Technology starting to scare me?

MadYaker · 04-11-2018 12:32am #1

Why are we so obsessed with technological progress? Does anyone ever feel like we are subconciously pushing towards some end? Does anyone else ever wonder if humanity's goal, our purpose, is to bring about a new type of life which will be the next form to dominate this planet? I worry sometimes about the extent to which technology will control our lives in the decades to come. The internet has really changed our world on a fundamental level in a very short space of time when you compare it to other human inventions. A lot of people are incredibly focused on developing new tech, making it smarter, making it learn faster, making it better at predicting. Google follow everything I do on the internet. Yesterday during my lunch I browsed Amazon on my tablet. Later that evening while at home on my desktop I noticed ads on facebook and elsewhere which were clearly related to what id been looking at on Amazon. It worries me sometimes when I thnk about the extent to which my life is monitored by machines. Even my car is connected to the internet now with google maps probably tracking me everywhere I go. It almost drives itself. I drove across Galway in rush hour traffic for an hour yesterday from work to my house without touching any peddles until I parked outside my house. Even 10 years ago things were vastly different. THe rate of progress seems to be increasing all the time. Am I the only one who is becoming scared of technology?

04-11-2018 12:35am

No i'm holding out for replicators

earl grey tea, hot

Atlantic Dawn · 04-11-2018 12:35am

Google tracks activity by your phone via GPS and phone mast data, if you went in to a knocking shop at 4pm and so did another 40 people it would show activity in the knocking shop busy at 4pm.

jimbobaloobob · 04-11-2018 12:37am

What kind of car doesn't need you to touch the pedals?

MadYaker · 04-11-2018 12:39am

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

What kind of car doesn't need you to touch the pedals?

One with adaptive cruise control. You have to start moving and then set it at a certain max speed but it notices cars in front of me and slows down to keep me a safe distance, even to a full stop.

up for anything · 04-11-2018 12:40am

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

What kind of car doesn't need you to touch the pedals?

I was going to ask that! He was probably in the passenger seat.

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 1:11am

Most modern technology is there to solve a problem that does not exist.

Its there to aid people, in particular the younger generation, that are too stupid or too lazy to learn how to do basic ****.

Why do mobile payments exist? Because some people are too lazy to carry a card or cash or worse too lazy to reach in their pocket.

And it is slowly being forced on the rest of us. Soon all tv sets will have that Google assistant installed, listening to everything you say and do at home. The problem is once something is developed we are getting told we MUST use it. We don't have a choice.

jimbobaloobob · 04-11-2018 1:12am

I'm sure with the invention of cars people thought similar to you OP but they didn't have the internet to voice their concern. I think the internet is a great thing but it and the associated technologies of smart this that and the other arent needed. Over reliance on anything is a bad thing. I'm sure in 20 years from now technology will probably carry a health warning like cigarettes do now.

jimbobaloobob · 04-11-2018 1:14am

MadYaker wrote: »

One with adaptive cruise control. You have to start moving and then set it at a certain max speed but it notices cars in front of me and slows down to keep me a safe distance, even to a full stop.

sounds futuristic but then im not one to keep up with technology. Not sure id be comfortable to trust it, especially around Galways rush hours

Seth Brundle · 04-11-2018 1:20am

Google are improving their T-1000 whereas Amazon apparently have developed a prototype called T-3000!
Technology is brilliant!

4068ac1elhodqr · 04-11-2018 1:27am

Cyberdyne, Inc is also the name of a real life Japanese company which manufactures robotic suits, HAL5 endoskeletons and such like. This suit can increase mere human strength by <x10.

A Cyberdyne Systems series T-800 Model 101 Terminator with living tissue over a metal endoskeleton, was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is the main antagonist of The Terminator, the original Terminator film. Random coincidence?

bazz26 · 04-11-2018 1:51am

OP needs to watch the reimaged Battlestar Galactica tv series to see similarities.

