Thinking Of Technology

Thinking Of Technology

Thinking about all the technology that has developed during your lifetime, the older you are, the more drastic this evolution has been. We all use gadgets daily, and many of them have become ubiquitous in our lives. So, when did technology start to be perceived as negative? Back in the 1950s, people predicted flying cars and household robots. In the 60s, computers grew smaller, and by the 70s every household could have a rudimentary computer. In the 1980s, computers and telecommunications became common. By the 90s, the Internet changed everything, and it remained predominant until the recent rise of large language models. Now, these chat systems are viewed by some as the beginning of society’s downfall, from education to a workforce reduction.

When portable cassette decks became available to the masses, humanity survived. We also survived when computers, rudimentary by today’s standards, entered many homes. The cell phone, or rather the smartphone, is now so ubiquitous that it is unusual to see someone without one in hand. Looking at the past, history shows us that whenever a new technology appears, some people adopt it quickly, while others see only the worst and avoid it.

Television was the main form of entertainment until recently. People rushed home to watch their favorite shows until the VCR arrived, letting them record up to six hours of content while they were out. Eventually, VCRs gave way to DVD players and other recording systems. The 90s Internet technology eventually allowed anyone to watch any movie, TV show, or hear any song whenever they wanted. The pioneers who created the early Internet did not foresee that. They built webpages without seeing the network’s full potential. No one at the start could predict every use of this technology.

The same is true for large language models. Many people claim they can they are clairvoyant and warn that this technology will end society and destroy humanity. They are wrong. This technology will evolve into something we cannot predict because we are still at the beginning of the journey. It is easy to say it will hinder learning, eliminate thinking, and destroy entire industries while enriching a few. But right now, no one knows. We can only speculate about what large language models will bring. Hopefully, they will help humanity. Like any other tool humans have developed, these large language models may improve our quality of life. Of course, only time will tell.

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Artificial Intelligence Has Always Been With Us

Artificial Intelligence Has Always Been With Us 

Lately, you hear the term artificial intelligence in every media post you see and read. It is the new, scary technological creation that is going to take away all jobs and steal all content from human history. Everything about artificial intelligence will ultimately lead to humanity being under the control of artificial beings. Of course, this is not true.

New technology is developed repeatedly and integrated into daily life. Let us go back to the invention of fire, the wheel, and the pulley. We could all agree that the world was a tremendously different place without these inventions, or rather, tools. Computer technology has always been a tool. Going back to the eight-bit home computers in the late '70s through the invention of the Internet, this was just another tool for humanity to use to be more efficient, for creativity, and for the betterment of life.

Think of all the technologies and inventions that came from the Internet. We now get into strangers' cars when we do not have a ride. We have strangers deliver our food to our houses when we are too busy to fetch our food for ourselves. We have strangers deliver our packages instead of going to the store and picking them up ourselves. Instead of going to a library and browsing periodicals, you can find information quickly in a search engine. You can find information so quickly today that it makes the science fiction TV shows from the '60s look archaic. Their computers would take about five seconds to find information, but for us, as soon as we hit "search," the information pops up.

Ultimately, artificial intelligence will be utilized in the same manner as these prior technologies. In the modern world, it is unlikely anyone would give up their conditioned air to eliminate technology, just like most people would not give up their smartphones, which are glued to their hands throughout the day. Anyone who has to write would dread typing a research paper on a manual typewriter.

Artificial intelligence is just another tool for us to use. Remember, computers only do exactly what you tell them to do. They are only as good as the information input into them. The term garbage in, garbage out remains an important concept in understanding what computer technology can accomplish. Once you know how computer technology functions, it is easy to realize that it is ultimately a tool. Like any tool, it can be used correctly and efficiently, or it can be misused and rendered ineffective.

At the moment, no one knows how artificial intelligence will affect humanity. When past technologies such as early computers, the Internet, the plow, cinema, the automobile, MP3 players, and air conditioning were introduced, no one could foresee their long-term impact. You may think you know what artificial intelligence will be used for in the future, but you do not. No one could imagine the amazing possibilities of computers connected via the Internet. And no one alive right now can imagine the possibilities with artificial intelligence.

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Thinking, Learning, Ideas

Thinking, Learning, Ideas

Life offers so many wonderful opportunities. The opportunity to sit and just think is a special gift for all of us. Hopefully, most of us will take the time to find a quiet place, perhaps in nature, and simply look outward and reflect upon ourselves and the things that matter most to us. Finding time to just sit and think offers many benefits.

When you are talking, you are not listening. Before speaking, having time to reflect and analyze a situation or an idea promotes clarity in your thoughts. Thinking before you speak is an important skill to develop as you mature in life.

Learning is a lifelong adventure. Regardless of your level of education, you are never finished learning. Whether acquiring a new skill for your employment, pursuing a hobby, or seeking enjoyment, education will be a lifelong partner on your journey. As you continue to learn, remember to think. You might assume this happens automatically. However, once you have been exposed to and absorbed new information, take time to think through the ramifications of these new ideas.

Once you have devoted time to learning and thinking, your ideas will flourish. Invest in yourself. Read a good book. Watch a documentary on a subject you care about. Find an expert and ask them challenging questions. Take a course on that subject, or if you have time, major in it. And realize that learning does not necessarily lead directly to a job. It leads to critical thinking. So no matter what life throws at you, you will be able to think through any situation and find a solution.

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Challenge Yourself

Challenge Yourself

We get bored. Even with all the options for entertainment and learning, we still get bored. With all the technology and endless options for distractions, if we are bored today, humanity will always find a way to be bored. It would be interesting to take a modern person back in time and see how bored they would be without the modern conveniences we take for granted today.

What is the root cause of boredom? Perhaps it is part of human nature to find any task become mundane over time. Or maybe anything with repetition would lead to boredom at some point. Repeating tasks over and over again is an important part of many jobs. Boredom may be the result of so many activities being repetitive.

Well, how do we stop being bored? Do we go from watching TV shows to movies, reading books instead of online material, or changing the genre of music we listen to? Today, there are so many options to not be bored that this may be the real problem.

At one point in human history, there were very few options for entertainment. People worked from "can in the morning" to "cannot at night". There was little time to be bored because you had to survive. This is not true in the modern era. Food is very easy to obtain, and so is entertainment. Working a 40-hour-a-week job leaves many hours in a day to indulge in entertainment ultimately leading to boredom.

One way to avoid boredom is to go out and experience life. Sitting in front of a computer or smartphone does not give you the same experience as going out and doing something. Experiencing real events without technology reduces the chances of boredom. Going for a walk or engaging in any type of exercise is very beneficial for us, and it helps combat boredom. Even if we are listening to music while working out, we are still less bored by whatever we are listening to.

So get out there and start to live life. The world is a wonderful place out there, full of joy and pleasures to satiate humanity. But those who are too afraid to go out and experience reality will not benefit from nature. Be bold! Go and do something you have not done before. Take chances in your life, and experience happiness. Say goodbye to boredom.

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