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Technologists cannot be left to their own devices when our humanity is at stake

As a futurist, I am very enthusiastic about developments in technology and what they can do to advance humanity. So, I read with great interest, Luke Dormehl's article, entitled: 'The Future of AR is Earbuds, Not Eyeglasses | Digital Trends

However, I have some concerns about the implications of the technology, such as:

Mind-reading earbuds - come again?

An 'earable' (a 'wearable', close to the upper regions of the body – especially to the head, where the brain resides) promises fascinating advances in medical science, diagnoses and ideally, self-care through an early warning system. However, as the author of the article himself points out in his book: 'Thinking Machines', there is such a thing as 'Artificial Stupidity'… So, watch out when you allow your brain signals to be 'sensed'.

'Follow the leader' requires security and trust.  

The article describes 'audible augmented reality', which allows for a 'Follow me' command to be sent out from signal processing technology. The tech can be used, for instance, to lead a person to their desired destination in any given public space - such as an airport. This is a welcome development so long as the person doing the following is not just a lost kid, or an unsuspecting elderly person, and the one doing the leading is a less than salubrious individual/AI.

Technology developments are already outpacing our ability to keep up.

Assuming that the technologists have the best - and loftiest - interests of humanity in mind, it is worthwhile considering some research on what the current world of remote working is doing to people. Medical experts have observed that we are already dealing with a massive cognitive overload as we struggle with diverse people and things competing for our attention – both visually and acoustically – simultaneously. Will we recover from this overload, or will technological advances outpace our ability to keep up? If so, what then for humanity?

I like Luke Dormehl's reach for what he calls a 'posterity stab' by proposing Dormehl's Law. As a stab at posterity of my own, here's Kennedy's Law: 'Advances in technology and the evolution of the human spirit require trade-offs. Such trade-offs must be considered in the belief that, ultimately, technology must defer to human dignity, not the other way around.'

This is the thesis on which my own 2017 book: 'Rebooting Humanity – a Call to Awareness' is based. Awareness is key. So, let's keep our collective ear to the ground with regard to developments in acoustic-centered computing.

You can find my book via this link: https://b.link/6ke6wa

 

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