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. 

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.  

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

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. 

 

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.

 

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. 

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. 

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. 

“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. 

 

“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. 

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. 

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. 

 

 

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:

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. 

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.
 

“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.

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

“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.

 

 

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.

 

“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.