A Case for Humanism: Part I

I don't know how everyone else looks at the world, but right now I see a few things that scare me. We seek infinite automation using algorithms and deep learning. We want our cars to drive autonomously; creating a forecasted environment in which it views molecules as 1's and 0's. We want simplified translations between ethnicities to make any conversation achievable. We simple want digital technology to do all the work for us. Do I have a problem with this? Well, I don't know....do you?

I have a hard time believing that technology isn't winning. It started with tools which led to the wheel. Our people needed communication so they created paper. We became more advanced and designed the printing press. We wanted more power so we utilized steam. We wanted more mobility so we manufactured cars. That wasn't enough so we harnessed electricity.

Now we have T.Vs. without antennas and small digital devices on our wrist that can tell us the time and call our friends. The printing press is dead and our newspaper is delivered to our phones. Our Amtrak system is said to be as fast as a bullet. But the one good thing is....the wheel is still around.

I don't want to make it sound totally achievable, but is it possible that computers are winning? I know that it is an overstatement, but look at the speed at which our digital technology has impacted our lives. We are almost at a stage where "government face-swapping" is going to be a headline.

A key area of focus for me as an Information Technology student was always humanism. How can we create technology that delivers us joy, but also keeps us grounded? I have thought long and hard about this issue. Most days while driving I don't listen to the radio, but talk the topic over in my head. It is fascinating to me that the adoption rate of technology has increased so much. Moore's law has shown signs of stopping. This only leads individuals like myself to then question, what is coming next? What branch of technology is going to supersede a piece of technology like the micro processor? In my opinion, the answer is much more simple than you think.

I have been involved in the Central Jersey entrepreneurial scene for about 4 years now. I have learned a lot along the way. We all have ideas. Someone might have your idea. If you are the first to market that idea, you will most likely win. Well, that's how we all like to think it works anyway. The issue with entrepreneurship now is that it's lost it's lust of creativity. Younger generations(Millennials and Gen-z) have this idea that just because they grind and have a slightly good idea, that it will work. They watch shows like Shark Tank and listen to entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk and assume it's all about grit. While I appreciate the integrity and ambition, I believe they have it all wrong. They lack the scope and ability to step back, look at society as a whole, and determine what is best for the world.

This kind of entrepreneurship has led to cookie cutter innovations. Pitches like "The new Uber", and "A refrigerator that gives you recipes" are all over the place. It's like there is some need to fulfill a kind of deficiency that humans have. These are not products that relate to humanism, in fact they are opposite. They are ideas built to drive technological determinism. They lessen the value of what it means to be human. I mean seriously, is it that much harder to take out your cookbook rather than have some files with recipes stored on your refrigerator?

I've typed about Moore's Law too much to add it in here again. So as a brief statement, it's basically the increase of microprocessors per unit in a device during a given amount of time (typically two year cycles). The reason that Moore's Law is so important for my discussion is because of what typically happens with trends, they slow down or disappear. I liken the increase of technology to that of a stock market correction. When it shoots up and up for too long, it's got to slow down and balance out at some point.

This makes anyone who follow technology and it's trends to think.... what is next? Is A.I. going to take over? Will Blockchain overtake the throne? While no one can know for sure how the individual technologies will impact the technology sector, I believe there is one common characteristic that everyone wants. The characteristic I am talking about is being humanistic. As things become more digital, with less human supervision, we are going to see a new breed of hybrid technology. An example of this can be seen in the automotive industry. Sure, hybrid and electric cars are causing a stir. But how many people do you think are going to still want that old Ford Mustang parked in their garage. Instead of silent and lightning quick cars, they want the loud and metal "American Made" cars.

The concept here isn't about the products themselves. It's about the people using them. It's the fact that an individual under the age of 18 has most likely never had to roll down a window in a car. They have never had to dial physical buttons on a cell phone(or a pay phone for that matter). This is what I consider LITE technology. And what does LITE exactly mean?.....Well, check back for more with Part II of my series A Case for Humanism.