I do not know what awaits for us tomorrow. I am not a time traveler, nor have the ability to predict the future. However, by observing patterns of our society throughout the years and today’s trends, it is clear to me that we are moving towards a future full of technology. Now, if you have read few of my previous topics, most of them speak about technology, security, and power, while one of them spoke about time traveling through space. If you think about all of them together, what do you picture? Perhaps we have different ideas, but in my mind, future’s technology as a thread to humanity pops in my mind.
Do not get me wrong: I love technology. I strive for it and look forward to add my own blood to its timeline so far once I learn enough about it. However, I am aware that as technology progresses, small threads disappear, while bigger threads are created. What do I mean by thread, you ask? Well, picture a hacker sitting outside your house in the near future (and I maybe had mentioned something similar in previous topics). As technology keeps developing, sooner or later most common gadgets that are not electrical will soon be upgraded, and become part of the ‘internet of things’. Now, that hacker easily penetrates into your wireless connection, and with a few commands here and there, he now has full access to all the gadgets connected to your home’s network.
This does not quite scare me; I am sure cyber security will develop as fast as technology will, providing safety for future generations (or ours). However, what truly worries me is the knowledge a commuter has about technology. Technology develops faster, but education is not adapting fast enough. The lack of knowledge of systems could be a huge loophole in future generations. Thus, I believe basic knowledge of computing systems is a requirement for all. The current system of education is being left behind, and while only a few actually gain interest in programming systems and develop extreme knowledge of how computers work, most students do not. Even at college, illiteracy of how to navigate a computer is visible in few cases. No, I am not saying everyone should become a programmer –that is crazy. People, however, are not fully aware of the huge shift society is doing towards technology.
I am sure you are capable of sending out emails. You are also capable of writing word documents for homework. You know your way around Facebook, and Twitter, and what not. Browsing the internet is an easy task for you, and dangerous webpages are recognizable in your eyes. But do you know how all that works behind scenes, or rather, do you care? That is entirely up to you.