We are living in a technological age under the fantasy that machines make our lives better and more comfortable--who doesn't want a heated steering wheel in their car?
However, along with this surge of machines, we are just learning the extent to which our health, freedom, and privacy are being compromised, if not supplanted, by these machines. Here are popular technologies that in reality turn against you:
1. Mobile phone: This is a device that supposed to make your life easier, yet it demands everything from you. Don't believe me? Next time it blings and flashes, try to keep yourself from, even for a nano-second, glancing over at it. But that's not the only issue; for this device keeps track of your daily life: where you go and where, whom you communicate with and what, what you purchase, what you tweet or Facebook, how many friends you have, what you read, what you look at, the video you take, the photos you post, where you go and how often and for how long. It stores passwords and credit card information. And where is all that information being stored? Who has access to it, and what is being done with it? Countless articles about the NSA and other 3rd parties having access to our phone data explicitly shows the innumerable ways our phones are busting us.
2. Cloud computing: Probably the most ridiculous thing for anyone interested in preserving their corporate IP, keeping their ideas to themselves, or concerned about third party access. Seems like such a facile idea, right? Where will you store all your corporate files? On the cloud. Where should you post that book you're writing? On the cloud. Where should you put the notes for that new business venture you just made on Evernote? On the cloud. Where should you store your corporate collaborations and emails and conversations? On the cloud. Where is this cloud? Well, we know the real name for it is 'server', and they are owned by large tech companies, and for a small fee, or no fee at all (how philanthropic) those companies will store your data for you. But who gains access to it, and how would you know? A password's not going to keep it safe, for it too is being stored by the cloud.
3. Car technology: Have you read the story of the woman who ran into the back-end of another person's car, then fled the scene? Shortly after the accident was reported, the assailant's car made an emergency call to the police--yes, the car!--reporting the hit and run. Now there are many reasons why this is a good thing; but what kinds of other things will your car rat you out for in the future? Mild speeding infraction? Unwittingly running a red light? Making an emergency U-turn? While it's important that we drive safely on the roads, there's something important about having the freedom to drive as you need to at a given moment, within reason of course, without you car ratting you out without adequate context. These technologies are becoming more ubiquitous as vehicles are becoming 'smarter', hence the issue of human freedom remains.
4. Robots: Yes, they're endearing right now; yes, people see all kinds of potentials for curing human loneliness and radically reducing corporate bottom-lines; however, this is yet another technology that is going to bust humanity. As we've seen in previous posts, it is very plausible that robotic intelligence will become more self-conscious, and as a result they will perceive us as threats to their overall preservation. Once that happens, all that intelligence--what some claim will be orders of magnitude beyond ours--will be directed at subjugating the human race. The galling thing is there are actually very smart, very well-paid people designing and building these things.
5. Wearables: Again, sounds cool. They store all kinds of information about you and send it out to third parties. Do we know what the health ramifications are of wearing technology on your body? And what about ways they gather information? As well, if the wearable is such that captures your experiences through digital and video means, how does that infringe on the privacy of others?
6. Smart TVs: This is probably one of the most dangerous of the entire list, for it is almost sinister in its ability to video cam you in the 'privacy' of your own living room. And to think you're paying so much money to provide entertainment to the company from which you purchased it and all their third party partners!
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