Most of the time I find technology a little scary. I reviewed George Orwell’s 1964 futuristic book “1984” for its possibilities. Electronic screens were located in public places — I imagine like restaurants, waiting rooms, dentists’ chairs, airports and along highways. Government screens were required in residential homes, strategically placed where occupants could be monitored. I looked over at our big screen television and thought about all the public places with electronic screens. Who’s really watching who? I closed the book and put it away.
In every decade major changes take place. Some folks find changes unnerving while others embrace change with enthusiasm. “Anne Morrow Lindbergh: A Gift for Life,” by Dorothy Herrmann, narrates the story of the Lindberghs. On May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh Jr., age 25, flew the “Spirit of St. Louis” from New York to Paris, all 3,500 miles, alone. As a result, much of the country was taken with the possibility of air travel. Airlines like Pan American and Transcontinental were becoming the means of future travel. Nowadays air travel is as common as owning a car, or a washing machine, a refrigerator, a big screen TV, a cell phone, a laptop computer, a nanny cam, a phone on your wrist. Maxwell Smart from the TV show “Get Smart” had a shoe phone (1965). It seemed absurd.
A friend from California sent an email containing possibilities and probabilities for our technological future. Though I was unable to confirm the original source of the information, just imagine how our lives, the lives of our children and grandchildren, are changing.
Cars will be electric with recharging stations on street corners. (Think the Tennessee Williams Home on Columbus’ Main Street.) There will be no gasoline, gas stations or auto repair shops. An electric motor has 20 parts compared to a gas/diesel motor of 20,000 individual parts. If the electric motor fails it can be replaced in a few minutes from a drive-through.
Taxis will be self-driven. Cars will become computers on wheels. There will be fewer accidents and loss of lives — no drunk or inattentive drivers. There will be less of a need for car insurance, thus changing the insurance industry. Fewer cars mean fewer parking areas and more green space, cleaner air, less noise pollution.
Think of camera companies Kodak and Polaroid and the effects of cell phones on camera sales. The business model of both companies changed remarkably in less than three years.
Uber and Airbnb. Uber is now the largest taxi company, and they don’t own any cars. Airbnb is the biggest hotel company, and they don’t own any property.
Medical diagnosis will be available online and through apps with greater accuracy than humans. A device is in the works enabling a retina scan, blood test and breath analysis. Legal advice will be at your fingertips.
It’s not hard to believe the future possibilities when you can scan your own items at the grocery store or order milk and Cheerios online.
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 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
