We all know the old joke that after buying a new computer, by the time you get home, it is already obsolete. Because of the breakneck speed at which technology develops, a theory has been developed that states that every two years, the processing power of computers doubles, but will this theory still be valid one hundred years from now? According to the theory, this means the processing power will be 1125899906842624 times more powerful than it is now. In this essay I will predict the limits of technology in one hundred years from now, taking into account that we can already do so much.
As a student, I use my iPad for everyday tasks, and I find it to be a very powerful tool, and actually better than a full-size computer at some tasks. This is just a small example that as technology progresses, it is getting both smaller and more powerful. In one hundred years, I would like to imagine that all students would have access to the equivalent technology, using digital means of completing and submitting assignments. A simple tool like Dropbox enables us to share files easily and quickly, in 2102 I can only imagine that this technology would have evolved into an online file storage system even more powerful.
Currently, 38% of college students in America cannot go 10 minutes without using some form of a digital gadget, in one hundred years I predict that there will not be a 10 minute time-period where a person does not interact with a digital device. This will be because gadgets will be everywhere and the dependency on them in order to be productive will be exorbitant. In the classroom, digital technology will have evolved so that students will no longer have to go to school, they will simply stay home and submit assignments when they are completed. Of course, this relies strongly on a sense of self-discipline. This technology should best be viewed as a tool, if used properly it can be a huge asset, but if is is used improperly, then it will become an obstacle to achieving the intended purpose.
However, it could be argued that with such incredible technology at our fingertips, so easily accessible, could it not take away from time spent with family or friends? The social ramifications could be incredibly vast. Taking into consideration that in 2010, the average teenager sends 50 or more text messages a day, it could be said that digital technology is taking away from real-life social contact, and replacing that with a fabricated connection. In one hundred years from now, when technology is at an even higher peak than it is now, it will be even easier to contact someone digitally instead of personally. Whilst cyber-bullying is currently a huge problem for teenagers, in the future, if technology continues to be so central to teenagers' lives, and is not treated with the necessary wary, it could be astronomically worse.
In one hundred years, I see technology as being able to make and break you. Whilst it will improve productivity even more vastly, the temptation to turn to it instead of a physical person could quite possibly have many negative effects on relationships and personal well being.
