I grew up using maps and having a sense of direction, and now I have a phone. I used to try to remember numbers, and now I... can just call them up instantly. And that's great. But what's happening right now is that we're in a phase of human evolution where we're merging with machines.
Interpretation
Franklin Foer reflects on the impact of technology on human memory and direction.
In this quote, Foer highlights the transformation brought about by technological advancements, specifically how reliance on devices like smartphones has altered our fundamental skills, such as navigation and memory. He suggests that while these changes have conveniences, they also represent a significant shift in human evolution as we increasingly integrate with machines, blurring the lines between human capability and technological assistance.
In practice
During a technology conference to illustrate the pros and cons of modern advancements.
The biggest problem is that Facebook and Google are these giant feedback loops that give people what they want to hear. And when you use them in a world where your biases are being constantly confirmed, you become susceptible to fake news, propaganda, demagoguery.
We've been merging with tools since the beginning of human evolution, and arguably, that's one of the things that makes us human beings.
Usability rules the web. Simply stated, if the customer can't find a product, then he or she will not buy it.
Open platforms encourage innovation. Whenever you have a closed platform, a monopoly on commerce, and all these platform rules, it stifles innovation.
There has never been an unexpectedly short debugging period in the history of computers.
AR is going to play such an infinite role in our lives that we have to establish clear ground rules respecting everyone's rights. That means open platform and open ecosystems and protections that put user privacy first.
Perhaps one day we will have machines that can cope with approximate task descriptions, but in the meantime, we have to be very prissy about how we tell computers to do things.
My vision is for a fully reusable rocket transport system between Earth and Mars that is able to re-fuel on Mars - this is very important - so you don't have to carry the return fuel when you go there.
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