DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE
Driverless cars. Are they really the future? With news of Google AV scrapes and Tesla crashes causing a fatality surfacing in 2016 and the prospect of hackers taking control, I can't say I really trust them myself. But checking up on the current safety statistics (if you believe them), it's already clear that driverless cars, on average, have a far greater probability for keeping us alive than a human being does and that will surely improve over time. So, taking into consideration that computer controlled vehicles can trump us humans in the safety stakes, there's clearly something else confounding my driverless car trust issues?
Lo-Fi Sci-Fi
I can't recall the film name, nor any of the actors in it — I can't even remember the plot, but I do recall thinking how I liked the art director's concept of a lo-fi view of the world inter-twinned within a technologically advanced future. I hadn't witnessed this old-new pairing before in a sci-fi flick, but I could happily envisage this film's projection of the future becoming a reality some day. Current day film art directors, reproduce this idea again in the Black Mirror TV Series.
One aspect of the film that particularly wedged in my mind, was of the main actor driving around in an old 70's automobile. This old banger, devoid of any tech at all — not even fitted with electric windows, seemed like a misplaced oddity in this modern scenario. And yet, the idea was greatly appealing to me. I related to it in a nostalgic, rebellious kinda way. I saw this direction in the film as a brave statement for choice.
Automation takes away human control, but manual override is there for our reassurance. This auto override feature is already a long-established feature in the aviation industry and crops up a lot in sci-fi movies like Star Wars and The 5th Element. This human intervention moment is often preceded by the occurrence of a technological fault with the system or a requirement for disengagement from the system for some necessary rule breaking. These scenes empower us, but if we're honest, it's a little lie we tell ourselves to cope with technological advancement. We cling to our dwindling significance whilst displaying a defiance against the ongoing take-over of our roles. Claiming our human usefulness in a future mastered by robot-precision engineering, seems pretty desperate. Maybe it really is.
One aspect of the film that particularly wedged in my mind, was of the main actor driving around in an old 70's automobile. This old banger, devoid of any tech at all — not even fitted with electric windows, seemed like a misplaced oddity in this modern scenario. And yet, the idea was greatly appealing to me. I related to it in a nostalgic, rebellious kinda way. I saw this direction in the film as a brave statement for choice.
Automation takes away human control, but manual override is there for our reassurance. This auto override feature is already a long-established feature in the aviation industry and crops up a lot in sci-fi movies like Star Wars and The 5th Element. This human intervention moment is often preceded by the occurrence of a technological fault with the system or a requirement for disengagement from the system for some necessary rule breaking. These scenes empower us, but if we're honest, it's a little lie we tell ourselves to cope with technological advancement. We cling to our dwindling significance whilst displaying a defiance against the ongoing take-over of our roles. Claiming our human usefulness in a future mastered by robot-precision engineering, seems pretty desperate. Maybe it really is.
Time To Assess
I don't wear a watch and never really have done. I don't like the handcuff of time reminding me of my remaining life ebbing away, tick by tick. However, I do actually like the craftsmanship and in particular, the Swiss made varieties. Minimal, elegant time-pieces, such as those made by Patek Philippe, are classic reminders of our continued excellence at precision engineering. Despite digital time keepers being so accurate and readily accessible, the market for Swiss watches continues to survive and retain it's excessive prices. Watch wearing, clearly a flagrant display of one's financial wealth/status, also veneers a more complex psychological need. Patek's long-standing advertising slogan; 'You never really own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation', tugs at a very human desire to connect ourselves with the past and a tangible reminder of time on our wrist, also helps keep us grounded for the future.
The desire for man made, out of date technology, has been realised most recently by the renaissance seen in vinyl sales. Modern day living has become increasingly ephemeral and the quest for perfection in our ever changing landscapes is encouraging more people to downgrade and switch off, resorting to less tech-dependent and imperfect alternatives. Driving a classic car, snapping with a Polaroid camera or spinning some scratchy 45's on the decks, can not only give us a connection to a more stable past, it can also offer some thin reassurances that we are still useful and relevant in the modern world. Because tangibility affirms our presence in the moment, history our linear flow through time and lo-fi technology keeps us from floating around in a present day virtual reality.
Technology has helped us to advance in many brilliant ways, but it is also contributing to an uneasy feeling of inadequacy. Machines are taking away our purpose, our livelihoods and potentially our enjoyment too — especially if driving is your bag. We really do need to look closer at future employment prospects and prepare ourselves for a bumpy ride, but many are already too distracted by technology to realise what's coming around the next corner.
Rise Of The Machines
With driverless cars, comes a transformative shift in our evolution. We are witnessing a devaluation in our human usefulness and the set up for a pending car crash. It's not just a metaphor — driverless cars are a very near reality on our roads. They are cheaper to run, more efficient and reliable. That's potentially millions of jobs wiped out seemingly over night. What are the contingency plans for this global, economical shift? There's already a great divide between those in high places and those chauffeuring them around. Conveniently, for the super rich at least, they won't have to confront this issue face on.
So we're conning ourselves that all the new advances in technology are going to sort out our problems and make our lives better — but realistically they won't. Population is increasing as jobs are decreasing. Manufacturing, with increases in robot technology usage, has already taken a massive hit in developed countries. China and the other human work horses of the world, are going to feel the pinch soon enough too. We can't all be programmers, which seems to be the last working bastion for human beings and we can't go back in time, so what to do?
