As you likely have noticed, over the nearly five years I have been writing this column, I’ve made frequent mentions of the past. That’s because the past yields considerable facts, wisdom, and logic that weighs into all important decision making.
The past reveals what we have done right or wrong and is often able to point a finger at the reasons. That’s how, and after the fact, we learn what not to do or even try because we already know the likely result.
That, however, is possible only if we are willing to realize that as much as we would like to, it’s impossible for us to change history. The moment it occurs, it’s solidly and permanently in place.
If that weren’t enough, new realities are always coming toward us, introducing revolutionary new ways of living and existing that will likely exceed the extremes of what we have ever imagined.
At the end of World War II, our imagination of the future included an airplane in every garage. That in itself was tremendously exciting because to go anywhere, all we would need do is step out to the garage-hanger, start the engine, and fly away.
Well, that never happened, but look what did — television, computers, the world wide web, email, and texting made possible by a network of towers on the ground and hundreds of satellites in orbit.
Suddenly, and for the first time, pocket sized devices were giving us the phenomenal ability to communicate with each other regardless of where we were or what we were doing.
Not only were those developments numbingly impressive, so was the speed with which they were introduced. For example, twenty years ago all phones were on home and office walls and desks and in booths on street corners. Even more to the point, they weren’t just phones but rather computers for instantly accessing a staggering amount of information.
Even more startling is that this hasn’t been simply a matter of replacing, but rather of making stepping stones for venturing even farther into the future. It’s no wonder futurists, visionaries, planners, mathematicians, scientists, and engineers are in such a state of flux. While dealing with the future, they must also and like the rest of us, grab the handle of the present and hang on tight.
At first, artificial intelligence(AI) was merely a label for the newest kid on the block. Yet, it’s already exhibiting its power to develop entirely new ways of thinking and doing, snatching from tomorrow and attaching to today.
AI is more than a step, it’s a leap forward as we continue to replace manual labor with machines. The latest machines not only make things, they can also improve the process as it is happening.
Rapidly looming in the background, however, is the huge question of what we will do with ourselves. We can’t just sit and watch. The human body was designed to be active. Even everyday and long familiar tasks are vulnerable.
For example, we once filled filing cabinets with reference information and kept it for years. Now the pace of new findings is becoming so rapid that such material is likely to be obsolete in a matter of months. It’s not only work that’s changing, so is our way of life — and more quickly than ever.
Even the elderly will find themselves swept up into a new and exciting world. Although yet to happen, our length of life is likely to soon be moving sharply upward as we discover how to cure more ills faster and cheaper or better yet, prevent them from even happening.
At the same time, however, and because we humans are a sentimental lot, we will continue to pragmatically cling to old things. We like to fondly remember our first loves whether they were the walking and talking beautiful and handsome humans or sleek mechanical beauties with powerful and throaty engines.
Our emotions will still be intact. We will still have families to enjoy, hot showers to refresh our bodies, and churches to renew our souls. We will still experience awe at the endless wonders of Nature while grimly facing the seemingly never-ending challenge of encouraging people to learn how to live together without being at each other’s throats.
And pardon the personal, but I will still have reasons for writing these columns.