"This has all happened before and it will happen again."

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 2:02am

This is the current problem with technology.

https://nypost.com/video/a-bozo-is-so-engrossed-in-his-phone-he-doesnt-notice-a-robbery/

And its only getting worse.

04-11-2018 2:06am

prinzeugen wrote: »

Most modern technology is there to solve a problem that does not exist.

Its there to aid people, in particular the younger generation, that are too stupid or too lazy to learn how to do basic ****.

Why do mobile payments exist? Because some people are too lazy to carry a card or cash or worse too lazy to reach in their pocket.

And it is slowly being forced on the rest of us. Soon all tv sets will have that Google assistant installed, listening to everything you say and do at home. The problem is once something is developed we are getting told we MUST use it. We don't have a choice.

Too lazy to carry cash?
too lazy to carry a debit card?

all of which are lighter than a phone?

Or perhaps, grandad, it’s because most people have their mobile with them when they’re out and about and it’s more secure than a wallet full of cash or a debit card. If someone robs my phone well **** me im down a phone but if someone robs my wallet well then I’m really ****ed, there goes

My cash
My credit and debit card
License
Passport card if I have one
Age card possibly
And all manner of other things.

10-10-20 · 04-11-2018 2:07am

MadYaker wrote: »

Why are we so obsessed with technological progress? Does anyone ever feel like we are subconciously pushing towards some end? Does anyone else ever wonder if humanity's goal, our purpose, is to bring about a new type of life which will be the next form to dominate this planet? I worry sometimes about the extent to which technology will control our lives in the decades to come. The internet has really changed our world on a fundamental level in a very short space of time when you compare it to other human inventions. A lot of people are incredibly focused on developing new tech, making it smarter, making it learn faster, making it better at predicting. Google follow everything I do on the internet. Yesterday during my lunch I browsed Amazon on my tablet. Later that evening while at home on my desktop I noticed ads on facebook and elsewhere which were clearly related to what id been looking at on Amazon. It worries me sometimes when I thnk about the extent to which my life is monitored by machines. Even my car is connected to the internet now with google maps probably tracking me everywhere I go. It almost drives itself. I drove across Galway in rush hour traffic for an hour yesterday from work to my house without touching any peddles until I parked outside my house. Even 10 years ago things were vastly different. THe rate of progress seems to be increasing all the time. Am I the only one who is becoming scared of technology?

When technology creates an interface to break your rectangle of text into readable paragraphs, I'll actually read it.

jimbobaloobob · 04-11-2018 2:07am

prinzeugen wrote: »

This is the current problem with technology.

https://nypost.com/video/a-bozo-is-so-engrossed-in-his-phone-he-doesnt-notice-a-robbery/

And its only getting worse.

Is that for real?

04-11-2018 2:08am

10-10-20 wrote: »

When technology creates an interface to break your rectangle of text into readable paragraphs, I'll actually read it.

There’s already one, it’s called the return key. Maybe the OP is afraid to use his though. Technology. Ooooooo

Irish Guitarist · 04-11-2018 2:09am

Reassure yourself that technology isn't that advanced yet by using the self service checkout in Tesco.

Twenty Grand · 04-11-2018 2:10am

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

Is that for real?

Doubt it. On the off chance it is, it doesn't mean anything.
If the guy missed the robbery cause he was asleep would sleep be a bad thing?

04-11-2018 2:11am

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

Reassure yourself that technology isn't that advanced yet by using the self service checkout in Tesco.

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 2:29am

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

Is that for real?

Its for real.

