that it is much more likely for people to forget because it is very possible for people to travel that much, but that is not a reality for much of our population. 
2. "By 2030, personal computers could have the processing power of not one but of a thousand human brains," (Robinson, pg. 32). I understand that he is making the point that technology is advancing so quickly that we are teaching our computers how to think for us, but I think he is a little ahead of the game. We are advancing very quickly, however, I am looking at this article 7 years later and I realize that we are not quite as far along as he was thinking we would be. Although, I do believe he is on the right track in saying that our computers are learning and will continue to do so. They are already able to track what we look at and where we go, and they are able to make suggestions in ads that we are likely to be interested in. 


Jill Fisher
Jill Fisher
Agree:
1. "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other." (19)
It is impossible to deny that our way of life has changed, as well as the way we function in our environments. There is very little that we do today in the same manner as 200, 500, or 1,000 years ago. It all boils down to technology and the cultural revolutions they  caused. 
2 - The rate at which change occurs in our world has increased exponentially. (Chapter theme) The author gives several examples over the last 700 or so years. I can think of several other examples outside those that he named. Climate change is another world aspect that has changed at an exponential rate and correlates with technology change. 
3 - "It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs to any certainty." (34)
I think the author does a good job giving examples of unintended consequences, both positive and negative to different technologies. With any new invention or advancement, it is impossible to know how others will use/manipulate/change it for better or worse. 
4 - "Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure." (44) 
I work full time and find it takes conscious effort to leave work at work - not check my email, not update work schedules online, etc. In the past, telephone or messenger would have been the only way to contact an employee outside of work hours. Now there is instant messaging, Facebook, email, Skype, or any other number of ways to try and get in touch. 
Disagree - 
1. "The main growth of the population [of the USA] is through patterns of migration from Central and South America." (p. 36)
This is untrue over the last 15 years. DHS has shown migration from Latino countries has decreased significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. In fact, from 2009-2014 over 100,000 more Mexicans LEFT the USA than came in. 
2. "The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will soon exceed the intelligence of its creators.” (p.33) 
This is similar to the thinking that computers will take over the world and humans will be slaves to the systems they created. I don't think you can teach a computer to be creative and innovative. I don't think it will ever have the ability to create something from nothing like a person. 
Brianna Fujan
Brianna Fujan
Agree 
“To face these challenges we have to understand their nature; to meet them, we have to recognize that cultivating our natural powers of imagination, creativity, and innovation is not an option but an urgent necessity” (p 19). 

# data[].attributes.body
Agree:

1.  “New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play, and relate to each other” (p 19).

I agree with this statement of Robinson’s. Technology has drastically changed the way we live, even in the past 50 years. We live in a society where virtual communication seems to be more valued that interpersonal communication. We are constantly attached to our computers and phones. I honestly think that the way we live has become reliant on technology and that if technology ever failed, we would not know what to do with ourselves.

2. “Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers” (p. 41).

I agree that technology such as LinkedIn is making it so people are able to change careers more fluidly. Technology is designed to make our lives easier and do more things. With technology we are able to work from home or on vacation. The very nature of technology has changed the nature of work. We have more and more jobs that require specialist knowledge because of technology.

3. “In the near future, computers will be small and flexible enough to be worn on the body and be powered by the surface electricity of your skin” (p. 30)

I agree that with the constant innovations in technology, Robinson’s prediction about computers on the body seems plausible. With the onset of nanotechnology and the fact that we are making smaller and smaller microchips, I do not doubt that computers worn on the body is possible. Personally, I find the thought of such technology a little erie, but that does not mean that I cannot see it happening eventually.

4. “As this century progresses, these massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world’s human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources, and especially water, on food supplies and its means of production, on energy and on the quality of air and the atmosphere.”

I agree that the overwhelming size of the world’s population and its rapid growth that the natural resources of the world will experience intense pressure. Perhaps technology will provide a method to release the pressure. I know that technology is being used to genetically modify crops to expand yields. I am sure there are multiple ways that technology will help with the strain on natural resources. However, I do think that it is vitally important that people see the earth as something that needs to be cared for in order to ensure our survival of the human race.

Disagree:

1. “it may be possible to have language implants” (p. 33.

While I love languages and I am very intrigued at this possibility, I am skeptical of this being possible. The idea that we can get implants that can make us fluent in a language before a vacation seems impossible. Language is so complex and always changing, I have a hard time believing in the plausibility of this idea.

2. “The future of the printed book under threat from e-technology, in the form of digital downloads.”

I disagree with this point made by Robinson. When ebooks first became an option, everyone thought the idea was amazing. Shortly after however, studies came out that those who used electronic books were actually at a disadvantage when it came to tests. People did better when they studied out of printed books. They could feel the paper in their hands, they could see the page where the information was in their minds. While ebooks are convenient, I do not think that they will ever be able to replace the printed books.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements

1.   "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other” (p. 19).

I completely agree with this statement by Robinson. I think that it is easiest to see the truth to this statement when looking at differences between generations. Children today interact and play in different ways than my friends and I did when I was a child; a lot of kids interact through internet games and staying connected technologically. I am sure that my parents feel the same way when they compare my generation to theirs.

2.   "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher" (p. 47).

I agree with this because I think that education opens so many doors of opportunity, as is evident by looking at the difference that education makes around the world. Innovation is the future, and education needs to find ways to strongly encourage innovation so that our world may continue to develop at the strikingly fast rate it does today.

3.   "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare" (p. 27).

I have no doubts that this is true. It has not been that long since everyone was using flip phones. Technology develops at such a fast rate that I have no idea what new inventions with there will be in fifty years, but I am certain that my grandkids will be playing with toys I never could have imagined.

4.   "Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both prevention and treatment of diseases" (p. 37).

I think that this statement is rather alarming, but I agree with it. With the massive population shifts that continue to occur, I do not doubt that the earth could run out of resources and sustainability if new ways of developing them are not established. The earth only has so many resources, and I hope to continue to see innovative ways to preserve it.

Disagreements

1.   “Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (p. 30).

I do not agree with this statement. While I am continually impressed with the abilities that computers and technology possess, I do not think that they are on the same level as humans. For one, humans created computers, and for two, humans contain emotions and senses that I do not see computers being able to possess.

2.   “Neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning” (p. 33).

I do not agree with this statement that Robinson made because I find it to be unethical. While there is probably a possibility of this occurring, I do not think that it should. I think that technological changes, such as these, to are minds are not only unethical, but dangerous. In order for something of this magnitude to occur, there must be testing, and I think that this testing could leave people very damaged, if not brain dead.

# data[].attributes.body
Agreements:
1. The impossible yesterday is routine today,” (Robinson, pg 34). I agree with this very much. I still remember the first time I saw a commercial for an iPhone and thought, “wow, those are only for really rich people. I will never even come close to owning one of them in my lifetime.” Now I have owned 3 different ones. Even 20 years ago, we never imagined all of the technological changes we would see already, and innovation is constantly happening still.
2. "Innovation is critical," (Robinson, pg. 37). It is critical, because if we do not come up with alternative ways to run our vehicles and power some of our companies, we are going to run our resources dry. Since our population is growing at such a rapid pace, we are using up more resources than ever, and we are coming up with more uses for them.
3. "If you have an iPhone, it probably has more computing power than was available on Earth in 1940." It seems impossible to think that this could be true just less than 80 years ago. When you look at the timeline for how much transportation, computing, and medical technology has accelerated, it makes sense that computing power has actually come that far in that short amount of time.
4. "Education is the key to the future, and the stakes could hardly be higher," (Robinson, pg. 47). I agree with this statement for several reasons, but in the context of this article, this is true because we need our children to keep up with the technology and to keep advancing it so that we are not outrun by the technology and our population.

Disagreements:
1. I somewhat disagree with Robinson when he talks about how he actually forgot he travelled somewhere for a week because it is so normal for him to travel all the time, and he said, "I think it is also a sign of the times, (pg. 21). While that may be true for some people in the middle  to upper-class, travel is still a luxury for many of us and would not be something that is easily forgotten. He is correct in saying that it is much more likely for people to forget because it is very possible for people to travel that much, but that is not a reality for much of our population.

