Technohumans: Technology and the Fear of the New
I really like a definition of the word “innovate” given by Brazilian Professor Maria José Garcia Werebe, and that’s why I want to start with it. The professor says:
“To innovate means to change for the better, to give a new aspect, to repair, correct, adapt to new conditions ‘something’ that is outdated, inadequate, obsolete, etc.” — Maria José Garcia Werebe, 1995.
If something is outdated or has become inadequate, it means it no longer meets someone’s needs. There is always a human being at the other end for whom a particular product or service was intended. If this product or service no longer serves, it needs to be innovated.
But after all, who are these human beings?
We are a techno-species, and this isn’t new. Humans have used technology to make life easier since the time of the cavemen, when the first caveman picked up a bone to use as a club to hunt that stegosaurus for a family dinner. That bone, in this context, can be considered technology because it was an artifact that became an extension of this man and was used to enhance his capabilities — in this case, his strength. That is technology.
We need to dispel the idea that technology is only what has computational codes in electronic equipment. It is not! The typewriter is technology, the printing press represented not just a technological revolution but mainly a civilizational revolution, as it was the first step in making knowledge more accessible to those who were not part of the higher echelons of society or the clergy. The pencil, the pen, the notebook next to you that you use to organize your ideas and take notes — all of this is technology.
Technology is an extension of the human being and is used by us to enhance our capabilities.
It’s interesting because we create technology, and it modifies us. Then we evolve this technology, and it impacts our lives even more. But naturally, we fear the new, sometimes to the point of rejecting it. Some changes are so impactful that for them to become established, an entire generation needs to be overcome (Thomas Kuhn addresses this very well in his book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions”).
This is so true that in anthropology we have the concept of misoneism, which is the fear of the new, the mistrust regarding change, leading us to cling to the way things have always been done. You know that typical phrase “it’s always been like this” or “it worked until now, it will keep working”? This has never been true, but currently, this mentality has become increasingly dangerous for companies and professionals.
Technological transformations expand a universe of possibilities and change the way we consume and relate to the world.
It is noticeable that technologies are transforming our daily lives, but most of us have been reactive to these transformations, waiting for them to happen before considering how to act in response. This is problematic. We are now in a world of blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), AI-generated content and AI-copyright, autonomous systems, genetic engineering, and advanced automation. Territorial barriers have lost their significance, companies now close deals globally with a click of a button or a simple voice command, and with the rise of virtual collaboration tools, even physical presence may soon become obsolete.
Technology changes the way we relate to the world. It is not just about creating new tools or processes; it is about enhancing human capabilities and transforming our potential.
Embracing innovation means accepting that change is a constant, and being proactive in the face of this change is crucial. By overcoming the fear of the new, we can harness technology’s full potential, shaping a future where human ingenuity continues to thrive and redefine what is possible.
