The tragicomedies of modern life (part II)

Illustration of Jean Jullien

There is no doubt technology (focusing on the latest technology as it is social media, smartphones and so on) has been shaping us in so many different ways since it spread out that sometimes we cannot even realize them all. Surely, in this relationship of love and hate, or as R. Davidson affirms when referring to technology as a boon and a bane, our society has been growing amazingly; hence, even though it is almost impossible not to use it nowadays also having in mind that its use does not imply necessarily we are messing up our lives, it is necessary to recognize the importance of taking take care of how we use it to prevent possible negative consequences it can have in our bodies and our environment in general. We have been seeing the two sides of the very same coin: the ones that are against the power of technology -or at least, its massive control-, and the ones that live under the control of this amazing tool (trying to get to the future). There should be, though, a common point: a present that sees the future and goes beyond the past; it is, a present in which we all are able to recognize the importance of this technological tools not forgetting we should value humans far more than we value them. 


Related to this topic, scientist R. Davidson highlights in an article named Why the Next Generation of Tech Needs More Humanity, the necessity of re-thinking or re-analyzing, based on what we are seeing in our society nowadays, how we are using technology and what the consequences are, because as he affirms "We have a moral obligation to take what we know about the human mind and harness it in this ever-changing digital frontier to promote well-being. I think we can succeed if we can deliberately design our systems to nurture the basic goodness of people. This is a vision in which human flourishing would be supported, rather than diminished by the rapidly evolving technology that is shaping our minds.". Thus, our principal preoccupation when reflecting on this topic should be the well-being of the human being: what are the real experiences they are facing and how technology can contribute to enhance and maintain that state. Recognizing the undeniable link between humanities and technology can help us make those tools even more meaningful to our society; it will help us and guide us to understand what to build, why and how can it be improved even more.  


Following some of the ideas mentioned before, I would love to recommend some really interesting Ted-talks that lead us to criticize and make a thorough study of all the threads that make part of this huge fabric. 

Ted-talks: Our digital lives
Ted-talk: Why tech needs the humanities