Musings...
Yet again, this week's session started with a tremendous 'bang'. Nothing too dramatic but it was a good wow reaction. Prof showed us a video of what future technology could do for our lives. With interactive multi-touch panels, realistic interfaces, holographic navigation pads and basically stuff that came out of a futuristic movie - all within the comforts of your home and also in your local hospitals. With handheld sensors that could detect objects through solid barriers and interactive on-to-go maps within buildings and even in the supermarket, I truly hoped that this might be the future.
After this video, we discussed the feasibility of having this kind of technology by 2020 and beyond. I, for one, felt that 2020 was too close a date for this kind of well-connected and highly interactive interfaces to be made available, although Prof felt that it was indeed feasible because most of the fundamental technologies have already been created and we would just be improving on them by 2020. What I foresaw as being an impediment to the advancement of this technology within 9 years was the fact that it had to be implemented on a large scale. For instance, for one hospital to use this kind of technology with such connectivity, it would only be maximized if most (if not all) hospitals were using this kind of technology as well so that patients are able to receive the same treatment standards across the board. Furthermore, if a small area of residences were to implement the same technology, the connectivity aspect of it would be limited unless the other portals they are connecting to have the same level of development if not better (ie. the workplace, shops etc.). Although these doubts have already been addressed in the previous lesson when Prof mentioned that interoperability increases with technology, I feel that to be able to penetrate the market on a large scale and involve a great number of parties, it would take more than 9 years. But that's just me. Either way, I do hope that such technology comes as quickly as possible as it would be phenomenal and a milestone in technological history.
So far I've been deviating from the "BioBusiness Bubble" topic but I'll hit it eventually. Speaking of hitting, the next thing that hit me during the session was the trailer of Sicko, the Michael Moore film. I always thought Michael Moore focused on very controversial topics like the 9-11 conspiracy and national secrets etc. but I never thought he'd bring his attention to something that was necessary like healthcare in the United States. Playing this one close to the chest, Moore sought to burst the bubble surrounding how healthcare bills had gotten many normal Americans bankrupt and the utter corruption within the system that was supposed to save lives. Although I lived in the States for 3 years, this issue was veiled to me as a little high school student. But people like Moore have opened the world's eyes to how a necessity like healthcare can become a system in which people abuse for money. It shocking and sad that a global player like the United States reaches to all parts of the globe to police war and provide relief but in their own country, they can't even keep their own healthcare system clean.
Moving on, with the advances in medicine and the bio-business industry, a new dilemma arises (surprise surprise). The emphasis on the combating of diseases has been for diseases of deprivation in the early to mid 1900's but now, in the 21st century, we are combating diseases of excess. From cholesterol related heart problems to colon cancer and obesity, the shift is alarming and real. In the past, the world was bent on fighting smallpox and epidemics related to a lack of sanitation but now, we're fighting for how to stop people from becoming overweight and developing heart problems. The surface dilemma is however, whether the medical industry can shift its focus along with the trend and be able to effectively combat such causes through medical advances and prevention. Let's hypothetically say that that will happen inevitably so we can focus on a deeper problem.
The deeper dilemma is based on the fact that technology has made it so easy for people to live sedentary lifestyles. With flatscreen high-def TVs transmitting from satellites, computers with the ability to give you all the information you need and a Pizza Hut near you on speed dial, can people really live lifestyles beyond being a couch potato? It truly is an odd situation. In the future, if everything is so well-connected and advanced that work, school, shopping and even family dinners can be done at home through advanced network and conferencing infrastructure, will we ever need to get out of the house? I doubt it. What's the point of squeezing with annoying people on the MRT or the bus, or even getting stuck in traffic trying to get from one place to another when you can do it in the comfort of your own home, at your own time and at your own leisure. Things have gotten too convenient as is and I foresee that it will only get easier with how technology is advancing. The dilemma is how will we tackle this? Sitting on our bounteous behinds and living life will indefinitely lead to obesity and eventually severe health risks, so what can be done? I thought that this situation could have been a topic for further discussion during class to see what other students thought a solution could be. Without violating the freedom of being able to sit at home, how can we get people out of the house to get away from such diseases of excess?
With that said, let's look on the bright side like Einstein who said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.'' This was rather significant to me even beyond the scope of TWC and it was a major takeaway message for this session. Let's face it, we've all been through a period or even a day in life where we say, "Argh, screw it. It's not going to work!" or something of that nature where we give up. But what Einstein is proposing is that we look at things on a brighter note and see that the things/people/situations in life are miraculous and wonderful and we should take full advantage of them (not the people, but you know what I mean). If everyone had the "screw it" mentality, I'm sure advances in biotechnology, or any other technology for that matter, would not be possible and we would probably will be trying to eradicate smallpox and leprosy right now. No matter how you look at it, just envision things more positively.
Personal rating for this session: 9.439/10
Off to further musings,
James G14
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