Did you just blink? Have you inhaled and exhaled, only to inhale again? Does your blood make its circuit through the valves of your heart? If you answered no to any of those questions, you will need to consult a doctor or, more likely, a mortician. If you answered yes, however, then in the span of time that it took for any one of those actions, your smartphone, tablet, television or computer has already become obsolete.
We are certainly in an era of unprecedented technological growth, something akin to the Industrial Revolution that took place roughly a century ago, if the creation of the Internet can at all be compared to the harnessing of steam and coal. What we take for commonplace was completely unheard of a decade ago, outside of science fiction. We now have wrist communicators; the capability to see whom you speak with in real time, even if they are on the other side of the plane; and even the potential for laser weapons.
Let’s face it, the world is becoming a different place, and all former conventions are off. One of the most remarkable aspects of our new age of information is the speed and ease in which anything and everything can be globally shared. We can communicate with anyone, anywhere, instantly. With something like global VPN, our computers can connect to the Internet from any location, providing incredible access, especially in countries where Internet connectivity may be limited.
Room to Grow
The Internet is still in its infancy, and perhaps we’re not quite sure what to do with it, or how it can be used to its greatest potential. We use it daily to share pictures of cats, but are we limiting its function, simply because we don’t know how to best utilize it? In a sense, that’s why we have such problems keeping up-to-date without tech: it is constantly growing, or becoming smaller, faster and more powerful.
Younger generations will have no concept of the old 56k modems and their screeching, antique song of connecting to the Web. And what will the Internet look like in 50 — or even five — years from now? While it’s impossible to say, a safe bet would be to think that the world will be a whole lot more interwoven, with marketing, education, entertainment and communication all seamlessly flowing from continent to continent, from living room to office to warehouse.
Keeping Up
Regardless of the future of our technological wonders, the fact remains that, for anyone casually interested in staying abreast of the latest gadgets, you’re going to have to move quickly (and keep your checkbook handy). So what are the benefits of staying connected? Aside from the most obvious of reasons — being totally cool and up-to-date on all the latest trends — there are certainly some pros and cons of making sure that you have the latest models.
Unfortunately, older tech just doesn’t work all that well anymore. Perhaps you’ve noticed this in your computer or smartphone: updates and connections are slower, certain apps don’t work, and in general the hardware seems to be decaying. Sometimes there is no other way to look at it other than a way for phone and computer firms to sell more items, but in truth, this has a lot to do with advances that are made at breakneck pace. What worked great a few months ago simply isn’t on the cutting edge any longer.
Keeping up to date on your tech is a good way to ensure that you’ll have the greatest access to the Internet. Despite what all the neo-Luddites out there might want, our species’ relationship with technology is only going to move forward, faster and with greater leaps to new heights. So either get with the program, or go back to your cave.
