We all shall be grateful for being part of a generation that has witnessed and actually still is witnessing the gigantic leap of technology. In two decades the prototype of a computer shrank from a garage-sized loud and rather simple calculator to those brand new high-tech portals of binary code named tablets. The phrase “It can’t be done” has been proven wrong countless times. And so far progress has only served everyone’s interest – no distinctive downsides except obesity. And probably weapons. They are evolving too and despite the fact that alongside with other technologies powerful weapons can protect us from all the potential doomsday scenarios they are a threat. Especially the nuclear ones. Probably one day an imbecile obsessed with power and in charge of the big red buttons that should never be pressed will decide to play a real life conquer the world game but apart from praying to postpone this insanity nothing more significant can be done. Meanwhile computer multitasking has allowed many people to focus only on the aspects of life and business that can’t be handled by software. Less running in the wheel like a hamster and more philosophic hours spent as an owl. In most cases this is a convenient and rewarding luxury. Machines are made to ease our everyday lives. Kitchen utensils , mobile phones , photo and video taking and sharing , exploration , you name it. Technology has made a dramatic impact in the automotive industry. A modern car has only the wheels and the steering wheel in common with the moving boxes your father drove. You have a map that shows your current location anytime , anywhere and is leading you with gentle voice and animation to the chosen destination , a friend who is telling you how much space you have before hitting the curb when parking , a mechanic that makes full service check every time you turn the ignition key and all of that embedded in your dashboard. Ingenious systems even make it harder to slip and crash. And it’s not just cars. All other means of transport nowadays are safer , faster , more reliable and affordable to anyone. Medicine has also hugely benefited from the progress. Life expectancy has doubled and it’s just a matter of time to overwhelm the very few still incurable deceases. Progress has even influenced the way we entertain. People today listen to music which would have been classified as “annoying noise” in the twentieth century. Photoshop has made everyone perfect and social medias have more devoted users than any of the television giants. Inspiration is everywhere. More and more people are paid to simply think of new improvements of goods and services. A nostalgic glimpse to the past makes me think that we’re already near the limit. You can’t squeeze two litres of juice out of a single orange. The unimaginable has already happened. How far will this magical progress go? Well I don’t possess the required wisdom to speculate but as I started – I’m grateful for being part of this era even as an average witness.
Lazy-reader version : Progress is the purpose of intelligence. It educates and makes life safer and easier. It’s achieved by hard work and inspiration. Scientists are exploring the unknown and deliver staggering innovations to the rest of the world. History is happening in front of our very eyes everyday. Maybe it’s just me but I’m feeling special. The opportunity to see how it all happened is something to be valued.
