For this year's festivities, participants are asked to look at both sides of science and technology. How has one aspect enhanced humanity and how has another (or the same) caused us trouble.
So many to choose from!!!
One of my favourite technological advances is portable music! From the good old Walkman back in the day to the numerous iPod versions, it has made life better. Sure I could be talking about vaccines and adaptive devices and artificial limbs and other serious topics, but I LOVE having my music with me. It makes working out livable and walking so much more enjoyable! On a more serious side, the technology has also made it SO much easier for kids who live kind of on the fringes at lunches and recesses. Some kids find it incredibly difficult to find friends to hang out with at these times and the technology has helped them. Not only do they appear busy and like they're choosing to be alone but they have something to focus on other than their solitude. That's a huge plus in my book!
On the down side, I generally find it's not the technology or the science itself that causes humankind problems, but the humans who choose to abuse it. There seems to be a need to turn almost everything into a weapon of some kind. Chemical warfare and biological agents are some of the most terrifying we've managed to create. The most insidious are probably the recreational drugs that cause so much damage. While some may not agree that these are weapons, I would show as evidence the kids with the damaged psyches, injured brains & bodies, and irreparably broken hearts I've met over the years. Weapons indeed.
For other entries in the blogfest, click on the 3 links at the top of this post. Good luck to Stephen with Escalation - his 3rd book in the Chase Manhatten series! You'll love his use of wormholes in these books!!
What's your favourite or least favourite technological advance?
38 comments:
Jemi--Great points about portable music! I've noticed the same thing when I've picked up my carpool at school...the kids who have trouble fitting in have something to do and don't have to stand around awkwardly. And the music is likely calming to them, too.
Excellent choices, Jemi! Music - I should have thought of that.
Thanks for participating in the blogfest.
Ah, but the question is, does having the music make it easier to drop out all together and not participate? Don't get me wrong, I definitely see your point, but maybe it creates an extra barrier, and gives kids a reason not to reach out.
Nice post, take care!
Earphones/headphones that work and not have any sound bleed (I think that's the term? You know so you may listen to your music without bothering the person sitting next to you on the train...) are fab too!
:-)
Booo to humans' abilities to turn good things to bad! :-(
Take care
x
Interesting twist on the iPad and music. I will rethink about my kids using it from your point of view next time, and try to see it as an advantage.
I love being able to take music anywhere. I still remember lugging around a giant boombox in high school. How far we've come.
Thank you Jemi for the shout out! It all comes down to how we steward scientific breakthroughs. We can use them to heal people, or to kill them.
Elizabeth - exactly! Nothing like music to change your mood!
Alex - you're very welcome! Music is a big part of my life too :)
Jeff - thanks. And sometimes it probably can - but I've seen more advantages than disadvantages so far :)
Old Kitty - so true! I like those headphones too!
Rhonda - it can be a great advantage for them!
Diane - music is awesome and I remember those boom boxes well!
Stephen - exactly! Science isn't the problem - it's often human greed. So sad.
You definitely hit the real problem on the head. I think 'our' misused of technology is what makes some advancements seem so scary. It's not technology itself. As with all things, balance and pure motives are key.
I agree, Jemi, that it isn't science that's the problem but the humans who choose to abuse it. Most advancement seems to have a downside.
weapons are definitelly the worst inventions, but I think that on every good invention come ebil people who find the way to use it in ebil ways :(
My fave techn. advance is the electricity itself, because I've been often without it in my life (during wars, bombings, crises and shortages) and I now value that simple thing more than anything. Electricity for cooking, for heating water, for heating houses, for cooling refridgetaros... imagine life without it.....
Jemi, great choice with the music. It's wonderful to have with us at anytime and anywhere, but I do miss the 45s of my youth. And we humans do seem to make something bad out of everything good.
Karen - and it's usually human greed that's the root of it all *sigh*
Sheri - exactly! If we could only stick with those pure motives.
Fanny - and that's the sad truth.
