click! click! click!

click! click! click!
Originally uploaded by featherbed.

this is hilarious. i think people are getting too caught up with everything gone cyber! i think someday human relations/interactions won't be as intimate as it is today-- face to face conversation, meetings, etc. soon it's all going to be broadcasted via a cameraphone, videophone, or through live streaming video.

examples?

- my former professor got her doctorate degree from the University of Hawaii via internet through video streaming. she wasn't able to attend her graduation personally because the U.S. Embassy denied her a visa despite her pleading that she was only going to go to Hawaii for her degree.

- banking transaction via Internet (which is apparently dangerous because cyber criminals lurk the internet, fake the identification of banks, and collect usernames and passwords from users).

- the new 3G (3rd generation) technology from cellular phone network providers. you know... communicating via video using your cellular phone that's capable of the technology?

- then there's text messaging. instead of calling a person to discuss matters that are only proper to be discussed via voice call, communication is done through texting.

- i watched a documentary from the Animal Planet how the Japanese take care of their dogs. there was this scientist who once couldn't afford to take in puppies because of his long working hours. so he bought a feeding machine. everyday before going to work, he fills the feeding machine, leaves the t.v. on for his puppies, and then leave for work. when he gets to work, he is able to feed and watch his puppies via internet because the feeding machine has a video camera that is controlled via internet by the pet owner. isn't that awesome?

- also in Japan, according to the documentary, there's this dog hotel where owners can leave their pets there and monitor the dog via cameraphone through internet or from personal computers connected to the internet. they can actually watch their pets even if they are far away from them-- anytime and anywhere!

well yeah, technology and its new advancements have made life easier and our activities more convenient and the pace faster. but too much of it can be a disadvantage especially if you are still one of those people who value human relations. the human touch. the "old school" way.

someday our world will be run by technology-- computers, robots, machines. manpower will be reduced. i wonder what kind of jobs people will have then? probably no more social scientists, that's for sure. who would want to study society and people if the world is dominated by technology?

this is not to conclude that technology will break human beings. of course, it is a matter of moderation and erm, proper management, i guess? as long as humans won't lose to technology, i guess it's okay to develop new ideas and new technology as long as it will make life easier.

i don't know if i should look forward to a world like the one portrayed in I, Robot and Bicentennial Man. lets just wish that Hollywood just exaggerated the future for us and that the future has no resemblance to what we see in futuristic movies.

quoting a line from When Disaster Strikes on AXN:

"it is only a matter of time that humans will have to pay for their high cost of living. "

and oooh! look who's talking! from the person who is supposedly tech savvy, i should say that i am a walking contradiction to myself.