04-11-2018 2:32am

MadYaker wrote: »

Why are we so obsessed with technological progress? Does anyone ever feel like we are subconciously pushing towards some end? Does anyone else ever wonder if humanity's goal, our purpose, is to bring about a new type of life which will be the next form to dominate this planet? I worry sometimes about the extent to which technology will control our lives in the decades to come. The internet has really changed our world on a fundamental level in a very short space of time when you compare it to other human inventions. A lot of people are incredibly focused on developing new tech, making it smarter, making it learn faster, making it better at predicting. Google follow everything I do on the internet. Yesterday during my lunch I browsed Amazon on my tablet. Later that evening while at home on my desktop I noticed ads on facebook and elsewhere which were clearly related to what id been looking at on Amazon. It worries me sometimes when I thnk about the extent to which my life is monitored by machines. Even my car is connected to the internet now with google maps probably tracking me everywhere I go. It almost drives itself. I drove across Galway in rush hour traffic for an hour yesterday from work to my house without touching any peddles until I parked outside my house. Even 10 years ago things were vastly different. THe rate of progress seems to be increasing all the time. Am I the only one who is becoming scared of technology?

paragraphs arent technology bud

Canis Lupus · 04-11-2018 2:39am

Dylan Juicy WheatMGS wrote: »

Too lazy to carry cash?
too lazy to carry a debit card?

all of which are lighter than a phone?

Or perhaps, grandad, it’s because most people have their mobile with them when they’re out and about and it’s more secure than a wallet full of cash or a debit card. If someone robs my phone well **** me im down a phone but if someone robs my wallet well then I’m really ****ed, there goes

My cash
My credit and debit card
License
Passport card if I have one
Age card possibly
And all manner of other things.

Why would you leave the house with all that in one easy to lose/rob item?

I'm leaving the house. House key check, drivers licence and bank card in my pocket. Done.

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 2:39am

Dylan Juicy WheatMGS wrote: »

The ones in SuperValu are great if you get one of these impatient twats that plonk their basket down as soon as you scan your last item.

Pay, pack your bag, take change and as soon as it says "thank you for shopping at xxx" put your bag back down in the bagging area and pretend to read the receipt or count the change.

"Unknown item in bagging area". Pick up bag and laugh while they try to summon help from the only staff member in the shop. Serves you right. Bet you would not jump in my grave as quick!

Twenty Grand · 04-11-2018 2:51am

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Why would you leave the house with all that in one easy to lose/rob item?

I'm leaving the house. House key check, drivers licence and bank card in my pocket. Done.

We don't.

I leave the house with my inexpensive Huawei phone, and keys.

My phone has contactless payments, emergency cash from ATM and all the other useful apps as well as being a phone

If I lose it, or it gets robbed, everything is backed up and downloads to my replacement. The idea of carrying notes and coins is archaic and a huge PITA.

jimbobaloobob · 04-11-2018 2:55am

I get your point TwentyGrand but i think the opposite, ive an archaic phone.

Last few weeks ive been paid direct to my account, ive no cash in my pockets, i always feel cash is king.

04-11-2018 3:03am

the sooner cash is ceased to be used the better. I always hiss when I enter a shop that has no card machine or a ridiculous extra charge for “under X amount”. I’m also pretty sure I read somewhere that’s illegal.

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 3:15am

Dylan Juicy WheatMGS wrote: »

Too lazy to carry cash?
too lazy to carry a debit card?

all of which are lighter than a phone?

Or perhaps, grandad, it’s because most people have their mobile with them when they’re out and about and it’s more secure than a wallet full of cash or a debit card. If someone robs my phone well **** me im down a phone but if someone robs my wallet well then I’m really ****ed, there goes

My cash
My credit and debit card
License
Passport card if I have one
Age card possibly
And all manner of other things.

Well you should learn to look after your belongings. In my lifetime I have lost one phone in a lake. Never had a phone or a wallet stolen. Why? Because this "grandad" looks after them (I am in my 30s btw).

People lose stuff and stuff gets stolen. The solution is to take more care of your stuff. Not chuck it all on a phone.

We once got taught personal responsibility and the value of items. Not anymore.

As I said, most technology solves problems that don't/should not exist.

You have everything on a phone because you are too lazy or preoccupied with the phone to remember or watch your wallet.

