Technology for a better life

“Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons”

R. Buckminster Fuller

Technology is not just about having a high-configured mobile with unlimited bandwidth; it’s beyond, much beyond. There was a time when people craved for acquiring knowledge. The goal was achieved by lots of efforts, travel, age and places. The knowledge gained by them was passed on to the next generations through teachings or documents. Times change so do the ideals and theories and doctrines and minds. Technology is something which is created by us, the humans. Minds of people who are focused and determined in specific areas of interest do invent things; things which would be labeled as the craziest and most demonic at that point of time. These specific people bore it all; when they were called crazy, foolish and mad. Least would those people who mocked them knew the future would be controlled by those inventions.

As the time progresses, human race would expand their thought process, raise their bars, widen their horizons over the universe. We have progressed in every aspect of luxuries and sophistication. What once was termed as impossible is a reality today. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention, which is absolutely true; inventions were based out of the basic needs of humanity.

Technology is supposed to be aiding the humans and be controlled by humans. We have been versioning the sophistication leaving behind the basic human needs.

We were lazy to go to the television to change channel or volume, so we invented remote which made us stationary and causing obesity; as a solution for obesity we invented treadmills. Have we invented obesity here?

Our busy lives forced us to invent foods which could be cooked and consumed in few minutes. Now we debate about the diseases caused by these. Have we invented cancers and ulcers here?

We invented refrigerators for storing food items. Now we debate about the damage caused to the ozone layer.

We invented the social media apps to share our opinions and connect people. We use these apps for trolling, abusing, stalking, hurting people and spreading false news and rumors across. Have we invented tools for fuelling hatred and invading privacy?

We have invented the fusion of hydrogen nuclei as a source of energy, but this knowledge led us to develop bombs. Have we invented tools for genocide?

We invented mobiles for sophisticated communications and access of data, we complain about our partners not spending time and getting glued to their n-inch-screen virtual worlds. Have we invented relationship breakers and spoilers?

We invented bath showers for luxury. We complain about scarcity of water.

We invented high speed vehicles. We complain about the safety.

We have vehicles to reach Mars. We don't have transportation modes in many villages.

We cut the trees for urbanisation. We complain about no trees and environmental issues.

We invent robots which work like human. We fire people from companies.

We invented plastic. We plan campaigns for a plastic free world.

Technology has two faces – business and humanitarian. “Assumption and a global practice is a technology which is for a useful cause but does not generate revenue is never a technology and is never encouraged” This must change. 

What are we going to give to our future generations?  Mobiles with 1 TB RAM? High speed internet services? Voice controlled homes? Fancy amphibian flying cars? Drones to play?

• 1 of 8 people is dying because of hunger
• 1 in 9 people worldwide do not have access to safe and clean drinking water
• Half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a water-related disease
• More than a million deaths due to road accidents
• 28000 deaths caused by terrorism
• 60 million children do not have access to education
• 240 millions in India alone do not have electricity facilities as of 2016 statistics

It's high time to focus on technology to have nutritious, energetic, fresh food; build homes for everyone; get cheaper medication; to generate cheaper and quality solar and wind energies for zero pollution; which spreads peace and harmony across the world. 

Let us take a pledge to use the knowledge and build technology for a better human life.

This article was published in Q2 bulletin - 2017, Lore Software Solutions.