When I read stories about the 'future of technology,' like this one about interactive radio, I reflect on what's really happening to our world, and especially to my generation.
We have barely started to write the great story of our lives, and yet, it's happening faster than any other time in history--that is undeniable. But the thing is that that has always been true of kids versus previous generations. Such is the nature of human evolution. What makes this one different is that we are rapidly approaching what may be the very threshold of human and computer ability--full adaptation without a new evolution. Murphy's Law, as described in the most recent issue of Foreign Policy Magazine (no weblink to the FP story, maybe in an update) will reach a limit. Similarly, humans perception may reach a limit too. Just like our eyes only see at 24 frames per second even though we can make film go a lot faster, it is our own perception to which we will have to adjust.
Our computers will cease to go faster, smaller, such as the history of computing has gone up until this point. Both have their limits until a new evolution happens--such as a brain change or a new way of putting together a microchip. Progress won't be stopped--we'll still have new inventions in nanotechnology, for example. But GAINS in these areas could stop or slow--meaning that we won't be able to cut out that last milli-second. Not a tragedy, but a change.
I'm not afraid of the world ahead, but I do know that the key to technology's--and humanity's--success will be in the interfacing between the two. We can always unplug, but at the same time, embrace our new world, even at what may seem to be an uncomfortable pace.
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