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We Need To Believe That Better Is Possible
If we lose excitement for innovation, things will only get worse.
In parts of Massachusetts, experiments have already been carried out to implement technology that automatically analyses wastewater from different areas and neighbourhoods. The idea is that, once this technology is more widespread and efficient, it would help detect new virus variants or other afflictions worth noting before they could proliferate out of control without relying on individual responsibility.
A voice inside my head argued that this could be an extra layer of control outside our influence. I found this voice exceptionally irritating. What is it that makes us jump so readily at negative conclusions?
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain, affordable carbon-neutral homes, self-driving cars, targeted advertising…
I believe there was a time when advances in technology were mostly seen as something to feel positive about, to derive hope from, to allow ourselves to be convinced that a better world was just a little bit closer. Granted, there were always those who would deride new inventions, but I find it significant that much of the negativity regarding technology today comes from sections of society I wouldn’t have suspected of technophobia.