As I was watching this YouTube video from TED TALK called “What
will blow our minds in the next thirty years?” it was amazing to see the years
of technology flashing before me. As a
college student growing up with a desktop computer in my household, having my
own laptop by 8th grade and getting my first flip cellphone by 9th grade; these
are things that were and still are natural for me. Whereas my parents until 7
years ago really started to get used to using technology, they had absolutely
no idea how to do anything. My brother and I would always have to take the time
to teach our parents how to text, even how to create their own Facebook which I
had since I was in 18.
To see how every generation is going to be raised with
different types of technology is amazing and scary all at the same time. It’s
bittersweet because I saw how hard it was for my parents to get accustomed to
this new technology that my brother and I were constantly being pulled into and
I guess I don't want to be that old fashioned parent in the future not knowing
what my future kids will be up to. I guess I will always have to make sure I go
to tons of technology workshops so that I can continue to stay on top of it.
Which I feel many parents/guardians don't think of, they usually just give up
which is dangerous because how can you keep up with your child and how are you
supposed to know what your child is doing if you have no idea how to use the
technology that you just handed to them for their birthday or Christmas?
After I finished watching the video underneath it the
speakers allowed the attendees and speakers to discuss or share what they think
the future will bring. Nicholas Negroponte, founder, MIT Media Lab, speaking in
Session 1 at TED2014 mentioned that, “One of the things about learning how to
read — we have been doing a lot of consuming of information through our eyes
and so on — that may be a very inefficient channel. So my prediction is that
we’re going to ingest information. You’re going to swallow a pill and know
English. You’re going to swallow a pill and know Shakespeare. The way to do it
is through the bloodstream; once it’s in your bloodstream, it basically goes
through and gets into the brain and when it knows it’s in the brain it deposits
the information in the right places. I’ve been hanging around with Ed Boyden
and Hugh Herr and a number of people… This isn’t far-fetched.” Which I found
completely mind blowing and a little weird, because imagine trying to study for
a English exam in High School/College and just taking a pill and you will
automatically remember and absorb Shakespeare?
“What will blow my mind in the next 30 years is the ability
to diagnose a disease before you know that something is wrong with you, treat
it with medicines designed specifically for you and eradicate it so it never
happens again. The concept of connected health, wearable technology and
ingested medicines are all pointing us in that direction. The ability for
someone to tie it all together, tailored for the individual is what is mind
blowing.”
Doreen Lorenzo, president, Quirky
Andrew Blau, managing director, Deloitte
If this is what the future of technology will bring in the
next thirty years, all I can say is life is definitely going to get
interesting.