With driverless cars, comes a transformative shift in our evolution. We are witnessing a devaluation in our human usefulness and the set up for a pending car crash. It's not just a metaphor — driverless cars are a very near reality on our roads. They are cheaper to run, more efficient and reliable. That's potentially millions of jobs wiped out seemingly over night. What are the contingency plans for this global, economical shift? There's already a great divide between those in high places and those chauffeuring them around. Conveniently, for the super rich at least, they won't have to confront this issue face on.
So we're conning ourselves that all the new advances in technology are going to sort out our problems and make our lives better — but realistically they won't. Population is increasing as jobs are decreasing. Manufacturing, with increases in robot technology usage, has already taken a massive hit in developed countries. China and the other human work horses of the world, are going to feel the pinch soon enough too. We can't all be programmers, which seems to be the last working bastion for human beings and we can't go back in time, so what to do?
App-less Happiness
This is where I become nostalgic for the past, so please indulge me here. Being a child of the 70's and a young adult before mobile phones and internet had fully kicked in, I can still remember a lo-tech life. In many ways, it was a time of freedom. Let's not get into the debate of freedom being an illusion etc. — what I mean of my perceived freedom, was that, as a 13 year old kid, I could go off on my bike, with my friends, with no watches between us and still be home in time for tea. Even as a young adult, you didn't need a mobile phone, watch, map app or any kind of social technology, just access to a landline phone, means of getting around and a keen sense of adventure.
For those of you generation Z folks reading this, you're probably either bored right now (who am I kidding, you've already moved on!), or this load of old nonsense makes you glad there's a computer in your pocket to watch a film, play a game, Snapchat your 500+ friends or do one of the many other easily accessible tasks that your latest smartphone gives you. You couldn't imagine a world without mobile technology and possibly feel sad for us older folk being so deprived as kids.
Sure, mobile technology can be a great tool. But surely it's not just me who feels saddened at the sight of youngsters with their friends, glued to screens and talking very little to each other, when they could be interacting and enjoying each other's company? We're all a bit guilty of getting sucked-in to our phones from time to time, but slowly we are realising this more and turning off. So what — and where am I going with this, you may ask?
The vinyl revolution is a glimmer of hope for our return to lo-fi and lo-tech. Second hand shops are hunting grounds for printed books, clothes, records and interesting object d'arts and it's places like this where I'm noticing more 20 something retro loving bargain hunters, scouting out artefacts from a strange and (seemingly to them?) distant past. I never had such a disconnect with the past because a lot of what I liked about popular culture in the mid 90's, transcended across generations and was still very current. James Brown was testament to that fact, as are The Rolling Stones still today.
I’ve been just as pulled in by the many great features of the smartphone, plus I absolutely love researching great stuff on the internet. But taking a break from computers, internet and mobile technology, soon helps us realise where we've gotten so caught up in it all. It allows moments to think, quieten the mind and detach from it all. This may be easier for the older generation to do, but not so much for those who have never known a world before computers. Truth is, we needn't rely upon technology so much — we already have a super-computer built in! Not only is the technology in our pockets distracting us, lowering our attention spans and weakening our memories, it might also be making our youngsters mentally ill.
Interestingly, more people are downgrading and disconnecting from always-on technology and seeing marked improvements in productivity as well as in their social lives. Even tech startup CEO's are now turning off social media accounts and switching to conventional feature phones. The hardy old Nokia and Motorola flips are coming back into fashion. No email or iChat, or LinkedIn chat or whatsapp chat or messenger chat or, or etc. No long SMS messages from those fiddly keypads either, which means we'll have more to say when we meet. There's also the privacy issue to consider as well.
Interestingly, more people are downgrading and disconnecting from always-on technology and seeing marked improvements in productivity as well as in their social lives. Even tech startup CEO's are now turning off social media accounts and switching to conventional feature phones. The hardy old Nokia and Motorola flips are coming back into fashion. No email or iChat, or LinkedIn chat or whatsapp chat or messenger chat or, or etc. No long SMS messages from those fiddly keypads either, which means we'll have more to say when we meet. There's also the privacy issue to consider as well.
I predict more people breaking away from technology. We don't need a smart app for boiling a kettle — something which hopefully marks a turning point against all this tech lunacy. Better health and energy solutions aside, I reckon in time, we'll be seeking out even less technological solutions and not more. Pen and paper will come back into vogue. People will move away from cookies, analytics and location services. They won't want to be watched, followed, profiled, measured and marketed to. They'll want more off-grid solutions. Holiday companies are already offering break aways from the connected world, but I see the near future trend, having a distinct break away from what's fast becoming digital entrapment. And if we don't prepare ourselves for a technology takeover, we may soon need to learn traditional ways of sustaining ourselves.
But, let's be optimistic. We're all learning as we go and everything may turn out to be just fine with us and technology. Self-driving cars may very well be the future, but I for one, happily look forward to my break away moments — overtaking the driverless cars in my '75 classic, listening to a C60 mixtape of old records playing loudly on my cassette player — secure in the knowledge that I've taken back control.
(Adapted from original post June 2016)
But, let's be optimistic. We're all learning as we go and everything may turn out to be just fine with us and technology. Self-driving cars may very well be the future, but I for one, happily look forward to my break away moments — overtaking the driverless cars in my '75 classic, listening to a C60 mixtape of old records playing loudly on my cassette player — secure in the knowledge that I've taken back control.
(Adapted from original post June 2016)
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