A Life without Technology?

Today is a special day for me; sixteen years ago, I welcomed my first son, Kendall. Given this momentous occasion, I thought it would be appropriate to take a look back, reminding myself of the scientific and technological innovations of the time. Notable introductions for 1998 were Tiger Electronics’ Furby, the 1st domestic robot, and Apple’s iMac. Other noteworthy happenings were the assembly of the 1st International Space Station modules, the 1st robotically assisted coronary artery bypass surgery and the incorporation of Google.



I could not have imagined, looking at Kendall, only a few hours old (with a full head of stick straight, standing on end hair) that as a teen, he would own a powerful, fully connected, personal computer which fits in the palm of his hand. I could not have predicted a world connected through the World Wide Web or that text messaging would replace the phone call, as the primary form of interpersonal communication. 



It’s easy to fear change, innovation and technological advances. It’s not unlike the trepidation of bringing a small, defenseless and, completely, dependent new being into the world. They become an integral part of our daily lives; we can’t imagine a world without them. I can’t fathom a world without Kendall; can you picture life without Google?



Christine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_in_science