04-11-2018 3:18am

prinzeugen wrote: »

Well you should learn to look after your belongings. In my lifetime I have lost one phone in a lake. Never had a phone or a wallet stolen. Why? Because this "grandad" looks after them (I am in my 30s btw).

People lose stuff and stuff gets stolen. The solution is to take more care of your stuff. Not chuck it all on a phone.

We once got taught personal responsibility and the value of items. Not anymore.

I haven’t ever lost a wallet or phone. I’m simply saying your post calling people lazy for using Android or Apple Pay is ridiculous. Can you explain to me how it’s laziness?

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 3:26am

Dylan Juicy WheatMGS wrote: »

I haven’t ever lost a wallet or phone. I’m simply saying your post calling people lazy for using Android or Apple Pay is ridiculous. Can you explain to me how it’s laziness?

Latte in one hand, phone always in the other. Too lazy to put one down and reach into a pocket.

Go into any self-service line in any supermarket around lunch or 17:30 and witness it yourself. Its fecking hilarious watching it sometimes.

They cant work out that they need to put something down. Its like watching chimps.

kneemos · 04-11-2018 3:47am

Technology has advanced in ways to sell you crap, otherwise not much has changed since the seventies.

Blazer · 04-11-2018 3:53am

bluewolf wrote: »

No i'm holding out for replicators

earl grey tea, hot

Transporter for me.
Go on hols..beam me up Scotty.
Hit the beach and instead of returning to some ****ty hotel with crap wifi and crap stuffy beds "beam me home scotty".
Back to my cozy bed, fast internet, electric blanket etc until the following morning and then back to the beach and sun again.
Christ I can't wait.
Plus I can also get my breakfast beamed to my bedside. How frakkin cool will that be?

prinzeugen · 04-11-2018 4:05am

Blazer wrote: »

Transporter for me.
Go on hols..beam me up Scotty.
Hit the beach and instead of returning to some ****ty hotel with crap wifi and crap stuffy beds "beam me home scotty".
Back to my cozy bed, fast internet, electric blanket etc until the following morning and then back to the beach and sun again.
Christ I can't wait.
Plus I can also get my breakfast beamed to my bedside. How frakkin cool will that be?

Timeshare with room service??

BeerWolf · 04-11-2018 4:54am

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

What kind of car doesn't need you to touch the pedals?

One where I'm being chauffeured in, you Plebeian.

tritriagain · 04-11-2018 7:35am

prinzeugen wrote: »

Latte in one hand, phone always in the other. Too lazy to put one down and reach into a pocket.

Go into any self-service line in any supermarket around lunch or 17:30 and witness it yourself. Its fecking hilarious watching it sometimes.

They cant work out that they need to put something down. Its like watching chimps.

Laughed my arse off at above. So true.work in retail and people paying with cards for very small amounts are a pain. Had one woman recently hand me 3 items while she was on the phone (rude for a start) . She than realised she was paying with her phone. Her head nearly exploded because she couldn't figure out what to do. I hope cash never dies. I would never go anywhere without a bit of cash.

Peatys · 04-11-2018 7:59am

MadYaker wrote: »

Why are we so obsessed with technological progress? Does anyone ever feel like we are subconciously pushing towards some end? Does anyone else ever wonder if humanity's goal, our purpose, is to bring about a new type of life which will be the next form to dominate this planet? I worry sometimes about the extent to which technology will control our lives in the decades to come. The internet has really changed our world on a fundamental level in a very short space of time when you compare it to other human inventions. A lot of people are incredibly focused on developing new tech, making it smarter, making it learn faster, making it better at predicting. Google follow everything I do on the internet. Yesterday during my lunch I browsed Amazon on my tablet. Later that evening while at home on my desktop I noticed ads on facebook and elsewhere which were clearly related to what id been looking at on Amazon. It worries me sometimes when I thnk about the extent to which my life is monitored by machines. Even my car is connected to the internet now with google maps probably tracking me everywhere I go. It almost drives itself. I drove across Galway in rush hour traffic for an hour yesterday from work to my house without touching any peddles until I parked outside my house. Even 10 years ago things were vastly different. THe rate of progress seems to be increasing all the time. Am I the only one who is becoming scared of technology?

