With the rapid advance of today’s technologically rooted world, a logical question to ask is whether we are in control of the technology, or the technology is in control of us? It seems every day a new advancement has been made, whether it concerns something as big as a space shuttle or something as small as a microchip. Moreover, all of these advancements affect our lives and can be challenging to stay knowledgeable about. Could it be that technology is already advancing beyond the scope of our human brains, and will continue to do so? The answer is no. The human brain is, of course naturally ready to facilitate and receive the information provided by technology because 1. we as humans instigated the beginning of technology with the advent of tone tools and fire, 2. we as a race continued to make these advancements, forcing the hand of technology for the betterment of society and our own curiosity, and 3. we have created a symbiotic relationship with technology; it is now making us more creative and innovative the longer we spend learning about it and helping it advance. Technology cannot surpass us because we are now woven into one another.
The dawn of man saw many deaths, as stated in Joseph E. Pluta’s article, “Technology vs. Institutions of Prehistory.” During what many refer to as the Stone Age there were no cell phones and, therefore, no apps to direct an individual to the nearest chain restaurant for food. If man did not successfully kill game, they died. Many times they would die in the process of hunting. Raw meat was usually on the menu, and many were lost to attacks . There was also the issue of inclement weather; cold winters wiped out entire populations. If man were to survive, they would need more than just bare hands, and bare skin, while traveling across the harsh landscape. Thus, tools were made, with the first discovery of them putting their invention at around 2.5 million years ago. Humans, comparatively dim as they were to humans today, innovated rocks, sticks, and lashings from their surroundings in order to help them hunt, eat, and gather. Essentially, this was the first technological advancement the world had ever seen, and it has not stopped since. Not only did it make hunting and gathering easier, but it eventually allowed humans to travel, and to even store meat. The next notable technological advancement was the creation of fire. Scientists, archeologist, and anthropologists still argue on its relative date of creation or control, but it was roughly 500,000 years ago that man was able to harness the power of flame, allowing them to cook their food, as well as heat themselves in the worst of weather or the coldest of nights . These two early advancements show that man was not only in control of early technology, but was the catalyst to its arrival. Technology was created out of humanity’s necessity for it, and has since followed the same path.
There has been an insurmountable amount of technological advancements since fire was harnessed 500,000 years ago. In that time, we have grown to understand even more about the world around us. Science and biology have taught us more about the inside of our bodies, how they work, and why they stop working. Modern medicine has even advanced so far that we can help people who are suffering from sickness, disease, or near death. These advancements have helped us evolve beyond archaic methods of treatment. For example, in medieval times, if an individual had epilepsy, it was believed that bathing in the water used to prepare dead bodies for burial would cure the affliction. Not only did this treatment not cure anything, but also it ended in many deaths due to the sheer unsterilized nature of the process . All medically related technological advancements, including medication to control seizures, was stimulated by humanity’s necessity. With the help of physics, math, and science, many countries have assembled space programs that have allowed humans to learn more about the universe beyond our reach. Man has walked on the moon; satellites circle the Earth, visit distant planets, and collect data from star systems only visible through a telescope . Humans no longer have stories, much like the Native Americans or Ancient Chinese myths, that explain why the sun is in the sky. It is now a widely accepted fact that the sun is there as a result of the Big Bang; we even estimate when the sun will burn out, ending it’s life-giving light . From the very small, the very large, and on every front in between, man has helped technology advance so that we may help those around us, and answer questions once outside our reach.
While it is true that nearly all technological advancements have been at the deliberate creation of humans, some were surprises, there are more convincing reasons why we have cause to believe our brains are prone to receive and facilitate them. The first reason is that our interactions with technology are not making us dumber, as previously thought, but are stimulating innovation and creativity . Not only that, but we have learned how to use technology to increase our focus through several series of exercises and games. Technology has always been working for us and helping us learn more about ourselves or the world around us. It has taught us many things and helped us survive. However, now it is helping us be better, more creative people, as well. We have moved past just using technology to work for us, and entered a realm where a human’s relationship with technology is symbiotic. The technology cannot advance without the human and the human needs the technology not only to learn, but also to grow. Humans facilitated the initial conception of technology, an in turn were immediately ready to receive its benefits. Whether that meant the warmth of a fire, the answers from a calculator, or the creativity provided just from working on a computer, We are wired to help technology grow, but also receive everything technology gives us, as if it was the natural process of the world.
There are many who will disagree, assuming that technology will eventually evolve past the human brain. They cannot conceive a way that we could keep up with these technological advancements because so many are made every day. The first mistake the opposition makes is assuming just because technology advances every day there is a correlation with the human brain falling behind. It is true that technology advances every day, and there are endless articles on new software, medicines, or gadgets, but all this means is the human body cannot stay awake long enough to read each article, it does not mean the human brain could not process each advancement. Many members of the opposition also believe technology surpassed us long ago, with advents such as the Atomic Bomb, Agent Orange, or tear gas. While tear gas can sometimes be effective to control an unruly crowd many other technological advancements have caused more harm than good. All weapons of mass destruction were brought into existence thanks to technology . While this is true, it is arguable that firstly, it was unavoidable that unfortunate products would come from technology over the entire span of human history. Fire itself is a very dangerous substance, even when controlled. Secondly, the opposition fails to realize it is not technology that has surpassed us, but certain humans. Atomic bombs do not launch themselves, and cans of tear gas do not throw themselves at the innocent. If they had never been created, it is true that they would never be put into use. Nevertheless, the fact remains that humans understand the technology behind these weapons, they sometimes use them wrong. Technically, some it is simply some humans who are beyond our scope of understanding. Finally, the opposition assumes technology will evolve so far beyond us that it will eventually wipe out the human race. Optimists, like renowned physicist, Michio Kaku, think differently. In his book, “Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives By The Year 2100,” not only does he predict the human race being alive by 2100, but he expresses the belief that technology will save us all and right the wrongs we have done to the planet and our bodies. Many of the devices we use that pollute the planet will run green, for example . Something else Kaku predicts is our toilets will use urine or saliva samples to assess our health, making regular doctor visits a thing of the past .
In sum, technology is not going to evolve past us; it would not be here without us. Since the dawn of the first crude, stone spear, or the first campfire, we have been coaxing technology to its full potential. It is now progressing daily, allowing us to learn about the tiniest of atoms, or the largest of planets. It even helps us expand our minds and become more creative. Our brains were built to naturally facilitate and receive all that is technology, even if is based on necessity. The opposition is sure one-day technology will evolve past us because there are so many advancements, technology does not always create good things, and it may one day kill us all. However, the rest of us know this means we cannot read about all of the advancements every day, its people we do not understand, and it may be technology that saves us. The opposition should recognize they are a part of the human race; each advancement is made with them in mind, as well. With this symbiotic relationship between humans and technology in mind, perhaps they should then ask themselves, who is it they are afraid will advance: the human, or the computer?
References
Allenby, Braden R. and Daniel Sarewitz. The Techno-Human Condition. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2011. Book.
Chapman, Sandra Bond. Make Your Brain Smarter: Increase Your Brain's Creativity, Energy, and Focus. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2014. Book.
Connolly, Sean. The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science. Sacramento: Worrkman Publishing, 2010. Book.
Kaku, Michio. Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100. Chicago: Anchor Books, 2012. Book.
Mesquita, Anabela. Sociological and Philosophical Aspects of Human Interaction with Technology: Advancing Concepts. Hersehy: IGI Global Snippet, 2011. Book.
Pluta, Joseph E. "Technology Vs. Institutions in Prehistory." Journal of Economic Issues (2012): 209-226. Article.