2. "By 2030, personal computers could have the processing power of not one but of a thousand human brains," (Robinson, pg. 32). I understand that he is making the point that technology is advancing so quickly that we are teaching our computers how to think for us, but I think he is a little ahead of the game. We are advancing very quickly, however, I am looking at this article 7 years later and I realize that we are not quite as far along as he was thinking we would be. Although, I do believe he is on the right track in saying that our computers are learning and will continue to do so. They are already able to track what we look at and where we go, and they are able to make suggestions in ads that we are likely to be interested in.

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Agree:
1. "New technologies are transforming the way we think, work, play, and relate to each other." (19)
It is impossible to deny that our way of life has changed, as well as the way we function in our environments. There is very little that we do today in the same manner as 200, 500, or 1,000 years ago. It all boils down to technology and the cultural revolutions they  caused.
2 - The rate at which change occurs in our world has increased exponentially. (Chapter theme) The author gives several examples over the last 700 or so years. I can think of several other examples outside those that he named. Climate change is another world aspect that has changed at an exponential rate and correlates with technology change.
3 - "It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs to any certainty." (34)
I think the author does a good job giving examples of unintended consequences, both positive and negative to different technologies. With any new invention or advancement, it is impossible to know how others will use/manipulate/change it for better or worse.
4 - "Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure." (44)
I work full time and find it takes conscious effort to leave work at work - not check my email, not update work schedules online, etc. In the past, telephone or messenger would have been the only way to contact an employee outside of work hours. Now there is instant messaging, Facebook, email, Skype, or any other number of ways to try and get in touch.
Disagree -
1. "The main growth of the population [of the USA] is through patterns of migration from Central and South America." (p. 36)
This is untrue over the last 15 years. DHS has shown migration from Latino countries has decreased significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. In fact, from 2009-2014 over 100,000 more Mexicans LEFT the USA than came in.
2. "The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will soon exceed the intelligence of its creators.” (p.33)
This is similar to the thinking that computers will take over the world and humans will be slaves to the systems they created. I don't think you can teach a computer to be creative and innovative. I don't think it will ever have the ability to create something from nothing like a person.

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Agree

“To face these challenges we have to understand their nature; to meet them, we have to recognize that cultivating our natural powers of imagination, creativity, and innovation is not an option but an urgent necessity” (p 19).

-       I completely agree with this statement because I believe it is important for us to understand the nature of what humans are capable of producing. Without recognizing that our society needs these innovative technologies to enhance our world, however, we will fall into our traditional cycle that causes us to move backwards rather than forwards.

“Nanotechnology is also leading to the extreme miniaturization of computer systems and will further revolutionize how we use them” (p 30).

-       I believe that we are already starting to see the beginning of this innovative process. While smart phones and Apple watches are not yet controlled by the electricity of our skin, they are controlled by the sound of our voice, our facial recognition, and our thumb print. I can only imagine where our computer systems will go as these technologies continue to grow and expand in research.

“An evolutionary process accelerates because it builds on its own means for further evolution” (p 34).

-       I agree with this quote because I believe it’s been proven through decades of technological evolutions. We’ve seen this through radio, televisions, telephones, and now computers. Humans always want to find better, more efficient ways to live their lives. This helps accelerate those means as they progress in innovation.

“Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both the prevention and treatment of diseases” (p 37).

-       I completely agree because I believe innovation is both a global and individual need in our society today. With populations growing as quickly as they are, it is our job to understand the implications of these masses of people and how it effects our entire planet. Innovation is critical to keep our world running safely, effectively, and efficiently.

Disagree

“In some sense, computers may soon become conscious” (p 32).

-       I find it hard to relate computers to humans, although I see what the author means when he says this. However, when I think of the word conscious, I think of it as a feeling; of the mind or a thought. Yes, computers could be reprogramming themselves based on action and previous “experiences” within their systems, but I don’t think these advances qualify to be the same as a human’s feelings or emotions.

“The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will soon exceed the intelligence of its creators” (p 34).

-       Being that all computers and technologies are created from man, I find it hard to connect with the notion that computers can outsmart its creator. While I believe technology allows for more efficiency and less margin of error than a human might, I don’t believe it will ever out-smart or out-play the people who create it.

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Agree:
I agree that the rate of technology is accelerating.  And that the digital and computing element of technology can expect to grow as they have in the 20th century.
"Advancement into the first two decades oft he 20th century matched that of the entire nineteenth century.  Today significant technological transformations take just a few years; ... Computing technology is experiencing the same exponential growth."
"The emergence of e-commerce and Internet trading in the 1980s swept away long-stablished ways of doing business."
I agree that the internet was a change in the way things are done in the 1980s and continues to do so today.  Innovation is important in world connected to the exponential growth of digital technology.
"On the other hand, some venture capitalists spent the three years from 1997 to 2000 pouring billions of dollars into Internet-based companies that soon disappointed their expectations."
I also agree that an inability to innovate and remain with the trends results in failure.
"In some countries, including those of the emerging economies, almost half the population is under 25."
The general demographics of our planet are changing and I think that will pose interesting problems in the future.  As westernized countries populations decline, developing countries are going to inherit the earth.
Disagree:
"Theoretically, nanotechnology makes it possible to create any substance from the atomic level upwards."
"One solution is retinal projectors that use low-level lasers... and project the display directly into the eyes."
"A version of this technology is already in use in advanced aircraft systems."
As technology advances it seeks to interface more seamlessly with our human senses.  I wonder at what point is it cumbersome and at what point does it become seamless enough to be accepted.

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Agreements:
1. "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare" (Robinson, 27). I agree with this statement because even as a child of the 1990s there are technologies that have come out which quickly became obsolete. For example: the floppy disk. I remember saving computer games to a floppy disk as a child but even know, my cousins do not know what the “save” icon in MS products is – they think it is an
SD memory card. Robinson also pointed out in Chapter 2 that technology is advancing
so much that computers may be able to learn within the next few years.

2. "Until three minutes ago, the history of transport was ominated by the horse, the wheel and the sail"(Robinson, 22). I found this use of history as a clock/ time interesting. But it is a good way to illustrate just how recently technology and the advancement thereof has rapidly developed. This trend of quick development looks as if it will continue into the foreseeable future. Robinson continues on to detail that there are emerging technologies that are allowing the blind to see and computers to learn. These advancements are happening closer and closer together, as further detailed by Robinson’s timeline.
3. "Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both prevention and treatment of diseases" (Robinson, 37). This is an extremely important quote. Natural resources are dwindling worldwide and the climate is shifting. Without placing an emphasis on new technologies to better care for our planet it will continue to deteriorate. The point about sustainable food methods is also very true because the world continues to have an increasing population.
Technological advancements can help the world for the better if proper emphasis and funding is provided.
4. "Digital
technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure” (Robinson, 26). This observation is accurate regarding the evolution of the workforce and technology. There are a lot of people who have work phones and who will remove themselves from social situations to take work calls. Robinson calls out that with the development of technologies over the years employees are working harder and work deadlines are requiring faster turn-around times.

Disagreements:
1. "Computers
may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (Robinson, 30). While I do not believe this to be out of the realm of possibilities, I do not think this will occur in the near future. Robinson uses “may be about to” which has a connotation that it may be within our lifetime. It is impossible to predict the future but I do not see this theory becoming reality. Mostly because I think there would be some opposition to this type of experimentation by people.
However, it will be interesting to see how this theory plays out within our lives.

2. "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning" (Robinson, 33). Perhaps my opinion of this is related to the point in time in which I have read this article, but I do not think this will be possible within the next two years. Perhaps it is being researched but there are a lot more pressing medical issues than neural implants with memory and reasoning power.

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Agreements:

"New technologies are changing how we think, work, play, and relate to each other." (19)

>>>Advances in technology have definitely changed our means of communication. What used to take days to receive, such as letters, now takes merely a second. Technology has become an essential tool for networking, socializing, and much more.

