Alexandra Ford
4th hour
AP Lang.
Mr. Hewitt
Has the Human Hard Drive Reached Maximum Capacity?
Computer technology. It is the ecstacy of the 21st century. We humans can now indulge in vast amounts of information we never could have before. We can compute complex math formulas with a few taps of our fingers. Sleek cell phones melt in our palms as we call a friend from the comfort of our heated hybrid cars. Maps are a nuisance. We have GPS. Why bother with the chaotic mess of red and green lines and trees and park benches, all supposedly representing real life places and roads? And snail mail? It got that name for a reason.
So is the modern world we now live in everything we dreamed it would be? Is it more? Could it be too much?
It’s a delicate balance. With word processors, the internet, cell phones, GPS, and a multitude of medical devices, our daily lives are much smoother and less stressful than they were even 20 years ago. I know I couldn’t live without my Blackberry. The little bugger can categorize my events and grocery lists better than my own memory. And these medical devices? Miraculous. We can now lavish in the greasiest, fattiest foods on earth. When our hearts give out because of excessive plaque, we can just have surgery to put in a new one! It’s that simple!
But while some forms of technology are vital to human success, we need to be wary of its rapid involvement in our world.
Case in point: the ever-expanding weapon industry. You thought the cold war was unnerving? Try this on for size: a missile is sitting somewhere in Afghanistan, pointed straight at your country. Better yet, how about directing it at your city, your house? Wait, how about just pinpointing YOU? It’s a chilling notion, but one that could very soon become a reality. GPS technology combined with explosives is a recipe for disaster. I bet you never thought about how your trusty little console buddy could become a killing machine.
Another...