Project Glass
Like many people, yesterday I caught a glimpse of ‘Project Glass.’ Google’s augmented reality glasses definitely look cool, but they also got me thinking about the tech industry in general and the way things are developed, both at big companies like Google and also in smaller players and startups.
There is, of course, an overarching focus on profit, but that’s something I’ve ranted about before, so I’ll spare you here. Beyond that, though, there seems to be a big imbalance in the extent to which we talk about what we can do versus what we should do.
Let’s take those Google glasses as an example. I think everyone can agree that they look pretty cool. But I wonder about the extent to which technology like this is really good for us. Sure, having second-by-second augmented reality directions prevents us from getting lost, but does it also prevent us from stopping to look around once in a while? Does that matter? Does being constantly reminded of all our commitments impact the way we approach responsibilities and even memory? Does having constant access to your friends and your network every second of the day prevent you from expanding your network by making new friends? Our technology is increasingly developed, but how is it affecting the way we develop as a society and as a species?
I don’t have the answers to those questions, and I’m not arguing that Google’s glasses are evil. It’s just one example, I could have picked anything. I could also cite some studies indicating that technology like this does impact the way we develop, and you could just as easily find some that support the opposite conclusion. The truth is, it’s probably too early to tell. With that said, the past thirty years have fundamentally changed the way humans interact with each other and with our world. I don’t think there’s anyone who would disagree with that. And it’s true that the way our brains work can be deeply influenced by the world around us, especially while they’re still developing.
Laser brains: sure, we CAN develop them, but should we?
That being the case, I think we need to spend more time considering this aspect of technological development, whether what you’re developing is cool AR glasses or a new social media service. Again, I’m not picking on Google — for all I know, they had tons of conversations about this before they released that glasses video — but I know that there are many companies, from startups all the way up to big multinationals, where there is really no one considering the social, biological, and psychological impacts of the products they’re making and asking a very simple question: should we do this?
This is evident in the very language we use to discuss the tech industry. Products are developed, they mature, they advance. It’s almost binary; we’re either moving forward (and making positive progress) or not. But the reality is far more complex. Advanced is not always better, complex does not necessarily equal advanced, and it’s almost never a zero-sum game. I’m not saying we all need to throw our mobile phones into a lake and go back to sending smoke signals, I’m just saying it’s something we should be thinking about more than most of us are. And frankly, it’s probably something government regulators of the tech industry should be thinking about as well, especially in cases where the technology in question is going to be targeted in part or whole at children (and thus could potentially influence their development).
This is especially true for “undeveloped” or “developing” markets in Asia, because if a market is still developing, that means the way in which it develops can be shaped by many people: policymakers, tech researchers, investors, startups, etc. Asia need not necessarily rush to keep up with the Joneses, especially when the Joneses are wandering around with AR glasses but have little to no idea of what that’s actually doing to their brains. Perhaps the tech industry in Asia can attempt to develop itself in a more thoughtful way.
If it doesn’t, though, all isn’t entirely lost. Obviously the final responsibility rests with the people, the consumers. We as consumers probably also need to spend more time thinking about how the latest gadget is going to impact the way we live our lives, and whether that’s a good thing or not. It’s awesome that we can have augmented reality glasses that keep us in constant contact with our friends and family, or the next hit social networking whatever. But should we have those things? It’s something we all need to think about.
[Images via Google and BrainHarmonyCenter.com]