Technology and laziness

There was a discussion going on among my colleagues that technology is making the new bunch of engineers more tool-dependent, and lazier. I, kind of, agree.

Let's look at how technology has made us lazy and might potentially make us even more so in the times to come. Sensors have completely taken over the new-age restrooms. All you have to do is go and stand there, and of course unzip your pant/jeans/whatever. I might not be surprised though that in a few decades even the act of unzipping might be automated. All you need to do is be able to stand. "Something" unzips your panst and takes out the you-know-what, and bingo! For girls, I cannot explain the process due to the PG13-ness of this blog. But you get the drift.

Ditto for travel. Long hour commutes would no longer be a hassle if we have an auto-driven car that is 'intelligent' enough to adjust its speed as it approaches other cars from any direction. The whole traffic system could be revolutionized that way. Flying cars is already on its way (in NASA labs)..so instead of driving to work, we would be flying to work. For lovers who don't have enough privacy on land, can use the 'aerial parking lot' to get some private moments with their partners.

On a more serious note, technology helps in saving lives. Imagine if doctors have access to any patient's medical record by scanning a "smart-card" that keeps track of the patients medical history, that would help solving complications that are caused by lack of information about the patients' record (which is quite common in rural areas). It would also bring quick relief. One area where this could be of immense help would be in pregnancy related fatalities esp. in rural areas.

That said, technology wouldn't necessarily make one fit and healthy. The basics of getting rid of fat will remain unchanged forever. If you wish to stand still, and expect some magic tool to wiggle out your fat and improve your heart rate, that's not happening. Not now. Not 50 years from now.

Bottomline, technology would help. Big time. It sure would make routine things easier. But in the larger and deeper scheme of things, it doesn't necessarily make one at peace with himself.