When new technology emerges, it often takes a while — sometimes years — to understand its implications.
It is true of almost every new invention that captures broad attention. When new products become pervasive, there is often a struggle to ensure they do not infringe on such things as public safety and privacy rights.
For example, in the early 1900s, an ordinance in Memphis prohibited a woman from driving a car unless there was a man in front of the car with a red flag to warn people. (You may provide a joke here at your own peril).
Likewise, many of the laws governing such things as trains, telephones, airplanes, computers and toys have been written, re-written, discarded as needless or broadened.
We are still grappling with how to govern even some of our oldest technologies, guns being the most obvious example.
The more popular the new technology becomes, the greater the struggle to understand it and manage it.
During his appearance at the Columbus Rotary Club on Tuesday, Golden Triangle Regional Airport Executive Director Mike Hainsey illustrated the problems associated with one relatively new technological wonder — the drone.
More than a million drones, most of them very small, were purchased during the Christmas shopping season. For airport officials, the implications are worrisome. According to the FAA, reports of pilot encounters with drones rose form 238 sightings in 2014 to 780 through the first eight months of 2015.
New laws to govern this explosion of drone purchases are being written, for reasons that should be obvious. It is a matter of public safety that cannot be ignored.
There are also legitimate privacy issues in play here, too. None of us are likely to approve of a neighbor with a camera-equipped drone flying over our backyard. Were that to happen, we would demand something be done about it.
Here in the Golden Triangle, the emergence of drones, or unmanned aircraft systems as they are known in the industry, has special significance.
Both Aurora Flight Sciences and Stark Aerospace have facilities in Lowndes County and have been on the leading edge of that technology.
While we worry about issues such as public safety and privacy where drones are concerned, there is little doubt the technology has many useful commercial applications, especially in agriculture, forestry. They can also be effective tools for our military and law enforcement, although there should be limits to how that technology is used even there.
We should also note drone technology is still evolving, and it may be years before we really understand its scope. For the average person, drones may be a fad, much like the CB radio of the 1970s. They could also become a fixture in our homes, much like the personal computer.
In the meantime, we will continue to struggle in our efforts to protect the legitimate benefits of drones while protecting ourselves from their negative consequences.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.