Dezzy - yes! Electricity is at the core of so many of our advances and comforts
Mason - I remember hurrying out to buy those 45s of the new records - awesome!
Other than music in my vehicle which is a must, I've never been one to want to transport my music with me. When I'm walking or just outside I like to keep in touch with my surroundings.
There was a time in my youth when I had a battery operated portable record player. I'd haul a bunch of albums with me when I'd go camping or for some stationary activity and listen to my music. Not very practical and it was not something I could listen to if I was on the move.
But I know some people love to be lost in music while they're walking or running. Others will have their tunes at the beach, the park or wherever. I usually don't share their tastes in music, but they seem to like having it with them.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
I didn't even think about my iPhone for music in this fest. I used to run with just my thoughts for company and now I couldn't do it without my music.
Lee - headphones are a great invention for keeping that music private! Some people do like to share loudly! I once had a purple record player, but it wasn't battery operated! :)
Susan - I hate exercising without music! Drives me nuts :)
I'm with you -- I love portable music! My MP3 player makes everything more fun, including exercising, doing dishes, folding laundry... well, any kind of housework. Very interesting topic!
Shelley - it's been interesting to see how others answer the question too. Can't imagine being without the iPod! :)
The internet! Or maybe laptops are my favourites.
Probably nasty warfare items would be on my least fav list.
Jean - great choices! Can't imagine life without my laptop either! :)
There will always be social strata, and there will always be outcasts, whether money or ability is evident. Conformity is usually required by those in power. This accounts for many a good story.
Interesting points.
DG - true - and you're so right about the stories!
Great choices, Jemi! Loved it!
Thanks Kelly :)
I love technology, but I think it's made things too easy. People use their calculator apps instead of using paper and pencil or doing math in their head, rely on spellcheck too much, and a host of other things. I find that I used to memorize more when I was younger; now I'm hooked on apps and devices.
I think anything can be a good or bad thing. Anything. I suppose that's why we have so much responsibility in this life, to utilize the tools at our disposal for good purposes and make the best of life, eh?
Medeia - agreed! Tech can be so helpful but yes it does make some things too easy!
Crystal - we do have that responsibility - too bad so many misuse it!
I don't know what I would do without my iPod. Seriously--it makes life better. And I would definitely agree that some of the drugs out there are weapons--no other way to define them!
Interesting. When I was a teen - back in the dark ages - portable music was a pocket size transistor radio (AM channels only). And everyone had one.
I think the ability to text is my least favorite, even though I do it, because of what's it's doing to conversation and social skills, especially among today's teens.
Meradeth - I agree - the iPod is a big part of my life too! :)
Linda - texting is changing how people interact. I've seen people sitting beside each other texting instead of talking - bizarre!
Interesting choice Jemi!
And current/topical as it pertains to learners of today...
I can remember back in the day, when we had a turntable with a needle, and you popped the vinyl records onto it... then came the tape recorder with those audio cassettes... then video cassettes... then DVD's... i-Pods... where will it end?
Writer In Transit
Michelle - I remember those record players well (my first one was purple!). It will be interesting to watch the evolution!
You make a great point there about the problem not being the technology as much as the way people use it. I can't believe how many people have ear-buds jammed into their ears while out walking or even driving, lost in their own little world, crossing the street without looking or pausing, driving on automatic, one small step away from disaster...
Garrison - so true!! I've never tried noise cancelling headphones but I'd be terrified walking with them. I like to hear that traffic around me :)
Agree-agree-agree with music! Great choice. I'm still waiting for 3D holograms in the home and flying cars. I will be most annoyed if they don't appear in my lifetime.
Leslie - yes!!! If we can't live at least a little like the Jetsons, we'll have failed! :P
Hope I'm better late than never here...
I love this. I could go on and on about music in gernal, but the advancement of protable msic devices just simply makes me smile.
Great choice and great post!
Hi Toinette - thanks! I do love my music and can't imagine doing a whole lot without it :)
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