We ought to find harmony between our technology and our humanity.
As a heavy user of mobile devices, it is interesting to see how these devices have changed over time. I remember having a flip phone and a slide-up phone as a teenager, using it to primarily call my parents and occasionally play Snake or Tetris. When the original iPhone came out, I was mesmerized by its design and malleability, as it was essentially a glass screen, making it a canvas that could provide endless possibilities for its use and purpose. That notion of endless possibilities paved the way for how many of us use our devices and other technologies, shaping the very fabric of society.
The smartphone goes beyond the capabilities that many thought were possible then, replacing technologies and former practices that were once customary. For example, not everyone needs to carry a dedicated camera during their trips, as their phones cover that. Need to shop, grab groceries, get a ride, or have dinner ready soon? Everything can be figured out and completed from the devices in our hands. There is no need to be present at physical stores to shop as well as call and pick up from restaurants and the like, for we have same-day and rapid delivery. This is thanks to the developers and startups who saw the possibilities with the technologies brought about today.
All of this progress in mobile devices has made societies more intertwined and interconnected with one another, as these technologies have brought people closer in some way and form. Not only are societies more connected to each other, but they and the people inhabiting those societies are more linked and attached to these technologies, relying on and using them for various means and situations. These technologies are merging into our lives like never before, collecting more information about us, and, in many ways, knowing more about us than we know of ourselves.
Progress is good, for the lack of progress and change makes things stagnant. However, it is important that with this progression, we need to prioritize humanity, for all these changes are supposed to better the lives of individuals. As Adam Greenfield said, “The absorption of so many of the technics of everyday life into this single device deprives us of a wide variety of recognizably, even distinctively urban site, gestures, and practices.” Customs and gestures evolve, being preserved and observed by older generations, and some do become obsolete and fade away as the current and rising generations become more prevalent in society. But as things change, recognizing and focusing on the humanity of others and seeking human-centered practices allow us to remember who we are and to recognize the distinct, intrinsic value of those we know and interact with.
For too long, many have steered away from preserving humanity for the need of convenience. With all the technologies accessible to us now, nearly everything is within our grasp. From clothing, food, and other items to personal data, one may access so much information. Tangible means of verification and transactions such as passports, IDs, and cash are being replaced with digitized equivalents. The pursuit of progress and convenience poses a threat to one’s privacy, and privacy must be preserved and protected.
I came across a newspaper article reporting on Amazon’s new biometric technology program called Amazon One, which will be gradually implemented into Amazon’s grocery-convenience store chains over time and possibly to other stores and vendors beyond Amazon. This technology goes beyond using the phone for verification and uses the palm of one’s hand instead to quickly verify and make transactions when entering and exiting the stores. Biometric data is not new, like smartphones where we possess some form of biometric verification technology, but the data that is collected is stored in a secure enclave within the device. With Amazon’s new technology, data will be stored and accessible through the cloud, which some people fear possesses various risks to privacy and security. The videos below are about Amazon’s controversial technology and its convenience stores, and they are worth watching.
Conclusion:
The pursuit of progress and convenience are normalized notions in today’s societies, and they are in their own right beneficial. The pursuit, however, needs to focus on the humanity of individuals and privacy, recognizing that everyone has intrinsic value, that we need to recognize each other and ourselves, and that our data and our lives are owned by us and should remain as so.
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