"In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to Shakespeare". (27)

>>>We will definitely experience unimaginable changes in the next 50 years. In fact, I believe it will take less than 50 years to see these changes. With technology being in such high demand and essential for everyday tasks, new creations are seen almost daily on social networks such as Facebook and Instagram.

"For most of human history, social change was snail-like in comparison with now". (21)

>>>With technology advancing at a rapid rate, it has allowed for social change to occur in less time when compared to the past. It seems as if technology has built momentum and almost daily new inventions and means of communication are created.

"These massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world's human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources". (36)

>>I agree with this statement as we are already seeing the effects of overpopulation in the destruction of forests and natural landscapes. It is important to stimulate the re-growth of forests and preservation of what is left of our natural resources.

Disagreements:

"By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning". (33)

>>>Although, technology is advancing at a rapid rate, I don't believe it is advancing fast enough to see neural implants improving general sensory experiences by 2020.

"The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will soon exceed the intelligence of its creators". (33)

>>>The human brain is so complex, I can't imagine ever seeing artificial intelligence exceeding the intelligence of humans. It may operate efficiently and be "smart"  but technology does not have the ability to think or feel. Without  human characteristics, technology is not able to make good judgment or have critical thinking abilities.

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Agreements:

1-We are living in a world that changes at high rate of speed. We need to start doing better job at identifying the things that will that are moving tone in high demand banditry to anticipate the needs for it. At the same time look at what is fading away to ensure that it won't come back to bit us.

2-Promoting creativity is important and it should be a collective effort instead of certain people looking for the special type of creative thinkers. That, the way is done currently, ultimately is producing the problem that we have with not having enough people being creative.

3-Being creative is something that we can perfect or start doing it. I am firm believer that the concept of instantly working on solving a problem that has come up, trains the brain to think for options that ultimately can lead to creative thoughts.

4-getting programs back to School to promote creative thinking is THE best start that we can put in place Many things have been taken out of high schools, such a trade fields, and the outcome of that is the lack of qualify people for different fields.

Disagreements:

1-While eduction can be a touchy subject I don't believe is grounds for diverting what you do for a living. Presenting yourself and what you do with pride and self confident will most definitely help others understand better.

2- (Not based on the chapter but is mentioned on it) The school system should've never taken away the different options< for the student's decision making process, away from the table and just leaving college as the route to take. That made for a huge problem in fields like construction. The demand is getting bigger and there is not enough "new generation"of workers coming in.

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Agreements
1. "New technologies are changing how we think, work, play, and relate to each other." (page 19)

The advances in communication through technology are amazing to me. It's much more common to exchange text messages or instant messages than it is to talk face-to-face, or even make a phone call. I agree that watching children interact now is much different than it was even 5 years ago- I see babies playing with smartphones!
2. "The rate of technological innovation in the past 50 years has been breathtaking...In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to Shakespeare." (page 27)

This is something I've actually thought about prior to reading this chapter, so I agree completely. It's fascinating to think of things we couldn't imagine living without that weren't even conceived as ideas 50 years ago, and what future ideas will be pieces of daily life someday.
3. "Nanotechnology is the manipulation of very small things...nano technologists are building machines by assembling atoms." (page 29)

While I don't know much of the details of nanotechnology, I've heard a lot about it in the past few years. My dad is an engineer at Iowa State University and he has been to a number of conferences that have discussed the future of nanotechnology. It's definitely something that will grow.
4. "Our children will not only change jobs several times in their lives but probably careers." (page 41)

While I don't know how I feel about the idea of changing jobs and careers several times, I definitely think it will be something that may become the norm in the next 50 years.

Disagreements
1. "In the foreseeable future, most powerful computers may have the processing power of the brain of a 6-month-old baby." (page 32)

While I do think that computer processing power is growing, I don't necessarily think that it will be able to reach the complexity of the literal human brain (at least not in the foreseeable future).
2. "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our power of memory and reasoning." (page 33)

I do not agree that this will be a technology by 2020. It may someday, but I don't think there will be anybody comfortable merging their own brain with a computer, as most are often wary of technology's advancements in general.

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Agreements:
1. "New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play and relate to each other" (Robinson, 19). I agree with this statement especially because it's crazy how to think we communicate with technology now then what what we did in the past. Today, we text each other more than we talk face to face. Students play with each other on games on their phones. Work consists merely on technology.
2. "To understand how hard it is to anticipate the future now, we need only to think of how difficult it proved to predict the future in the past" (Robinson, 21). I really liked this quote that Robison brought up because to this day, it is hard to realize what the future holds for us. But what we don't realize that is was hard if not harder for people of the past to predict the future. People wouldn't of even imagined the technology we have today would ever even exist, but people of this day grew up with it. We see the new technology as something we would've never imagined, as others from the past thought the same of the technology we have today.
3. "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to Shakespeare" (Robinson, 27). It's truly breathtaking how fast technology is emerging in the world. Within the amount of time between Shakespeare to now- the technology has been tremendously different it's almost scary. And if it's that different from 500+ years to now, one could only imagine what it will be like in the next 500 years after.
4. "The Internet is the most powerful and persuasive communication system ever devised" (Robinson, 26). I agree with this statement Robinson wrote because the Internet today is something we probably couldn't even live without. Hundreds of people use it daily. In a student perspective- the Internet has been around my whole life. I think that I always used it since Kindergarten. In middle school, we had our own laptops to use for school. I hardly ever used a textbook in high school. The Internet is such a powerful tool today and it's only going to become more and more powerful as time moves forward.
Disagreements:
1. Robinson brought up about putting chips into humans brains one day. While the world is evolving quickly in technology, I disagree with this. I don't think correlating the human brain (the top resource for humanity) and technology isn't a good idea. I think it would just be way too much. I think that the human brain is such a powerful thing on it's own it doesn't need to be connected with technology (especially not putting chips into our brains!!).
2. "Our children will not only change jobs several times in the lives but probably careers" (Robinson, 41). I would just disagree with this statement mostly because I think this is a issue that is already happening. People change. They have different passions on what they want to do as a living. I understand that as we move forward and things become more technology based there may be different job opportunities that would want people to change, but I think that this is a case that is even happening today.

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Agreements:
One: “These massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world’s human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources” (Robinson, Page 36)    I agree that as population increases and people funnel out of rural areas and into more polluted urban ones, the environment will suffer. Even now, society can see the damage humanity has imposed upon the ecosystem. I believe people with power should focus on the decisions made now so the negative environmental impact can be lessened.

Two: “For most of human history, social change was snail-like in comparison with now” (Robinson, Page 21” I agree that the speed of technological advancements has drastically increased over the last hundred years. Modern technology is increasingly more complicated and futuristic, just year by year there are major changes. In the past, innovations that changed society could take hundreds of years, now they are happening more often and more dramatically.

Three: “New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play and relate to each other” (Robinson, Page 19)      The author uses many examples to portray the acceleration in progression of technology. I agree that technology is advancing faster than ever and along with that comes society’s advancement. Technology has changed the way society runs and without as many technological advancements the world would be a very different place.

Four: “Nanotechnology makes it possible to create any substance or object from the atomic level upwards” (Robinson, Page 29)            In high school, I learned about some of the possibilities of nanotechnology. I agree that in the future nanotechnology has the opportunity to become one of the major tools of advancement and I am interested to see what scientists can do with the technology.

Disagreements:
One: “Neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning” (Robinson, Page 33) I do not think that the world will be open to the idea of people merging their brains with computers. While it might be technologically feasible in the future, I would expect a large backlash. Many people are already weary of the technology taking over the need for human talents and implanting computers with human brains would bring up that issue in addition to morality issues.

Two: “I now travel so much for my work that I sometimes cannot remember where I’ve been or when” (Robinson, Page 20)   Even though the author’s personal experiences align with the quote, I do not believe that most people would agree. The majority of people only get to leave their home country once in a while, making it a rather special experience. While the author and some others may travel so often they forget where they have been, to me and many other people I know, traveling abroad is an occasion I would remember. Even though the world is faster paced and we move around more, this example does not seem relatable.

