Group 4 Response - stephaniedpark/MEDST255_Stephanie GitHub Wiki

Michiu Kaku, a theoretical physicist, renowned futurist and the cofounder of the String Field Theory and in his book, “The Physics of the Future, Future of the computer: Mind Over Matter”, he explored the possibilities of the future of science and the computer.

Group four’s presentation revealed the history and the advancement of computer and science over the years. With the rise of new technologies that are constantly being invented—f rom internet glasses and contact lenses to driverless cars to virtual to technologies that detect health issues...the line between “needs” and “wants” have blurred over time.

**Can these new future technologies impact us in a negative way? **

With the increase of new technologies, people in this generation are obsessed in being part of this new social world and consumed in getting the newest gadgets. I believe that technologies have a negative impact on society and the relationships we have with others. When I was growing up, I used to go play in the park and walked everywhere, now people would rather call Uber on their cellphone because its accessible and convenient. When walking into a restaurant, nowadays, it is so common to see a couple not talking to each other and constantly looking on their screen searching for the next viral event that happened in the social realms. Inventions like the virtual reality makes it easier for people to escape reality and people can get stuck because the virtual world is better.

**What are the positive impacts? **

New technologies that detect health issues are a very positive thing in society. To avoid deaths that can be treatable when found in the earlier stages and we need technologies that can find it faster. Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is a machine that scans the brain that can find illness like MS that is life threatening. The hopeful future is that MRI can be a portable device that doesn’t weigh a ton and only can be found in hospitals—that way people all around the world can have access to it. Technologies that increase a human’s life span and detect diseases, illness and cancer are a life saving tools.

**Do you believe we are too reliant on these technologies? How do we use them to the point of reliance? **

Yes, we are too dependent on technologies and can’t imagine a world without them anymore. Cellphones have become an everyday human body that is always attached to us no matter where we go and when we don’t have it, our world seems like its crashing down. A smartphone which is a converging technology functions both as a method of payment, music, communication, web browsing, etc., which is why so many people are too attached.