Technology has given us many incredible things. Great innovation. In just the past 10 years the advances are impressive and the rate of change continues to accelerate. But what’s the expression, “Every miracle has its price”? This tech avalanche has also delivered some casualties:
- Nobody can make change when you buy something.
- There’s hundreds of TV channels but little worth watching.
- Credit card accounts and passwords are always for sale.
- Music and movies are free.
- Mobile phones have turned people into zombies.
- People are connected to big networks of pretend friends on social media but have few real friends.
- On the roads it’s Death Race 2100.
Today if you’re out driving anywhere I GUARANTEE you will see more than one person texting and/or reading on their phone. Irresponsible. Scary. Deadly.
But another frightening development is that technology has infected automobiles; and I’m not talking about cars equipped with the optional “technology package.” There’s plenty of visual distractions in standard models. I have trouble changing the channel or figuring out what’s playing? Is it AM, FM, Pandora, XM, Apple, my phone?
This “innovation” leads to distracted driving. It’s not just about texting anymore. Manufacturers want to compete. They are stuffing their cars with features, too many features. These vehicles are so sophisticated, that damn screen in the middle of the dashboard is Godzilla and he’s come to burn attention spans everywhere. Why keep your eyes on the road?
Next time you start the car and see the launch sequence for NASA’s space shuttle loading, keep this in mind. At 25 mph (and we all know this is painfully slow) your car will travel over 36 feet in one second.
It’s a recipe for disaster and here’s my least favorite dish. Add one inexperienced driver, a new car, sprinkle in a touch screen, icons, music options, a passenger or two, and one mobile phone. Stir and start the engine.
Drinking and driving. Yes a potentially deadly – and expensive – mistake. It has ruined many lives. But technology and driving… Is that any better?
selling technologies 