Most people, much like myself, thought that they did not know much about technology. It turns out that is has become so prevalent to us that we are using it every day without realising the difference it makes! I thought why not write a blog on some of the key aspects? I found the topic to be an eye-opener, and I hope you will too.
It was not many years ago we were using technology that we now look back on as being obsolete or useless. Many things go out-of-date reasonably quickly and with the new, comes new opportunities and much more that we can do. Gone are the days of pulling out the antenna to get even the slightest signal, dial-up tones, yellow pages and more. We are now entering a new age, with plans to create a device that allows people to type just by thinking, made possible with a study that developed machine-learning algorithms capable of turning brain activity into speech. Or the designing of contact lenses with a tiny screen within them. All these are new ideas. So what is next?
It can feel like so much has passed, but realistically, it has not in how far things have progressed. Even in my line of work for Codex Edge and with our product ATLAS I use technology daily and see the capability of the technology we already have with my own eyes. Meanwhile, as a designer/marketer and video editor, I see how even related softwares have changed over time and made incredible leaps within the past few years. I still remember the life of little to no technology!
It is no secret that technology is making life more comfortable, and we can access knowledge at the click of a button. It will keep moving forward and progressing, so we have to learn how to make technology work with us and not against us.
For example, some are pushing for an artificial intelligence system to be recognised as an inventor. This has already led to disagreements from patent offices refusing to assign intellectual property rights for AI-generated creations. If this becomes the status quo, it could impact parts of the legal system dramatically. I feel it should go to the creator of the A.I. because it is currently a tool used by a human inventor anything to the contrary would have far-reaching implications. That said, “AI could increase the UK’s GDP by 10% in the next decade” so it’s an issue that definitely needs to be addressed. Here’s hoping there is no retaliation from future robots if/when they find this article in a few years!
Inventions, issues and ideas
After looking into the history of technology a bit more, about some of the inventions we use today, it may be a surprise to you that some of the greatest inventions were not created by who you thought. Ideas and variations of those ideas have been around for years. A patent is what makes an idea owned by someone, which you have to file and pay for. For example, when I was a child, I was drawing and trying to work out how a flying car would work before years later engineers showed it on T.V. In short, the idea was around, but was not yet made or patented until the technology was created.
Other interesting examples are the light bulb and telephone. Who do you think made them? Well, the idea for the telephone was there, but the first working telephone was originally made by an Italian named Antonio Meucci. He filed a temporary patent on his invention in 1874, but he failed to renew his license. So two years after that, Alexander Bell registered his telephone patent. As for the light bulb, many people had messed around with the idea, but Heinrich Goebel was likely the first person to have invented it back in 1854. Not to forget the brilliant Nikola Tesla who worked for Edison’s company and is most certainly the brains behind many inventions we see today.
The lessons we can take from this are that ideas are not always original. It is what we do with our ideas and how we use our creativity to move forward or make something of them. Another clear message is, of course, to respect other people’s ideas and creations.
How does this affect us?
The technological changes do impact us, but how they came about does not. There are various new inventions and technology being developed that we have yet to see and how far it can take us. It is also good to remember to not depend on technology too much as we are all capable of achieving things without it as well. Also, overuse can leave us stressed. Remember to accept, adapt and appreciate it all, but take a break sometimes. Find a middle ground and do not get complacent as the world needs us to keep pushing for more with our ideas, but be wise about it.
On a final note, technology will continue to evolve, new ideas will emerge, and we will keep having to learn and move forward with it and to accept it in life.
