I have lived in a remote community in India for the past 12 years. During that time i have visited Europe briefly every few years. It is interesting to view the world through snapshots, because you can see the changes happen with more clarity .. a bit like how you don't notice your children growing up unless you are apart from them for some time. I have also had the opportunity to visit Indian cities and see how they have changed and evolved since 2008.
When I think back to 2008 the most obvious change are of course technological! When i used to take out my cellphone or laptop I used to have a crowd of Indians around me watching and looking. I was a rarity in 2008 having a colour touchscreen phone! Nowadays almost everyone has one, and no one even flinches if I get out my iphone in public. The mobile phone already revolutionized India in many ways, and the smart phone just took that to the next level. This technological change is also every prevalent in Europe, and most notably the increase in automation, and ubiquitous use of smart-phones.. I can JUST about remember the days when I used to queue up or wait for hours and would just sit there thinking or fiddling. Now there is no such thing as waiting any more, its just an opportunity to check in on everything on-line.. even if it takes absolutely hours! WE do seem to be ditching human service very quickly now, and I can see that happen in almost every step of my journey. When I buy a train ticket i use a machine. When i pass through passport control I use a machine. When i pay for items at the supermarket, there is the option to self checkout with a machine..Although it is not apparent yet, these changes are very significant, and may also be a pointer toward where we are headed!
Let's put technology aside for one minute! There is a cultural shift happening, and its a kind if universal shift. One thing to note is that the ideas and values of ALL of our countries seem to be becoming homogenized. There are only a few countries left in the world that have very different values, such as China, Africa, India. For the most part of Europe and North America we seem to all be getting on the same train. The themes are becoming synchronized and we are all starting to have the same conversations! This may well be a result of technology, but either way, let us look at a couple of really important themes that are playing out right now.
Freedom Of Speech!?
DO we still have it? I'm not sure any more. I remember the times when someone could say What ever the f*ck they wanted, and there could would never be a note from the police or a knock at the door about it! One thing is for sure, the freedom for people to say how they feel is being eroded. I have heard many stories of people being contacted by the authorities for something they said on Facebook or Twitter. The worst of this is happening in the USA, and the UK is following closely behind!
Cultural Changes
Now this is a very interesting observation! If you watched TV ten or 20 years ago you will notice that the presenters and TV personalities were very masked indeed, didn't show their real personality or feelings at all, and basically presented a front that would please the audience. The UK was especially formal until only very recently, and it makes me shudder to watch how people talked and presented in just the 1980-90's!
Let's look at two example of two very famous couples. Princess Diana And Prince Charles back in the 1980's , and the equivalent 2018 version with Prince William and Meghan Markle
1980's
2018
How Have Things Changed?
I would like to share some of my obervations and differences between these two videos:
1980's. Very Formal, Minimal display of feelings and authentic emotions, both are very guarded. The man (Prince Charles) is in charge and does most of the speaking! They even joke about Diana being a good housewife (2:57).
2018: There is no gender dominance visible between William and Meghan. They both feel (relatively) relaxed and unmasked, and able to share or talk as they feel is appropriate. They are holding hands. They speak with animation and feeling, and don't feel so guarded. They are both displaying their authentic emotions and are able to express themselves with feeling.
What a difference! We can see these differences in many if not all media personalities, and we also have quite a few very extravvagent ones, such as Russell Brand, who are quite respected even though they are totally unconventional! When we look at the above example, the difference is very clear. We have a generational gap, but also great social change. Many of these social changes have also filtered to the older generations, who today are far less racist, sexist, and close minded than they were in their youth. We do live in a different age to even 10-20 years ago and this is just the start!
It's amazing really what you can see from a comparison between two similar interviews from different times!. It really drives home to me that we have already had a cultural revolution in many ways, and these changes have now taken root. I really like how people are being themselves, and expressing their uniqueness without it being a big deal. I just love how people are really emotional and that is also OK, and indeed quite acceptable... Just look at many of our favorite TV personalities these days! Reality TV is a big thing these days, and that is a sign that we are starting to get real! We are slowly becoming a culture with morals and ethics, even in big business. Whilst we still have a long way to go, the signs are promising (if you DONT watch the news)
Where Are We Headed?!
