I always liked how technology sounds.
The art of observation merged with improvisation. Balancing
on a thin line between science and engineering. Where theory becomes reality. Where
nature meets the human.
We’ve tamed the sea and the skies, gone faster than the
speed of sound, played dice with giants and cells and we have won. Is there a
driving force to this eternal quest for progress? Where do we stand now? Are
our problems solved? Is the passion still alive?
People say that humanity cannot avoid its nature. Let’s assume
that progress is linked to our nature and thus is inevitable. Do we invent and
innovate due to a nature call? We surely desire a better life for ourselves and
our kids. What about the other kids though? Is their nature weaker than ours? In
a world where money and power talks, progress tastes quite aristocratic. It
seems we fail to acknowledge the importance of universal growth rather than
hot-spot paradises. Our nature is the driving force but it is hard-wired to
each other. If we focus on the tree, we miss the forest; the only path to real
progress is the path of cooperation, solidarity and universal growth. By solving
today’s problems of the world, we elevate and avoid the reverse inertia of
progress which leads to wars, oppression and suppression of our nature. And technology
is the key.
I guess you will agree with me to the fact that we have
solved a tiny amount of the world’s problems. Let me recap for you some of them…
Poverty, hunger, diseases, oppressing regimes, terrorism, religious fundamentalism,
lack of human rights, ghettos, unemployment. All these exist today in some
corner of the world. Today, 1 out of 10 people lack access to safe water. Isn’t
this outraging? We managed to send robots through space till the edge of our
solar system and we can’t provide clean water to the citizens of the Earth. May
it be impossible or have we stop trying? I refuse to accept that humanity as
whole can not deliver. We have the know-how and we have the resources. We miss
two important things. Individual and global will. Resources need to be
allocated towards projects that tackle the most important issues of our
societies globally. Most of the scientific, research and engineering groups are
way under-funded when it comes to those projects. This ill-conditioned
environment is a direct consequence of the societies we have built. Profit,
money, personal success, cheap recognition blind us from reality leading to big
corporate interests along with corrupted governments and a world that revolves
around false idols. Our problems are not solved and won’t be solved until we
innovate again, boost universal progress and converge to a higher global status
quo. Until we reengineer our common future.
In the end, it is a passion. It is a passion to create,
fail, reiterate, succeed and move forward. Forward, together as one, because
there is no other way. Progress is a passion, a natural one, when it involves
the people and their needs. This is the real driving force. Technology is just
a part of this process but once again it can be a key one. The basic needs of
this planet can be solved through innovation and engineering. We need to start
cultivate again this passion for technology. Teach our kids the beauty of
science and technology, the passion of innovation and engineering, the need of
solutions to real problems instead of virtual applications that provide useless
services. Let’s define universal progress as our driving force instead of money
and personal recognition.
Until we reengineer our common future.
C.K.
Painting by Leon Zernitsky (Technology)
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/technology-leon-zernitsky.html
