#WhenIWasYourAge: We had to open all doors by ourselves. None of them knew we were coming. ~Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2014
Neil deGrasse Tyson, an extremely renowned and credible astrophysicist, introduces the notion that society is becoming more reliant on artificial intelligence and technology. In recent years, humans have become more reliant on technology, which has allowed for major advancements in almost every aspect of human life and interaction. Although technology streamlines life in many different ways, it completely deviates us from what really matters and instead makes us focus on false ideologies that have advanced society in a negative way.
Tyson juxtaposes technology in the past to technology in the present in order to explain how autonomous humans have become. He states that when he was younger, doors had to be opened by pushing them, which is an actual interaction that requires minimal work. He then introduces the notion that doors now are able to open themselves automatically when they sense someone trying to get through. He doesn’t literally mean that all doors open themselves, but he contextualizes his opinion that humans are becoming more reliant on technology. Furthermore, he states his opinion in a snide tone by indicating that our reliance on technology is becoming negative due to the distractions that coincide with it.
Technology has allowed for major advancements within human society. For instance, in the field of medicine, technology has led to the development of many different types of treatments for patients. Without the help of technology, many of these treatments would not be feasible. Stem cells are a perfect example of how technology has advanced the field of medicine. By using technology, scientists were able to interact with cells and manipulate them to fulfill what the body needs. Another technological advancement in the field of medicine is the X-Ray machine. Technology has also streamlined our everyday lives. For example, the introduction of the Internet has allowed society to find the answer to their questions almost instantly. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions have found themselves working remotely from home. Thirty years ago, this never would have been possible, given that technology was not nearly as advanced. Technology also intertwines and connects us with our peers; it enables us to connect with others via internet, even if they’re on the other side of the world.
While technology has significantly advanced the way that humans interact with each other, it has distracted us from our previous convictions. The introduction of social media has made us obsessed with others. The whole point of social media is to showcase yourself by presenting our best moments. As a result of this, people analyze others and then change themselves in order to be accepted by society. The concept of “commenting” on social media also leads us to believe false ideologies. Many people often comment so that they will receive approval from others. When you comment on someone else’s post, you expect them to comment back on yours as well. This creates a false idea that the person actually means what they are saying. Moreover, people define themselves by how many likes and comments they receive on their posts. The concept of technology also draws on emotions of the human body. Social media can make someone self-conscious about themselves and the way they look.
The advancement of technology has also made humans lazy and dull. Thirty years ago, in order to do research, one would have to check books out from the library. Nowadays, many of these books are accessible online. This doesn’t mean that libraries have become completely obsolete, it just means that the process has become much easier and requires less work. The values and lessons of hard work that one would take away from doing hands on research has now been lost. Instead, one can just look up facts online. Some might assert that this is an unimportant fact, however, everything that we do, dictates and impacts another part of our life in some way. For instance, the attributes of hard work within the classroom, also impact one’s performance on the athletic field. When people experience situations that are outside of their comfort zones, they learn from these experiences and use the lessons to reshape different aspects of their life. Technology shifts the way that we think about ourselves and the way in which we interact with those around us .
Tyson’s realization connects with the subject of Science, Technology, and Society (STS), in many ways. When enrolling in this course, I was confused about what it was. After analyzing this quote and diving deeper into the subject, it seems obvious. STS involves the study of how the topics of Science and Technology shape and influence the world around us. It is evident that both science and technology especially, have changed the way that we look and view society as a whole.
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https://www.ttnews.com/articles/congress-missing-action-autonomous-technology-could-hinder-states-lawmaker-