Every day, technology makes advances, creating more efficiency and more things for us to learn. It is advancing faster than ever before, which raises the question: Is it more important to be intelligent, or proficient at using technology? The more technology changes, the more our definition of intelligence changes. Technology is now becoming the measuring stick for categorizing someone as smart.
Today, we have contact with mobile technology at almost all times of the day. This creates a strong reliance to such a powerful tool. We do not need to learn or memorize things when we can just look them up on their cell phones. In future generations, this is the life our children will know.
It is hard for me to contemplate how far we will take this. Will technology stop evolving? Can it stop evolving? What kind of pit are we in and where does it cross the point of no return to the physical life that is diminishing today?
In my mind, I do not see the evolution of technology slowing down in the future. If it becomes too advanced, will we have the ability to control it, or will it take over our lives, leaving us with no desire for the physical world? If we live in a society one day where we are completely reliant on technology, who will be in charge? Technology or us?
Your first question really through me in for a loop! From my perspective it depends on your definition of intelligent. A friend and I came to an accord about this a while ago. To us, to be educated/smart means to be good at memorizing and collecting information and reciting/repeating it. To be intelligent however means being able to adapt that knowledge to any given situation, being able to use it as a tool. In day-to-day life I feel that that intelligence isn't that important necessarily since a lot of conversations are superficial. However, if you involve yourself in academic conversations, are an entrepreneur or an elected official being intelligent sure does come in handy! Good post!
ReplyDeleteI really think that what you said about proficiency with technology being a measuring stick for ability/intelligence is powerful and true today. However, at the end of the day, I believe this isn't everything. And neither is intelligence or ability, in itself. Of course, it is easier for those who are more intelligent to rise to the top of society, but due to technology's advances, it is becoming more and more possible for different people to enter themselves into the playing field. But, yeah, what if technology advances so far that we will no longer be able to control it, or if it will decrease all of our abilities to succeed in the real world? That's a really good question that your post made me contemplate.
ReplyDelete