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Agreements:
1. I agree with Robinson’s assertion that, “In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare” (27). Putting the likelihood for drastic technological advancement like this really emphasizes just how unpredictable the future is. It also emphasizes the fact that we are preparing students and the coming generations to create and innovate things we cannot even imagine right now.

2. “Some of the most extraordinary implications of these different fields of research in information systems, material sciences and in neuroscience lie in the crossovers between them” (31). I agree with this statement because I think success is very much rooted in innovation and the sharing of information between different aspects of life. We can learn about how to program computers based on how we understand the human brain, as Robinson points out later in the article.

3. “The dominant global corporations used to be in industry and manufacturing: many of the key companies today are in communications, information, entertainment, science and technology” (42). I wholeheartedly agree with this assertion. From an education perspective, Americans have recently realized that we are being outpaced by other countries in the fields of science, technology, and information. Moving forward it will be even more important that we focus our education and training on students being successful in these fields.

4. The idea that as connections grow we will also make ourselves more susceptible to new diseases and epidemics is one I can agree with as well (37). In fact, it has already begun as we are learning how to deal with the Zika virus and the Ebola outbreak. The spread is far and wide when we think about how easy it is to travel from one continent to the other.

Disagreements:
1. While many people do “routinely fly across continents to attend meetings for the weekend and then forget where they’ve been,” there is also a large portion of the population that only “travels” virtually (21). Especially in the Midwest, I think a lot more people than we realize have not been actually, physically exposed to being around people different than them. Of course, there are still benefits to “virtual travel” and the amazing access to information nearly everyone now has, but there are specific drawbacks to not being able to physically experience something new/other cultures.

2. I disagree partly with the idea that “the future of the printed book [is] under threat from e-technology,” because I think that e-technology is simply another way to spread the information within the book but does not fulfill all of the benefits of a physical, printed book (40). While it is useful in many cases to have a digital copy of a book, I think copyright laws, the value of holding a book in your hands, and the art that goes into a printed book will keep the print business alive.

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Agreements:
1. I agree with Robinson's conclusion that many systems and institutions are  too rooted in tradition and backwards in their thinking. He writes, "The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and in education, are rooted in old ways of thinking. They are facing backwards, not forwards. As a result, many people and organizations are having difficulty coping with these changes and are feeling left behind or alienated by them" (p. 19). The larger the system, the more difficult change becomes. There are more people to get "on-board," communication becomes complicated, and room for variation dwindles. As a whole our systems, our cities; our companies; our school districts; our country, has become larger and more complicated since the 1770's. We live on a global scale, and change is difficult on a scale that large. There are so many voices and experiences to consider. It seems that big systems are overwhelmed by the task of real, meaningful change. Quick fixes are applied, but the large systematic changes that could move us towards a more progressive way of thinking are not tackled. I'm not sure if that is because the fix is too hard or because we don't know the right fix.
2) A major catalyst for the changes we are facing was the proliferation of information prompted by the invention of the printing press. Robinson writes, "Between 1440 and 1450, about eleven minutes ago on our clock, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Since then the process of change has gathered at a furious pace" (p. 24). Sharing information has changed the way the world operates. When I think about the printing press and how it sparked change, by bringing people I am immediately brought to the changes in publishing. Issues of access have been radically brought into question recently. Academic and professional journals that were considered the standard in quality of research were only available to those that had the budget to spend upwards of $1000 per year for a subscription. More and more academics are working to maintain quality, but produce materials that can be accessed by anyone online.
3. Robinson asserts that work will change. He writes, "The nature of work will change for very many people." We can see that already. It is amazing to me how many people that I went to high school and college with have already switched careers once or twice. I don't think I know anyone that has had only one job since college.
4. I agree with Robinson that people are working harder than ever to keep up with the increasing demands of the information deluge. He quotes an energy executive as saying that standards are higher, but people are living a life of lower quality because of increased pressures to work more hours and more days (p. 46). I agree for the middle/upper class that this is true. The idea of a true 9-5 job seems unheard of these days. If we aren't answering email, we are reading professional literature of getting caught up on projects.
Disagreements:
1. Robinson claims that there will be more workers over fifty, and that they will be better able and willing to take on challenges and adapt to a changing workforce (p. 44). He uses the work "inclined" when describing the likelihood that older generations will adapt to the workplace. I think they will adapt, and I guess I don't really have any actual standards or data to base this rebuttal, but I think that those over fifty are often the segment of the workforce that keep organizations trapped in the past. It seems to me that the over fifty population feels that they need to work. I'm not sure that I get the sense that they are inclined to adaptation and growth.
2. My second disagreement is, again, more of an addition to Robinson's statements about the growing brain power of computers. He states that computers currently have the "brain power" of a six month baby and/or a cricket, but he states that it may be possible to purchase a computer with the intellect of an adult human within 20 years (p. 31-32). I would add the premise from a new book that was recently released. It is called "World without Mind," and it describes the ways in which algorithms are taking away the unique brain power of humans. Choices, critical thinking, and problem solving are beginning to fade away as Amazon tells us what to buy and Google ads tell us where to travel.

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Agreements:
1. "In the next 50 years we may see changes that are as unimaginable to us now as the iPad would have been to John Shakespeare" (Robinson, 27). I agree with this statement because it shows just how much can change in a short amount of time. Within the last 500 years alone, we've come a long way from the way John Shakespeare used to live. And with all we've accomplished in 500 years who knows what  the new standard of living will be in 500 more.
2. "Responding to these massive shifts in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both prevention and treatment of diseases" (Robinson, 37). As the world becomes more populated with new births and higher life expectancy's, it is essential that humans  figure out how to overcome these important issues, and I think technology is going to play a pivotal role in solving them.
3. "In our times, digital culture is changing the world just as profoundly as earlier technologies have done. And the effects are cumulative" (Robinson, 41). I agree with this because I believe our past inventions as a Western society, and as a human race, have all led toward more modern inventions, like those with technology. As time goes on this trend will continue, and who knows what we will be able to invent.
4. "Our children will not only change jobs several times in the lives but probably careers. In less than a single generation, the nature of work for millions of people has changed fundamentally, and with it the structure of the world economies" (Robinson, 41). I agree that the world we live in today isn't set up for people to enter the workforce and keep the same job/career. Being able to know how to use, program, or create different aspects of technology is going to be a new norm in the workforce. The best way to set up students for success is to acknowledge this and begin teaching them these skills earlier rather than later.

Disagreements:
1. "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness" (Robinson, 30). This is a major point Robinson brings up and theorizes, which led me to believe he endorses this idea. If so, I think trying to depend that much on technology hinders our human capabilities we might take for granted. I think computers can be used to help people be more efficient, creative, etc, but if humans essentially transform themselves into computers then I feel like we would lose the qualities that make us human like empathy.
2. "The effects of transformative technologies are hard to predict for the very reason that they are transformative" (Robinson, 37). While the general notion of the statement might be right, I think that it should be taken with a grain of salt. I think that with our current technological developments, and access to public information, the internet, and media we always have an idea of what's coming next because we are always looking to upgrade technology to be bigger and better. As a Western society we are obsessed with technology. For example, Apple just had their keynote conference to introduce the new iPhones coming out, but for months beforehand there have been rumors being released about what the new iPhone will look like or be able to do. Even the most transformative of technologies I think will not come as a total shock after they've been produced.

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Agreements:
1.  "Many of the challenges that we face are being generated by the powerful interaction of these forces." (Robinson, 2011, p. 19). I agree when he says that the intersection of the growth of technology and the growth of population creates challenges that were not foreseen even 100 years ago. Because technology evolves so quickly and we are only growing as a human race, it makes it necessary for humans to adapt. Those who don't will find that they are unable to succeed or thrive because they lack the skills necessary to participate in a changing world.

2. "Until three minutes ago, the history of transport was dominated by the horse, the wheel and the sail."(p. 22). His example of likening the advancement of technology to the face of a clock really resonated with me because it truly shows the gravity of the rate that technology has evolved. I agree that in and of itself, this example shows the importance of the human race adapting to the changing ways of the world and if we do not educate ourselves and prepare for the future, we will be left behind and ultimately not survive as a species.