There are 2 paths we can take from here.. Mad Max or Utopia! It can be very hard to see the wood for the trees these days.. and if you glean your view of the world from the mainstream media then it is easy to think that we may all be doomed. Fear not my friends, this is really NOT the case. The revolution will not be televised! When you can see what changes will be brought about by technology in the next 10 years or so, it becomes clear that we have a big shift coming up. Technology has been advancing for a long time now, and we are just reaching the stage where the things we only dreamed were possible are now not only possible, but very probable.
The technological changes that are just around the corner will change everything! What are the biggest advancements that will change everything? The first is unlimited and essentially free power. We can only hold back this incredible tech for so long, and once we are able to power up this entire planet at extremely low cost, there will be some very significant knock on effects. The most significant of these will be the ability for EVERY country to obtain free limitless clean water from the sea. Just look at Dubai! They have vast amounts of oil to drive their desalination plants, and that has allowed them to have such luxuries as swimming pools in the scotching hot bone dry desert! Many people assert that the next war will be about water, but I do not agree for this simple reason. The power shifts and improvements to countries such as Africa will level the playing field to a great extent and allow many countries to become self sufficient for food again.
Now let's visit the next incredible technological advancement that can change everything... 3D printing is a very intriguing technology that is already picking up adoption, and there is a LOT of research and development happening right now. In the not too distant future it will be possible to 3D print almost anything, and even food if you desire. Personally I would never eat 3D printed food unless I was starving to death, but I would use a 3D printed phone! Its not hard to imagine that in the future you won't buy a phone from a shop, but instead you will just download it and print it out at home. Can you imagine what this will do to the manufacturing industry? China will end up ONLY making 3D printers before long!
This leads me to the next incredible interesting phenomenon... automation. Not only will China be mostly making 3D printers, but they will be using Robots to take care of the entire process, from start to finish! The need for human involvement will be virtually redundant for the entire chain of events, right down to delivery! Artificial Intelligence is suddenly ramping up in the last few years, and even now there is rudimentary AI installed on your own smart phone! We are going to see AI take automation to new heights, with AI personal assistants, auto driving cars etc. If you really think about it, you will be hard pressed to think of many professions that wont be replaced by AI and some kind of machine.
With all this considered, and the developments of blockchain and a new way of distributing and creating wealth, I believe we are in for a bright future! Whilst it could totally go the other way, I have seen enough to know that we are in fact headed in a very positive direction.. if you know where to look! What I do wonder is what will everyone be doing in 20 years! If we do see everyone becoming self sufficient with minimal or no living costs then we may see a great upsurge in the arts, music, community activities etc. We will see much more philanthropy because the majority of people will be OK and have time and energy to help others.. When our survival instincts are subdued, because we have what we need and are protected and cared for, we start to see our real humane and altruistic nature rise to the surface. Mental illness will be a rare event rather than the norm, and the overall health and wellbeing of people will take a giant leap forwards!
These changes are all happening under the surface right now. No one is really talking much publicly about this inevitable future that is very close now. It is Us who will guide our future by the choices we make, and the people we support. It is up to us to be a part of a beautiful and prosperous future, and we can ensure that with the decisions we make, and the people and companies that we support with our spending power. It is our small daily decisions that will shape our future! Will you buy from a local farmers market, or the multi-conglomerate companies? Will you store your money in Cryptocurrency or in the Bank? As we start supporting the right things, we will shift the balance of power and put some of it where it needs to be, in the hands of the people where it always was!
If you are interested to learn more, please watch this movie.!
Image Source: http://www.young-diplomats.com/city-of-the-future-fantasy-hd-wallpaper-1920x1080-4985-2/
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If you would like to watch a VERY good movie that talks more about AI and the future of robotics please check this out!
Thanks @ecoalex for a wonderfully written and thought out post. I hold hope for this world and share your assessment of the impact of technology on the world. Having just left the UK under the cloud if brexit I would, however, like to contribute how I saw that country before I left. My wife and I were involved with the occupy protests back in 2011 and observed the incredible lack of knowledge in the general population, and lack of interest as well. Consumerism seemed rampant and consumption the only thing people were interested in. This has not changed, if anything it seems to be worse, with the idea that experts cannot be trusted and people denying very obvious unbiased evidence. In the UK the internet has also allowed a very dark streak of hatred to rear its head. This has hidden under the surface of that "tolerant" country for many years but was kept at bay because, as you say, most of humanity is good. Now, stoked by brexit, those who hold these views have a voice and now feel they are in the right so shout it from the rooftops. Unfortunately the general apathy we observed in 2011 means that this abuse goes unchallenged in the street and online except for a vocal minority. If this tend continues to grow on the western world then I see us going into a very from near future. I really hope that people will start opening their eyes and minds to the new possibilities that technology can bring, while learning how to live with less and more in harmony with the earth. Fusion reactors are the next big leap IMHO or hydrogen energy. Local smart grids will play a big part, backed by blockchain technology to regulate it.
