Resisting Technology: An Age Old Pastime

It seems like we never learn. Technology improves the plight of humanity, for the most part, yet we resist it.

The classic examples is the Luddites who resisted technological advancement in the textile industry. They reacted by smashing the machines believing that would slow the progress. Perhaps it slowed things down a bit but it did not change the eventual outcome.

We see the same behavior today. There is this article that talks about Tesla and the automotive industry. Tesla, along with the other manufacturers, are starting to work into bringing out electric cars. This is upsetting to many who resist this idea.

A decade ago, we saw the rolling coal which was done targeting the Prius. Now, we see ICE-ing which is fossil fuel vehicles parking in the charging stations.

https://qz.com/1506901/trucks-are-ice-ing-tesla-owners-from-charging-stations/

Sometimes the intelligence of people is simply baffling. Here is a truth that cannot be denied: most vehicles in a decade will be electric. It is not even open for discussion. The reason is because every manufacturer of cars (and even some trucks) are developing electric vehicles. Certainly, it is only a small percentage of sales now but they are increasing.

A decade ago, we saw a company reject the smartphone move. Nokia was, by far, the most successful mobile phone manufacturer. However, they rejected the idea of the smartphone being anything more than a niche. Apple was the first major one to market, which was a lot costlier than the typical cellphone. While that company was able to keep it's prices up over the years, other manufacturers stepped in at the lower end.

Nokia, which had 90% of the mobile phone market at one point, was wiped off the map. They are now a niche player.

We are seeing a lot of technological changes coming that are going to alter society. Another Luddite situation might form with 3D printers. Wait until thousands of blue collar workers are put out of work by printers. Perhaps they will take sledge hammers to them like their working ancestors. I doubt it will be any more effective.

Technology causes disruption. The copy machine reduced the need for secretarial pools typing many different "copies" of reports and letters. Of course, the PC took IBM's typewriter sales and collapsed them. Mobile phones, with their unlimited plans wiped out AT&T's long distance division. And how can we forget what digital cameras did to film company known as Kodak.

We know the only constant is change. It is inevitable. Technology does not stop for anyone. We hear a lot about the global economy and the debate in that arena. One thing we know, technology has always been global. If it is stopped in one area, it tends to pop up elsewhere. This is one of the reasons why blockchain is so powerful. It is global in nature, putting it out of reach of any one institution (read government).

People like what they know. I just spent part of my holiday teaching my mom how to text. Welcome to 2002. For her, this is progress. However, she is not the norm in terms of her demographic.

Adapt or die.

The pace of technology is speeding up. This is really going to cause societal upheaval. My view is the longer people resist, the harder it will be. Robotics and AI are a part of our world. They are not going away. Automation was occurring over the last 30 years. It will continue. Going back to the "good ole days" of yesteryear is not in the cards.

Besides, growing up in the 1980s, who would want to? People seem to romanticize how things were not realizing that it wasn't all sunshine and roses. I would much prefer having the way things are today than in the past. We have issues but they are different from before.

Those of us into cryptocurrency believe we are looking at the future. The adoption rates are up significantly in 2018 in spite of the major FUD. More people are being introduced to this. Give it another couple years and I do not think we will be fringe players. Cryptocurrency will be a viable alternative.

Right now the banks are acting like truck drivers from that story. They are doing all they can to crush the threat that could obliterate their entire business model. Like the Luddites, I do not see them being any more successful. There are more than 50 million people involved in cryptocurrency and, for the most part, they are not going back.

Technology keeps rolling along regardless of who tries to stop it. Being involved in cryptocurrency means we are neck deep in technological innovation.

We are not going back. Eventually, the rest of society will catch up.

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