Fire From Heaven: Pandora's Box of Nano and Bio Technology
Hmmm, what will everyday life look like 100 years from now if mankind keeps push the technological boundaries?
Occasionally, I get the urge to take a look ahead at where the world is headed. Truthfully, my reaction to this impulse is usually to reach for some comfort food, hunker down and hope that the urge will go away.
But today I succumbed to the urge and googled "Top Jobs of the Future". It's not at all surprising that the top 10 jobs on the list all involve intimate knowledge and skill with technology. We live in a techno crazy world where the power of the keystroke is mind boggling.
It is a bit disconcerting, however, that the top 10 list is dominated by engineers, scientists and technicians. The number 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 spots belong to these
fields.
Electrical / Electronic Engineers and Software Engineers are number two and three on the list. Apparently, our appetite for high tech gadgets, gizmos, games and the like is only going to increase. I can't help but wonder what percentage of these gadgets will be devoted to giving us creative ways to waste our time.
But number three, four and five on the list are probably the most telling: Nano-tech Engineers & Scientists; Bio-Tech Engineers & Scientists; Robotics Engineers.
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. It is part physics, part chemistry, part biology and part science fiction.
Biotechnology involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology and medicine. Think genetic engineering and stem cell research
Robotics, of course, deals with the design, construction, operation and application of robots. It sounds tame enough until you consider that artificial intelligence is part of the equation.
What makes me uncomfortable, when I contemplate these frontiers of science and technology, is that what we are talking about is fiddling with the very building blocks of life. The possibilities are endless – but so too are the risks.
Ironically enough, the metaphor that jumps to mind comes from the far reaches of history and the world of mythology – namely "Pandora's Box". I won't get into the finer details of the myth. Suffice to say that the Gods and mankind came into conflict which resulted in Pandora's Box being opened. All of its contents (except one) were released – all the evils of the world.
When I contemplate what everyday life might look like 100 years from now, I can't help but worry that mankind's forays into the outer reaches of technology might result in a Pandora's Box scenario. One miscalculation by a well-meaning scientist could unleash a doomsday scenario.
In the myth of Pandora's Box, the one remaining item that was not released was hope. So let us hold onto the hope for a brighter future where the scientists and engineers are wise enough to not to steal attempt to steal fire from heaven.
~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of "Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel" – double winner in the Reader Views Literary
Awards 2009. Visit Michael's website at www.mdyetmetaphor.comor the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog. Visit www.smashwords.com to download a free preview of the e-book version.
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Send comments or questions to michael@mdyetmetaphor.com .
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