Gret comment, thankyou! WELL DONE for being a part of the solution in 2011.. I watched that remotely.. it was amazing..
Equally amazing is how it seemed to vanish! Emphasis on SEEMED!
We will get there.. im SURE
Yeah, seemed is right. It inspired a lot of people led to many different outcomes. On a local level in the town I came from it birthed two different groups helping the homeless. On a national level it led to Podemos in Spain, a young political party that completely shook up the last general election. You can also attribute the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum to it. As a demonstration it may not have had immediate effects but as a movement it has changed the world in so many ways, both large and small. When I talk of Occupy I also include the Arab Spring, 15m in Spain and all the other international movements that started that year. We owe a debt to the people of Tunisia for leading the way.
Oh and I really need to work on my paragraphing.
Sorry for the massive wall of text.
Interesting how you compare the royal couples from back then and now. I can also see a change happening in the things that are shown on tv: https://steemit.com/ecotrain/@clara-andriessen/ecotrain-question-of-the-week-what-changes-have-you-seen-in-the-world-in-the-last-10-years-and-in-which-direction-do-you-think
What we will be doing when repetitive actions are being done by AI? I think we will be working with the earth more, because planting plants with love still works better then planting them with machines and it's fun to do. I also think we would go more into creativity and physical intimacy. Maybe some space traveling ;-)
An encouraging and optimistic view, I hope you are right.
From a philosophical point of view, believing that humans in general are good, I agree with you, that in the end all will turn out well because of that shift in consciousness, the problem could be the near future, the transition period, that could get ugly. So your mountain top is not the worst place to be during that period.
it COULD get ugly.. but.. i doubt it will go to the really dark scenario.. but let's see!! '=)
1980's video vs the 2018 video really show how much we have changed. wow. Awesome post!
I still think Freedom of speech is there but just like if someone went out in public in the street and said ugh i so want to kill so and so to everyone i think the police would be involved this is the same thing with Facebook and twitter. Your speaking to a large public audience not your family in your own house or to a friend. Your instead speaking to thousands its a different story.
The two video comparison side by side I really like how you set that up and went into detail. Relationships really have changed and are more open and I love that. You should not feel like you need to be afraid of your feelings or you can express them to other people this is what makes us human! So I love how open they are with it and they in their partnership they treat each other as equals and supportive.
excelente publicación, muy buena informacion, saludos.
Very Amazing and fitfully post sir. Thanks to inform us
@upvoted
Very impressive post sir just wonderful. Thanks for sharing us
@upvoted
upvoted....changes are needed in my life....
If I can describe my thoughts about our possible near future with movies,I think we have 2 options: Elysium or Ghost in the shell
nice post ...
if u dont mind can u help to vote my post
@nabilah48
yes without us realize the development of the era quickly change everything, the more the world more sophisticated with the technology, and often make us amazed at the changes, hopefully the more modern technology then the more opportunities to change the economy so that society can become a field of prosperity for the people thank you, your post is very good, can remind us about the past history
personally i don't really believe free energy systems will be a reality in the near future however there will be big changes in the energy department and these will be driven by crypto through mining.
all predictions of energy consumption where based on growing efficiency meaning lower consumption but that's out the window as crypto mining causes a large uptrend in consumption and rising.
in previous years we have seen (at least in europe) strong promotion of lower energy usage on lighting with the introduction of various technologies and the banning of older ones which made sense because it saved money by lowering electric bills.
mining however significantly raises power consumption and generates income so has a strong incentive to grow.
this will cause the implementation of new reactor types and upgrades to the network because a) influx of money and b) steep rise in demand.
why new reactors and not solar panels or wind farms ?
because they can't keep up as they are too weak in power delivery.
this will cause us to finally get rid of the old crap and bring in the new stuff that has been collecting dust for decades...