3. "The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (p. 26). I agree with Robinson when he states this. Although the Internet wasn't necessarily used all of the time when I was in elementary school, it has definitely been around for my entire life. Now, our world truly wouldn't function without it. The Internet allows us to communicate and learn things that, before, we couldn't have even imagined. Because of this, it is exceptionally important that we teach our youth how to use the Internet proficiently and to their advantage to advance themselves in an ever-changing technological world, that relies so heavily on the Internet and all that it offers.

4. "It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty. The forces of change create far too many currents and crosscurrents to chart them more than a little way ahead." (p. 37). I agree when Robinson states this because although we can definitely make the assumption that things will continue to change quickly, we can hardly predict what this will mean for the future of the human race. For instance, I personally could never have predicted the rise and importance of social media in our everyday lives. When I first heard of Facebook, I remember wondering who would ever need to use that. Now, it has become one of the sole way that businesses and people advertise themselves, and so much more. It is so pertinent in the way we do things, now I can't even remember how we did things before the existance of social media.

Disagreements:

1. "It may be possible to have language implants. Instead of spending fi ve years learning French you can have it implanted in time for your summer holidays." (p. 33). Although I believe we can never say anything for sure when it comes to the advancement of technology, I see this specific example of being much further away than the year 2020, as Robinson suggests.

2. "The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will soon exceed the intelligence of its creators.” (p.33). Once again, we can not ever predict what could/will happen in the future, I believe at this point there are enough intelligent people that are aware of the concerns and moral ethics that come along with creating something that could take away the essence of a human being. At this point, I think that people know the consequences of creating something that we would eventually be unable to control.

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Agreements:
1. "The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised." (p.1) I agree that the Internet has connected us globally in a way never seen before.
2. "massive changes in the numbers and distribution of the world's human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources." (p. 36) If the human population continues to rise more natural resources will be needed to support and sustain more lives. We see evidence of the pressures on natural resources now with agriculture. Farmers must produce higher yields using fewer acres. Populations are increasing, cities are growing, and crop land is decreasing.
3. The "assessment of television was to judge it in terms of contemporary cultural values where there seemed to be no place for it." (p. 38) It is easy to evaluate past history and the future using contemporary cultural values. When assessing history it is necessary to consider the values and circumstances of that time period. Given that we have to use the same considerations when thinking in terms of the future. We are uncertain how future values may change.
4. "We can't predict the future. But some things we do know. One is that the nature of work will continue to change for very many people." (p. 41) I agree that how work is done and what work is meaningful or valued will continue to change. We don't know how it will change, only that it will.
Disagreements:
1. "Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness." (p. 30) I may be like  the article in the New York Times the author references about how the television will never be a serious competitor of the radio, but I disagree. This statement seems so bizarre, I feel like there has to be a distinction between us, the creative force and our creation, computers. This seems a little Frankenstein to me.
2. "the most powerful supercomputers are still just mindless calculators." (p. 31) Perhaps, this statement is a way illustrate that technology is limitless, but I think that our computers now are extremely powerful and are capable of many incredible things.

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Agreements

1) “To face these challenges we have to understand their nature; to meet them, we have to recognize that cultivating our natural powers of imagination, creativity and innovation is not an option but an urgent necessity.” (p. 1) I agree that cultivating creativity is a necessity due to the quickly changing culture and draining of jobs as we know it today.  Boehm quoted in Times Higher Education that eighty percent of jobs that will exist in 2025 don’t exist today.  Therefore, we need to demonstrate creativity in cultivating skills and habits that will translate into new work.

2) “The issue was not the fact of change: it is the rate and scale of it.” (p. 28) I agree that the primary issue hitting people hard is not the fact of change, but the rapid pace of it all.  One example is the quick turnover of new social media platform.  You may only have the basic how-to knowledge before another platform or app is released.  This can take a toll on varied generations of people and businesses in the race to keep in the know.

3) “One is that the nature of work will continue to change for very many people.” (p. 23) The previous quote about eighty percent of jobs in 2025 not existing today applies here as well.  We have seen this true today since many of the current jobs weren’t around 10 years ago or produce different dynamics of products to clients.

4) “Digital technologies are blurring the boundaries between home and work, business and pleasure.” (p. 26) Technology is continually vying for our attention since it is so handy in size and accessibility.  There has also been a rise in freelance creatives who work in many alternative workspaces, public spaces, coffee shops, and at home which also creates increased potential for blurred boundaries.

Disagreements

1) “By 2030, personal computers, whatever form they take by then, could have the processing power of not one but a thousand human brains.” (p. 14) Although I agree with the author’s perspective that implants and computers will grow increasingly more powerful in the future, I believe the timeline will be slightly longer than within the decade.  Going to an entire implant of a language or exam material is a serious jump that requires many steps.  I would be more convinced on the timeline if the author supported these timeframes with what is currently being researched and made.
2) “The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government and education, are rooted in old ways of thinking.” (p. 1) The forward-facing mentality is important.  However, placing the entire blame on “the” problem as old thinking is taking it to an extreme, as often new ideas are created not by starting from scratch, but by re-constructing and transforming old concepts.

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Agreements:

1)   “The most profound changes haven’t happened in 500 years: most of them have happened in the past 200 years and especially in the last 50 and they’re getting faster” (Robinson 22). I agree that the rate of technological and even social change has accelerated much in recent years. Sometimes it is difficult to gain perspective on the rate of change when we are still young ourselves but even looking at minute changes from my childhood until now, they exist. Looking at the timelines he presented also helped imagine this.

2)   “Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil points out that the evolution of biological life and of technology have followed the same pattern” (Robinson 27) I agree that both biological life and technology follow the scheme that they both build on previously learned knowledge in order to develop more complex processes. To take this one step further I agree that often one cannot evolve without the other. Complex technologies (currently) cannot be created without complex organisms to create them but also these complex organisms often learn with the assistance of other technology.

3)   “nanotechnology promises radical innovations in fields as disparate as engineering and medicine” (Robinson 30). Robinson then goes on to explain examples in which nanotechnology has already revolutionized the industries. As a biology major I have learned about many of these new technology and am aware of current research to develop better tools in which to help others medically such as improvements of biotechnology and sequencing and coding DNA.

4)   “Radical innovations often interact with each other and generate entirely new patterns of behavior in the people who use them” (Robinson 40). Robinson uses this sentence in relation to the blossoming of digital social cultures. I agree with this statement mostly through personal experience. I grew up in between the technology generation and the generation that still went outdoors to play and had lemonade stands. Even looking at the way Robinson or my parents grew up compared to my own childhood were so vastly different that it’s easy to see technology’s effect on that culture.

Disagreements

1)   One problem I found within this text is when the author begins to discuss the merging of humans and their technology, he in no way addresses the moral implications that will stand in the way of humans merging with technology nor what it means for humanity as a whole in terms of how we change as sentient creatures. There are already so many extreme debates about issues such as GMO’s and euthanasia that something such as the creation of cyborg’s would cause an incredible ethical debate and would not be approved by most governments in the world.

2)   Anther problem I had with this chapter was that the author does not address the one/two child policy in China even with its increasing exponential population. The world is growing, yes, but there are so many factors in the world that can change that, that are not addressed, He also doesn’t express how changes in population dependent on immigration is highly political and depends on the environment of the hosting nations.

