How is Technology taking charge of our lives?
For us to discuss some of the effects and implications that the digital world has generated in mobilizing our society, we must critically analyse the areas that shape this network community.
There have been many exciting developments throughout the global digitalisation. From the unceasing improvement of our engagement online to the development of the Internet of Things and Big Data, which together lead to the creation of the so-called ‘smart cities’, projecting the future of urban spaces.
Furthermore, increasingly more common, yet still in their nascent stages are AI and robotics. Both, agents that will stress the current human lifestyle through technological transformation, particularly affecting our workforce.
However — What links all the above topics together?
Throughout my post, I shall reveal this by analysing the growing presence of the Internet of Things, further touching on the beneficial and damaging repercussions this has on humans and society in general.
Engagement
Let’s begin with analysing how communication and interaction online have grown significantly since the first means of internet communication.
It has evolved thanks to the growing digital innovations of smart gadgets and internet surf embedded in our daily life. Certainly simplifying our manner of living by presenting us to efficiency through speed, instantly becoming habitual. Further proven by the present age we live in, where the majority of humans rely on the greatest digital advancements. Our life is so deeply rooted in the digital that we would be lost without it.
However, this continuous evolvement has also led to major downfalls, that we must pay attention to.
In many urbanised environments, technology dominates our life, consciously or not, leading to the loss of individuality and lack of a community. Furthermore, individuals often make excessive misuse of technology, interfering with in-person (analogue) interactions.
Such implications were predictable since this computerised world is unceasing changing our lifestyle.
Nevertheless, this human drive to infuse technology in our life goes hand-in-hand with the desire to develop ‘smart cities’: an efficiently organised living-setting, monitored by the citizen’s connectivity through the IoT.
This innovation has sprung as a consequence of the unprecedented rapid urbanisation, where 68% of the global population is predicted to move into urban areas by 2050.
How do you feel about this?
It is estimated that there are 3010 billion users connected to the internet today.
Whilst you think about this, I will suggest the developing implications which have emerged consequently to the ramification of the IoT in our lives and shall propose solutions to conserve our society.
The Internet of Things…or of us
What exactly is IoT?
Well, IoT, the Internet of Things is the network connecting our surrounding physical devices and objects. Each device is connected through electricity, internet or sensors, allowing immediate communication and interaction with each other. These are further monitored and controlled by the Big Data, “a term that describes the large volume of data — both structured and unstructured — that inundates a business on a day-to-day basis.” Through this accessed information, businesses and organisations make important strategic decisions.
Therefore, IoT blurs the boundaries between the individual, the environment and technology, which is increasingly expanding into every sector of our life.
Our devices are not only connected to the owner but further related to other surroundings, objects and data and “when many objects act in unison, they are known as having ‘ambient intelligence”.
Furthermore, nowadays, each individual can create a completely personalised device, based on one’s needs and desires.
This is a clear result of technological advancement.
Despite this conveniently customizing one’s digital network, it also allows the internet to analyse and create a ‘private’ profile for each person connected on the network. An example of this is targeted advertising and a way to collect information to target consumers interests is through ultrasonic tones. This personalization pin-points what an individual: researches, listens to, views — online and sometimes also offline, allowing devices to know our taste.
Spooky right?
This leads me to point out our responsibility as individuals in the digital world. All of our information can be accessed and shared online globally within seconds, leashed to unknown powers. Therefore, we should take charge of our digital actions, to regain individual sovereignty. Furthermore, additionally to the privacy concern, we as individuals, have lost touch with nature, our roots, due to the captivating digital world of the internet and by being continuously swamped with new, online platforms.
Each of us is caught up with the busy work schedule and buzzing technological advancements, that everything else surrounding us is slipping away.
Sadly noticed today, with the average child engagement online and TV watching.
Therefore, to improve our often forgotten face-to-face interaction with others, we need to cut back on our excessive misuse of devices and social platforms.
Greener Technology
Despite online data-sharing breaching our privacy, the IoT’s analysis of each individual’s information through sensors connectivity can also be seen as a positive use of technology.
Is this hypocritical of me to say?
Without the Internet of Things, smart cities would not work, or rather they would not be ‘smart’, but simply be cities. These smart cities use the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to create a well-structured and sustainable environment, facing ongoing urbanisation challenges.
Through this growing network of data and technology, each individual can engage with the development of the ecosystems- such as carbon emission and energy monitoring, managing traffic congestion, waste control and water contamination health issues.
Therefore this continuous transmission of information is primarily there to positively improve the structure of cities. Furthermore, it is there to please the consumer by creating a more secure and well-organised environment to live in.
Facing the future
Moving one step further into the evolution of human lifestyle through technological innovation, leads us to another significant agent: AI and robotics. Even for my generation, born in 2000 simultaneously to the birth of a digital age (1995), it is going to be a big life transformation.
Yes, technology is already rooted in our lives and we are dependent on it, however, artificial intelligence is likely to be the “most disruptive force in technology in the coming decade” (October 2017, Bloomberg).
The effect on the global job-market is predictable when robots will replace human labour in many sectors. However, AI and Robotics, comparable to any period of great technological change, has both progress and downfall.
Such as the invention of the steam engine, during the first Industrial Revolution, which was a great economic advancement but also created job displacement for many.
Therefore, the role of society is to comprehend this change and anticipate the disruptive effects it may have, to create a pre-organised solution.
As stated above, it could positively transform society by developing the efficiencies in workplaces.
Could this be our opportunity to re-create a collaborative community through empathy and creativity amongst each other?
Technology and I
Being a History of Art student, my interest in Digital Society might seem slightly out of place; but as explored throughout my post, our world is rooted in the digital. Moreover, the growth in the use of computers and technology has also matured in the art world, which is the reason why I chose this course.
I am not a very technological advanced student, especially since I enjoy being present in the moment, connected to what surrounds me as much as possible. However, I am also aware of how important it is to create a profile online.
Being connected digitally is crucial and is only increasing as new advancements are invented.
I was particularly fascinated with week 5 ‘DigiLab’ topic, through the introduction to ‘Google Arts’. I was able to discover paintings digitally and experiment with digital creative activities. This was a captivating experience for me; one which I’d like to carry on experimenting throughout my time at the university.
I never thought I would enjoy looking at art and drawing online**, but I am increasingly more captivated with how it works.
Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the majority of the museums being closed, many galleries have created virtual visits to engage with the public.
Such as the Vatican museum in Rome, where one could virtually visit the Sistine Chapel ceiling through images in high definition.
I am aware that this is extremely different from real-life experience, which is in no doubt more exciting, thus it is incredible how the technological advancements surrounding us manage to deliver such incredible ideas. In particular through these isolating times, where art and interaction online distract and allow us to appreciate all the little things.
Moreover, I chose Digital Society with the desire to expand my underdeveloped IT capacities and learn how to write and present myself online in an appropriate way.
Despite the initial issues with the use of Medium, I think I have now reached stability within the network world. Thus there is still a lot that I would like to discover further, such as creating websites online.
Additionally, I would like to find out more about the development of smart cities, triggered by my other fascination and drive in creating a more sustainable world. I strongly think better-developed cities would aid with the climate emergency we are experiencing now. We need to change the way we are living, to be able to sustain this wonderful world we live in.
This leads me to say that, when used appropriately, technology is the most fascinating and invigorating human invention. I am positive that with the right guidelines and support, we can take control of our actions online and improve the digital world to reach greater outcomes.