Leave the tablet during lunch.
Leave the desktop during the evening's.
Leave the phone at home.

If you need it for work, use it in work. The amount of people who say they can't be parted with their tech, when 99% is WhatsApp porn, Reddit meme's and boards nonsense.

Fighting Tao · 04-11-2018 8:44am

OP, Hurt called it is on their aptly names album “Goodbye to the Machine”. In their song flowers they point out that we’re all going to die regardless of what **** everyone believes in.

Have a listen. Sometimes a depressing song can be heart warming.

Guy:Incognito · 04-11-2018 8:52am

Blazer wrote: »

Transporter for me.9
Go on hols..beam me up Scotty.
Hit the beach and instead of returning to some ****ty hotel with crap wifi and crap stuffy beds "beam me home scotty".
Back to my cozy bed, fast internet, electric blanket etc until the following morning and then back to the beach and sun again.
Christ I can't wait.
Plus I can also get my breakfast beamed to my bedside. How frakkin cool will that be?

You reckon transporters will be available for your holiday before decent internet access abroad? All the while youre still the guy relying on an electric blanket to keep warm at night? Your timeline for progress is skewed somewhere

erica74 · 04-11-2018 9:04am

bluewolf wrote: »

No i'm holding out for replicators

earl grey tea, hot

I've always been interested in the raktajino myself:cool: it always sounded like a Klingon frappucino to me:pac:

04-11-2018 9:15am

erica74 wrote: »

I've always been interested in the raktajino myself:cool: it always sounded like a Klingon frappucino to me:pac:

with some wriggly gagh in it!
:pac:

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-11-2018 9:20am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Google tracks activity by your phone via GPS and phone mast data, if you went in to a knocking shop at 4pm and so did another 40 people it would show activity in the knocking shop busy at 4pm.

That's the handiest feature they've had in years.

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-11-2018 9:21am

prinzeugen wrote: »

Most modern technology is there to solve a problem that does not exist.

Its there to aid people, in particular the younger generation, that are too stupid or too lazy to learn how to do basic ****.

Why do mobile payments exist? Because some people are too lazy to carry a card or cash or worse too lazy to reach in their pocket.

And it is slowly being forced on the rest of us. Soon all tv sets will have that Google assistant installed, listening to everything you say and do at home. The problem is once something is developed we are getting told we MUST use it. We don't have a choice.

Where do you think people keep their phones? That's one of the most stupid things I've read on here in a long time. If you're going to be a massive luddite then at least try to form something coherent.

sReq | uTeK · 04-11-2018 9:27am

Dylan Juicy WheatMGS wrote: »

the sooner cash is ceased to be used the better. I always hiss when I enter a shop that has no card machine or a ridiculous extra charge for “under X amount”. I’m also pretty sure I read somewhere that’s illegal.

yea and all we need is visa or mastercard to go down again so we can’t buy a single item for 12 hours.

Im a technologist, it’s what i do for a living, selling tech to large enterprises that fixes or streamlines a business objective. Believe me when i tell you we have nothing to worry about with regards to AI taking over he world.

AI exists to provide US with intelligence but also to take on the mundane and scientific computations that we simply can’t do as quick.

Similar to the agricultural revolution this will free humans up to move off assembly lines and the likes and innovate

Peatys · 04-11-2018 9:37am

Patww79 wrote: »

Where do you think people keep their phones?.

Permanently welded to their hands.

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-11-2018 9:40am

Peatys wrote: »

Permanently welded to their hands.