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Agreements:
1."The pace of change is quickening everyday". (Robinson, 2011, 19) Change is moving faster than most of us can manage. Everyday, our world is faced with new discoveries and challenges, and uness you're watching the news on a daily basis, you're behind!
2. I agree that change in government and education is very hesitant because of the old ways of thinking that they were rooted in.
3. I agree that population could one day bring our planet resourceless. With too many people, our planet could lose everything. "As this century progresses, these massive changes in the changes in the numbers and distribution of the world's human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources, and especially water, on food supplies and its means of production, on energy and on the quality of air and the atmosphere". (Robinson, 2011, 36)
4. I agree that technology is becoming more important than face-to-face contact with people. "The impulse to answer the cellphone implies that the incoming call is more important than the face-to-face conversation you were having". (Robinson, 2011, 45)

Disagreements
1. I disagree that we will one day put implants in our brains. Although this seems odd because a company has now chipped their employees, I think that there are many people that still value the human mind more than technology and they would want to preserve that and not put something that foreign in it.
2. I also do not agree with the idea that a computer could have the power of a baby in 2020. Brains are so complex, and there are still so many things that we don't understand about the human brain yet, and I don't see it happening anytime soon. "By 2020, it may be possible for $1000 to buy a personal computer with the same processing power as an adult human brain". (Robinson, 2011, 32)

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Agreements:

1. "The internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised. It grows daily, like a vast, multiplying organism; millions of connections are being added at an ever faster rate in patterns that resemble dendritic groupings or ganglia in the brain" (26-27).
I agree with this statement because the internet has become the most used and most powerful communication tool in our lifetime. In previous periods of time, people had to rely on telegrams, animals, or letters for their message to get to their intended audience. With the power of internet, intended messages can reach their audiences across the world in seconds.

2. "The most powerful computers may have the processing power of the brain of a six-month-old human baby...computers will be capable of learning" (32). In today's world, computers already have the capability to do so much. Without computers, where would civilization be? According to the scientist in this reading, neuroscience and information systems already carry crossovers between them. It is very possible that in the coming decades that computer technology and neuroscience will combine to be " based not on digital codes and silicon but on organic processes: computers that mimic human thought" (32).

3. "Technological change is one driver of change" (34). For example, look at how the iPhone has changed technology. Before the iPhone, phones were limited and solely used to make phone calls. After the iPhone, individuals now have the power to use the internet, GPS, read books, set reminders, and download apps to further assist their lives. Plus, the iPhone not only changed Apple customers phone experience, it changed the entire phone market.

4. "As this century progresses, these massive changes in numbers and distribution of the world's human populations will put intense pressure on natural resources, and especially water, on food supplies and its means of productions, on energy and on the quality of air and the atmosphere" (37). It only makes sense that the more people we fit onto earth, the less resources we will have. This will lead to things like climate change, natural disasters, and a shortage of resources.

Disagreements:

1. "By 2020, neural implants could improve our general sensory experiences, including our powers of memory and reasoning" (33). While I agree that neuroscience and computer technology could combine one day to create a more human-like computer, I do not see neural implants improving memory and reasoning by 2020 or anytime soon. Why? For one, if this has yet to happen with computers, why should it happen with humans? Second, this technology sounds like a movement towards a civilization of robots. Yes, it would be mind blowing to receive additional memory and reasoning, but at what cost? Losing our element of humanity?

2. The intelligence that we are now creating in computers will exceed the intelligence of its creators" (34). I disagree with this statement because humans are always evolving and becoming smarter each and every day. Even if computers had neurotechnology, I believe that the creator will always exceed the intelligence of its creation.

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Agreements:

1. "a stream of change so accelerated that it influences our sense of time, revolutionizes the tempo of daily life, and

affects the very way we feel the world around us. We no longer feel life as people did in the past" (Robinson 46). This particular statement stuck with me quite a bit. I recently read an article on how people born during the 90's are facing a weird turn of the century. Because internet use skyrocketed halfway through our childhood, we were forced to adapt, and adapt quickly we did. As a result we were left feeling this sort of culture shock described in the chapter. I agree with this statement and wonder if the same thing is happening to children now.

2. "Most are working faster with more to do and to shorter deadlines" (Robinson 45). I am seeing this more often than ever before. I have noticed that my younger sister is given shorter deadlines than myself in high school and more projects to do. I attribute this mostly to the fact that every student is given a Chromebook to take home so that students are ensured constant access to the internet, where most of her projects are done.

3. "The creative industries are labor-intensive and need many different types of specialist skill" (Robinson 43). I agree with the statement the most out of the four I have chosen. Recent studies have shown that vocational programs in the United States are far behind those in European countries because the focus in United States schools is often technology.

4. "The emergence of e-commerce and Internet trading in the 1980s swept away long-established ways of doing business" (Robinson 41). Its no secret that online shopping has swept the nation. We even have a "Cyber Monday" for shoppers who don't want to leave the house to get in on those day after Thanksgiving deals. I also just read an article by NPR about the opening of Nordstrom's new concept store where customers will go to consult a stylist and then have clothing items shipped to them from online. The idea for this store stemmed from the fact that Nordstom's net sales were 3.5 percent higher than they were a year ago, and online sales grew by 20 percent.

Disagreements:

1. I disagree with Robinson when he says that music and the performing arts become "more significant when patents from science and technology are included" (Robinson 43). I believe this is true a small amount of the time and that music is about the expression of human emotion now, which is something technology can not produce.

2. "It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty" (Robinson 37). Although I agree with that statement, I disagree with how it was presented. He states this after spending six pages discussing what is to happen in the future in regards to nanotechnology and exactly what products will come available to us due to this technology. I believe it is somewhat misleading to the reader.

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Agreements:
1. I agree that technology is moving faster than most of us can keep track of. The clock analogy did very well in explaining how, in the scheme of things, we really haven't had that much technology for that long. It was very interesting to see also in his own story, that horses walked the streets in the same lifetime as black and white TV.

2. I agree that it is impossible to predict the impact that technology will have, and I think it was a very relevant example to use the Times article about television consumption. Robinson is right - TV wasn't squeezed into the already busy lives of Americans, it radically shifted the way in which we live our lives. It allowed us to use multiple senses to enjoy our media, meaning you can watch it in a crowded area (reading subtitles), or listen while looking away (potentially doing other work), and then be able to also get the full experience when you do decide to pay attention to it for a long period of time.

3. Robinson says that technology in itself increases the ideas and appetites of its users, meaning that places like facebook and twitter are often the ground zero for new technologies, and I highly agree. Especially in an era where Kickstarter and other crowd-funding techniques are being used to fund innovation and entrepreneurship, twitter and other social media platforms are where ideas are both created, funded, and come to fruition. When you notice a need in person, it may be for one individual. But if you notice a need through social media, it likely has millions of notes tied to it, showing the true impact your product/innovation could have.

4. Robinson speaks in this chapter about how those who are working are finding themselves with higher standards of living while still experiencing a lower quality of life. This comes from the expectation that we are to be continuously working, not relaxing. And while this is a problem not only in corporate America - and due to more than just the increase in technology and actually heavily relates to the inappropriate minimum wage vs. living wage - it is absolutely impacted by our ability to be called upon at any time. I remember my father often taking calls right up until Christmas morning, because it was something that they felt like they couldn't solve themselves, and they felt it was better (easier, faster) to call him on his day off than to search for the answer on their own.

Disagree:
1. I disagree that we will very soon be putting implants into our own brains. Not only is it difficult to completely understand the human brain, but there is a large difference between giving someone back functioning lost to Parkinsons or an implant to hear (which is also a heavily controversial and incomplete device, but that's another conversation), and actually inputting a language or "Extra storage" (which, it seems based on neuroscience, is unecessary). While it is likely we will hack our brains as much as we can, it will likely take the form of education and behavioral hacks rather than actual physical implants.

2. I disagree that "our children" (my generation and those after us) will change jobs many times. I feel that we are just as loyal and committed to the interests we have as every other generation so far. And yes, some jobs may become obsolete in our lifetime, and many times our job titles and duties will change. We will also likely have more opportunities to change careers and jobs, if we so choose - but it's not something that we will be forced to do. Will we grow and change what the scope of our position is, what technology we use and create? Of course. But will we change careers simply because there is something new being created? Absolutely not. We simply grow with what is presented to us.

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Agreements
1. There are several topics that the author covers during this chapter that I agree with. Firstly, that the average person travels a lot more than they used to, especially when on their way to and from work since modes of transport has severely changed over the last few hundred years. For example, they used to use horse and carriage as the main use of transport, whereas now cars, buses and trains are commonly used. People travel more and more children are growing up having visited other countries.
2. Secondly, the expansion and development of technology recently has increased dramatically. The size of computers, phones other products have decreased in size to enable accessibility. The world wide web birthed and as well as Microsoft and microchips and the integration of more technology rather than the use of pen and paper.
3. The fact that the human population is continuing to expand and more than the earth can manage. The constant need for new housing complexes and an increase in large cities becoming denser and the expansion is endless. This is affecting natural resources and putting the world at risk of serious disease as more people are born.
4. I do believe that we don’t know what the future entails, because many people would never have predicted the development of technology and what has been achieved today or at the rate it has. However, I question some of the ideas proposed which I explain in the disagreements.

