Technology and the human factor

The Greatest task before civilization at present is to make machines for what they ought to be, the slaves, instead of the masters of the men

-Havelock Ellis

The use of spears and stone tools were probably the first step of mankind towards technology and yes, since then, the technology is advancing, expanding and evolving.The tools made way for the second generation of technology-machines, which simply substituted the element of human physical effort.Machines allowed humans to tremendously exceed the limitations of their bodies.The third and final stage of evolution of technology is automation.The automation removes the element of human control with an automatic alogarithm.Computers programs,wrist watches and pacemakers are some readily used automatic devices.It began from a spear and went on to microprocessors and goes on.Starting with simple tools,man has advanced to automation.

But this rapid evolution of technology questions the importance of mankind.Today,In this Industrial society,Man Controls the machines and computer dominated production. What if the future would be computer dominated. Man as a mere slave. Think of a man working as a slave in a society of automated machines, disturbing it sounds. Messe Bloomfield in his book Mankind in Transition speaks of the over-dependence of man upon technology, and its viable effects on the society. Our human society is slowly,through a transitional industrial society becoming a stable automated society. That means technology advancing, Mankind degrading.

Let me make it very clear,I am not against this technology advancement,but all I say is to restrict brain to mankind,Don’t give machines brain.Without any doubt,technology and science have made our lives easier,comfortable and more enjoyable.Science has transformed our lives by fighting against lethal diseases like cholera,Typhoid,tuberculosis. The battle against Cancer is on.But think of the after-effects of nuclear radiations by the numerous machines on the human life and generations to follow.

Now,let me put forward a mere perception of mine and it may sound philosophical. Generations ago, our great great forefathers were way too much happier and self-contained than we are today. There are the same 24 hours in a day,we have ourselves made our lives busy and hectic. Think of the last time you  carved an idol out of clay or counted the stars in a dark night. I don’t think that happened lately. Our ill fate today refuses the gigantic potentials of materialism and spiritualism to work in tandem with each other in a healthy cooperative manner. So coming to the end of this short bloike, I wish mankind to remain ethical and self-contained accompanied with the needed technological boosts. All in all, Let science and technology work for mankind, don’t lead mankind to serve.

fairwell