No they don't.

dan1895 · 04-11-2018 9:43am

Can't remember where I read the following but I found the below to be interesting and it applies to all generations.

Any technology that exists when your born is seen as the norm. Lightbulbs, cars, planes, tv's etc.

Any tech invented/developed before you hit your late 20's is seen as groundbreaking, exciting, innovative, cutting edge,must have. Mobile phones, high speed internet, bluetooth, wifi.

Any tech developed after your late 20's is seen as unneccesary, dangerous, going to far, only going to be used for bad. Look at the cynicism surrounding the likes of self drive cars and Alexa.

Obviously doesnt apply to everyone or everything but do find myself questioning new technology and why would anyone bother with it.

Peatys · 04-11-2018 9:48am

Patww79 wrote: »

ooooohhhhhhh no they don't.

Ooohhhhhhhhh yes they do!

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-11-2018 9:57am

Peatys wrote: »

Ooohhhhhhhhh yes they do!

Well if you're just going to make stuff up. Anyway yeah, we won't agree and each of us thinks the other is taking out of their hole, so what's the point. Just don't add things to my posts when you quote then in future thanks.

Tom Dunne · 04-11-2018 10:02am

I was driving home from work the other day when my phone rang. Four screens were telling me my wife was calling - the dashboard beside the speedometer, the centre console, my watch and the phone itself.

It was at that point I realised things have gone too far.

Wibbs · 04-11-2018 10:07am

prinzeugen wrote: »

Most modern technology is there to solve a problem that does not exist.

Somewhat. It's there "for our convenience", a term when spouted by any corporation or agency should make one think beyond clicking OK. It is there to feed the consumerist monster in the most efficient way possible. Cashless payments are easier, less obvious, therefore people tend to spend more. All the "personal assistant" apps and the like are there to track you so they can push more of the same tat at you. Cashless payments do that extremely well. the consumerist monster knows what you buy, how often and where. But it is convenient...

This monster is getting worse by the year and we're happily walking into it. That's were Orwell got it wrong in his novel 1984. He naturally assumed it would be some grey top down imposition. The recent thread on the threat to wild animals and the environment is a threat that we should be concerned about. Yet at the same time we're consuming more and more with each passing year. On another thread a couple of posters blamed our grandparents generation for this kinda thing, yet as a demographic they were demonstrably "greener" than the most fervent knit your own muesli sandals "green" hippie of today, with their annual phone "upgrade", their "green" hybrid/battery car on PCP to be "upgraded" every three years for a new one, wearing clothes shipped from some third world nation, thrown out on the regular rather than repaired, while eating their fancy vegan, gluten free salad with ingredients flown in refrigerated freshness from the four corners of the globe. Consider this current furore about plastics in our environment: Nearly half of all plastics have been produced since the year 2000 and nearly half of it is packaging, used once and thrown away.

The problem is once something is developed we are getting told we MUST use it. We don't have a choice.

Maybe down the line, but we currently do have a choice. You don't have to have a "smart" phone. You could get an old stylee type phone, with buttons and batteries that last the week between charges. Even if you have a smart phone, switch off location services on everything but say GPS apps if you want to get directions and only engaged when the app is active. Use cash as much as possible. Don't use google products, whose entire business model is to track you and your "needs". Use something like Dudkduckgo for searching the interwebs. Setting up your own personal email service costs about 50 quid a year. Use a VPN. Even something as simple as swapping out your interwebs provider's DNS servers for those from Cloudflare. Keep social media use to a minimum. Any commercial service that wants your seed breed and generation, just spoof your age, gender etc. Avoid "loyalty" cards. That sort of thing.

Peatys · 04-11-2018 10:08am

Patww79 wrote: »

Well if you're just going to make stuff up. Anyway yeah, we won't agree and each of us thinks the other is taking out of their hole, so what's the point. Just don't add things to my posts when you quote then in future thanks.

Thought we were doing panto

Technology starting to scare me?

Comments