Disagreements
1. “Computers may have the processing power of the brain of a six-month-old human baby” (Robinson, 2011, p.32). I don’t agree with this statement because I believe no matter how far technology develops I believe it cannot perform like a human no matter the age. Computers are unable to express emotions and develop relationships in order to connect with humans.
2. I also don’t think that technology will merge with our brains, because like I explained in my last point I believe humans can perform some activities better than a computer ever will. Humans are able to experience emotions and feelings at a much deeper level. We also have the capabilities to connect with others, not via a website or organization but have a great impact on other humans which computers are unable to do.

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4 agreements

1. “New technologies are transforming how we think, work, play, and relate to each other.”

I agree with this statement made in the chapter and I think technology has definitely transformed all of these things.  One example is the way we relate to one another.  Ten years ago, social media was just getting started and not nearly as prevalent as it is today.  Now, I would say the main way that people connect and communicate is through social media.  This is just one example of how technology has changed our lives.

2. “The problem is that many of our established ways of doing things, in business, in government, and in education, are rooted in old ways of thinking.”

I agree with this statement because I think a lot of what education has been up to this point, is preparing students to go out and do a job that requires minimal thinking.  Now, with the amount of advancements our society has made, students need to be taught in a different way that promotes true problem solving skills and allows them to “think outside the box.”  I read a quote somewhere that said, “We are preparing students for jobs that haven’t even been created yet.”  Because of this, I think we really need to step away from the “old way” of doing things and teach students in a way that allows them to become their own problem solvers.

3. “The internet is the most powerful and pervasive communication system ever devised.”

I agree with statement.  The internet allows people to connect with one another immediately and get instant responses.  It allows people from all over the world to have the ability to be connected.  No other communication system has offered people what the internet does.

4. “They both take a long time to get going but advances build on one another and progress erupts at an increasingly furious pace.”

I agree with this statement because of the evidence that is presented in the article.  Once basic things were invented and the basic technology was figured out, people have been able to create new things at an impressively fast pace because of the work that was already done for them.  This is when the article was talking about the “pace of change.”

2 disagreements

1. “Computers may be about to merge with our own mind and consciousness.”

I am not saying that this isn’t true, but I don’t agree that it would be what is best.  I think something unique that humans have is their ability to think for themselves and their ability to feel.  I don’t think merging computers with our own consciousness would be wise because computers are not human.

2. “Computers will become capable of learning.”

Again, while this may be true, I wonder if this is in our best interest.  Humans will always be able to make those conscious decisions.  However, if we start relying on a computer for those, what if the computer messes up or something goes wrong?  I think there are some decisions that are so important that a computer should not be able to solely take them over.

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Agreements:
1. "Many of the challenges we face are being generated by powerful forces" (Robinson, 2011, p.19) This isn't to say the world hasn't had challenges before, but the challenges have increased exponentially because of how rapidly our world is changing. I also agree that these challenges are new, there are ones that have never been faced before, which make it that much scarier and intimidating. At the same time, these forces-technology, growth of population, etc- are necessary to keep our world advancing. It is a vicious cycle; as challenges increase, we need new technologies to address them, the technologies create a new culture, and the new culture creates new challenges. But if we remove one catalyst we will go backwards, not forwards.

2. It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty (Robinson, 2011 p.37) This strikes me as very profound, especially with the way things are in our current U.S culture and climate--both politically and socially. Things happen every day that still shock and surprise me, people are totally unpredictable! I feel it is our human nature to make predictions, in order to prepare ourselves for what may come. Even in this years presidential election, most polls towards the final day showed a Democratic presidential victory. And while the popular vote would lead us to believe that prediction was true, our system is not set up that way. I can admit that I was shocked when Donald Trump won, because I thought I could predict what people valued and believed. I also think that if we could accurately predict outcomes, there would be no need for creative and imaginative individuals. If we could predict what people would say and do, we may not need to advance things.

3.  "This may sound far-fetched, but if someone had told you fifteen years ago that you could sit on the beach with a small wireless telephone and search the Library of Congress, send instant mail, download music and videos, book your holidays, arrange a mortgage and check your cholesterol, you would have thought they were being ridiculous. Now we take it for granted" (Robinson, 2011 p.34)
This made me think about the possibilities that lay ahead of us. What types of technologies will we have access to in 5, 10, 15, etc years? This chapter also discusses the possibilities that could be afforded to us using nanotechnologies and advancing the brain of the computer. Could we live in a world where we purchase more memory, literal memory, for our brains? What will the world feel like when our intelligence reaches a level our world has not yet seen in such capacity. I also wonder who wil be afforded these opportunities? Will there continue to be a top down structure where the best things are given to those who can afford it, or to those who are privileged? The world is going to look different, but will it be a good thing?

4.  Technological change is one driver of change. But there’s another: the sheer numbers of people on the planet and the shifting patterns of population. (Robinson, 2011 p.34)  The number of people in our world is increasing at such a significant rate, I wonder how we can keep up! So of course, this would drive change. Population increase means our natural resources are going to be deeply effected. In order to sustain the population, we will have to make changes. We may have to change the way we get around. Cars will have to change so that there is not such a need for gas and not such an output of carbon. Or we need to find a cleaner way to fuel the cars we have now. No matter what changes we do, something else is going to be effected (butterfly effect). We need to make sure we are making the right changes.

2 disagreements

1.  Perhaps most significantly, the interaction of genetics, neuroscience and information systems makes it feasible to think about enhancing our own intelligence by physically merging computers with our brains (Robinson, 2011, p.32) While I don't disagree that this would make it feasible, my disagreement lies in whether or not it is ethical. I believe that advances can benefit people with vision or hearing impairments, but do we need to go as far as to merge computers with the brains we have? I stated above in one of my agreements, can our world handle that amount of intelligence? We are already feeling the effects of culture shock with constant access to social media and news sources, do we need to have computers with the power of 1 million human brains?

The communications revolution, and the new global markets it has created, has multiplied outlets for creative content and increased consumer demand. These new forms of work are creating a demand for new sorts of skill and aptitude (Robinson, 2011 p.43) I'd argue that there has always been a demand for creation and imagination. If we had put these traits higher on our list of priorities, we may have avoided some of the damaging systems we have in place now. Robinson quotes Piaget, saying "civilization is a race between education and catastrophe" though some education experiences are catastrophic in and of themselves. Some teachers still value a "top-down" where someone has to have an A and someone has to fail, because that's how it has always been. If the silent demand for creativity and imagination had been addressed long ago, there may be far less catastrophic educational experiences.

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Four agreements and reasons:

1. The author states that the impossible yesterday is routine today (Robinson, 2011, p.34). To illustrate the truth in the assertion that the impossible is possible, consider the example of cloud technology. In the early 1990s, I remember that to store data from a desktop computer, we had to have a floppy disk, which could hold only a few large files. Today, cloud technology is booming. One of the biggest technology companies, IBM, offers cloud technology to enterprises to store and even work in the cloud system. The result is that enterprises can store big data for long periods of time and share the data at a very fast pace. Employees can work remotely, from virtually anywhere. It is not only big enterprises who can enjoy the cloud technology, everyone with an internet connection and suitable device can enjoy the cloud technology freely on a daily basis through a variety of options, such as: Google Photos, Google Drive, Dropbox, and many other cloud storage systems.

2. Revolutions in the world today are not only because of technological change, but also because of the growing world population (Robinson, 2011, p.34). The growing human population on earth is increasing exponentially, forcing people to think more quickly and more efficiently to create fast moving consumer goods in giant quantities and faster transportation, for example.

3. The population is changing to become more urbanized and that is also contributing to changes in the world (Robinson, 2011, p.35). As mentioned in the book, in the 1800s most people lived in the countryside. These days, people prefer to live in the city because cities offer easier access to good education, support high technologies, and bigger pay opportunities. In turn, population density encourages people to create efficient spaces to live and work. People build skyscrapers for places to work, eat, play, and sleep.

4. Robinson explained that the evolution of the Internet has been driven not only by innovations in technology, but also by imagination and demands to create new innovations (Robinson, 2011, p.41). I cannot agree more. Technology users ask for more convenience provided by technology. Technology experts answer it with new creations in their platform. For example, Facebook. In the beginning, it was intended only for a networking place. Now Facebook has added Marketplace to their platform as users now rely on e-commerce as part of their daily culture.

Two disagreements and reasons:

1. Robinson states that the effects of transformative technologies are hard to predict for the very reason that they are transformative (Robinson, 2011, p.37). I disagree with this statement as technology transformations are not sudden, but step-by-step. Transformations in technology take time to develop, depending on imagination, demand from users, and the whole creation process. In many ways we can predict what technologies will come to us in the near future based on demands from the current time.

2. Robinson explains that banks became insurance and mortgage brokers after the Big Bang in London 1988 (Robinson, 2011, p.41). Banks have not only become insurance and mortgage brokers, but also retail outlets for investment products such as bonds, options, and stocks.

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4 agreements

1. “It is all but impossible to predict the future of human affairs with any certainty.” (Robinson, 2011, 37) I agree with this statement because I feel that as much as we try to predict that future, there are always unforeseen factors that arise. We can see this point today as Hurricane Irma approaches the state of Florida. Think of all the medical, biochemical, marine, etc. experimentation and research occurring in different parts of Florida, all of this potential innovation is being set back by the impending storm. I understand that data and experiments can be saved and replicated, but they large centers developed for this research and the creative processes that went behind making these labs and the individuals in them cannot be replaced. Additionally, if it weren’t for the hurricane, Florida’s budget would have possibly gone towards funding more research or towards improving infrastructure and beaches for the sake of their economy. Now, with the unforeseen, impending natural disaster, Florida’s budgeting may be making an unexpected change in distributions.

2. “Other innovations will son replace the conventional keyboard. Already, interfaces are available that are controlled purely by the power of thought. Headsets have been designed to monitor brainwaves, which can be converted directly into instructions.” (Robinson, 2011, 30) Although I do not think that brainwave-controlled headsets will ever become the norm, I do think that everyday items such as the keyboard will be replaced by something more sophisticated in the future. However, I do agree that things as simple as a keyboard will definitely experience a revolution. I believe that within the next 20 years a keyboard will look nothing like and function nothing like keyboards that we use today.

3. “The differences are not only in the nature of change but also in the pace of it.” (Robinson, 2011, 22) I agree with this statement because I believe that naturally humans are hungry for knowledge and development. Our curiosity and desire to innovate will propel us into the future at rates that are mind-blowing. For every new advancement that launches, individuals become inspired with ideas for many other advancements.

4. “Right now power and influence in the world is based on the control of natural and industrial resources. Once nanotechnology makes it possible to synthesize any physical object cheaply and easily, our current economic systems will become obsolete.” (Robinson, 2011, 29) I agree with this statement and I think that it is kind of an obvious statement. As technology advances and gains the capability to replace natural resources, humans will invest more in the technology than the alternative. A huge part of technology is its ability to bring in a lot of many for a lot of people and once natural and industrial resources turn primarily to technology so will the big wigs in control of those resources.

2 disagreements

1. “Our best resource is to cultivate our singular abilities of imagination, creativity and innovation. Our greatest peril would be to face the future without investing fully in those abilities.” (Robinson, 2011, 47) Today’s world and the world of the future is faced with perils that are much greater than the failure to harness imagination and creativity. Our focus needs to turn on improving the lives of those who are war-stricken, homeless, and hungry and less focus on those of us who are already privileged in so many ways. In the future, I hope to see innovations that are aimed at increasing food and water sources, innovation in architecture to build shelters, and along with all of this innovation an increase in jobs that are accessible to many people.

2. “We no longer feel life as people did in the past. And this is the ultimate difference, the distinction that separates the truly contemporary person from all others.” Although I agree with the first part of that statement, I do not believe that what truly separates a modernized individual and someone stuck in the past is that the second person is generally happier with his or her quality of life. This statement is very sad and implies that if you want to keep up with today’s day and age you cannot be happy with your life, this is simply not true. People are capable of leading very fulfilling personal and professional lives and just because someone decides to skimp out on one of those lives doesn’t mean that individual is not happy with their quality of life.

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Agreements:

1. “A new generation of computers may be based not on digital codes and silicon but on organic processes: computers that mimic human thought” (Robinson, 2011, p.30). I believe this to be accurate because of how tuned in technology already is with our bodies. Think of the Apple Watch. Apple Watches are able to monitor heart rate and breathing and they do this through small technology sitting on our wrist. Twenty years down the road I would not be surprised if there would be technology able to tune into our human thought.
2. “Technological change is one driver of change. But there’s another: the sheer numbers of people on the planet and the shifting patterns of population” (Robinson, 2011, p. 35).  By 2050 it is estimated that there will be about 9.2 billion people living on the planet. Comparing this number to what it was in the early 1900s goes to show that technology many not be the only factor in driving change. Technology needs to meet the needs and demand of the human occupying the planet.
3. "Responding to these rapid changes in population will demand radically new ways of caring for natural resources, new technologies for generating energy, new and sustainable methods of food production and new approaches to both the prevention and treatment of diseases” (Robinson, 2011, p.37). With rapid population growth among us potential epidemics and new forms of diseases are more likely to occur. With that on the horizon we must channel our innovative individuals to create technology that is able to combat those potential challenges.
4. “Soon, information technologies may move inside our bodies and even into our brains. Computers may be about to merge with our own minds and consciousness” (Robinson, 2011, p.30). As technological implants are on the horizon I don’t find this idea hard to believe. However, the idea of it really is crazy if you think about it. With how close smartwatches and fitness bands can get a read on our body imagine what the next step could be.

Disagreements:
1. “At that point we will cross a threshold: computers will be capable of learning. I asked what that means. I was told that they would be able to rewrite their own operating systems, based on their experiences: “their experiences” (Robinson, 2011, p.32). I feel as though we have heard statements similar to this over the past could decades. It is very difficult for me to believe that in the next ten years or so that “computers may soon become conscious.”
2. “Humanoid robots that walk and have lifelike facial expressions have been developed in several laboratories” (Robinson, 2011, p.33). Ray Kurzweil discusses the concept of “virtual bodies” on p. 33, this idea is something I could potentially see happening but I don’t know how people would be okay with Wall-E like Pixar machines walking about on a normal day. I feel like there is a limit on what is comfortable when it comes to technological innovations and I believe that is pushing the envelope.

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I agree that technology is assisting in blurring the lines between business and pleasure. Although it can be a positive thing that work can be brought home, it's also negative that, even if it's a day off, there's a compulsion to check and respond to work emails and do unpaid work. I also agree that the expansion of news, while helpful, creates a sense of a permanent crisis. There is always a negative headline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instead of reading yesterdays highlights the next day, a multitude of online newspapers and magazine update their content by the minute. When Robinson said H.G Wells quote, "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe," I completely agreed. Teaching is such an important job, because without education, it would be much harder to adapt to new learnings and be educated about a variety of topics, especially topics that are just becoming relevant in life. Also, when he says that too often we are looking in the past, I agree. When the chapter was talking about how technology may be in our bodies in a couple years, I was thinking, "That would never happen." But people only 30 years ago were also thinking that about iPhones.
I disagree with some of Robinson's statements that weren't backed by evidence. For example he said, "If you have an iPhone, it probably has more computing power than was available on earth in 1940" (Robinson, 2011, pg 24). It may be true, but he has no evidence to support it and his use of "probably" made the statement seem less true to me. Also, like I stated earlier, I disagree that in a couple years, technology will be in our bodies. I don't think people will want technology in our skin and to be able to see a screen in our eyes. I believe that our technology is not this advanced yet, it will be too expensive to catch on, and that very few people would be interested in it.