Back to Past !!!

In my previous blogs "Technology Evolution" and "Smart Phones Boon or Curse" did share views on evolution of the smart phones and its technology advancement & effects on society. Further to that, I did make few observations on the Smart Phone impact on mankind. This time it is not on the impact on the society but to retain our status as supreme species.

One observation that I made was on the upright posture. According to Darwin's theory on "Origin of species", homo-sapiens evolved from chimpanzees. One difference between the two species is the upright position, due to the structure of our spinal chord we can stand straight for prolonged period. Now with smart phones, most of us bend down our head most of time looking at the phone screen. Few instances are while sitting, walking, talking and even while during our nature's call.

Am not a doctor by profession, but by prolonged bending down of our head, not sure if our spinal chord does not allow us to hold our spinal chord in its upright position and starts to bend. If this happens, we might go back our ancestors in future. Will we uphold our supreme species status in coming years? Think it is time to use the smart phones smartly.

Smartphones Boon or Curse?

Steve Jobs was a visionary, pushing his team to come up with iPhone. This invention has given mankind a new dimension of communication by bringing people closer virtually but distancing emotionally and increasing dependency on smartphones.

Information is power and Smart phones do the job right by bringing information to finger tips on the go and at same time enabling communication. This information blast has made individuals more powerful with facts, more individualistic & independent, but weaker as a team player in society. We have started to live in a world with txt msg, sms, email, FB likes, LOL, OMG all virtually. When real situation arises sympathy and empathy are unable to be unlocked from oneself. As the interaction with fellow humans reduces, one tends to get deeper into own shell & avoids confrontation, hence forth react less effectively to situational needs. The power of verbal communication with variations in tones and body language that carry emotions are not decrypted appropriately to the receiver virtually.

As one gets glued more to their smart phone, barriers to innovation & creative thinking are developed. Hari Kunzru, British Indian novelist said "Say there are 3 identical looking pizza joints on a street. Two of those might always be empty. The third will have a line of people waiting, checking their phones. There's always one place that's third joint. That's how it works." If this trend goes on, humans may become as idiot boxes carrying phones that are smarter than us.

With any invention there are advantages and dis-advantages. It is for we humans, to say come on lets take the advantage of that invention and make the best for the individual & society. Thanks to Steve Jobs the visionary.

Walk-a-lator

In this industrial age, we all would have got onto an escalator in shopping malls, airports, train stations. Escalator was invented by Nathan Ames in 1852 with the intent of moving people up / down in form of moving staircase.

However off-late the purpose of escalator has taken a different dimension. Many have started to use escalators as walk-a-lators. They walk up/down on the escalators in view of reaching destination faster by few seconds. In this walk, they demand those who stand to move. This attitude of people puts those who stand under safety concern of tripping.

Most escalators are built with staircase nearby. Those who are in hurry could take the stairs rather than walking on escalators. Taking the stairs also works out as additional exercise regime for those who commute providing a healthy lifestyle.

People rush everywhere in fast moving world. In this rush, hope people don't push those who stand on escalators to trip and fall. Hope people value safety of others who take escalators with its original intent of moving people up/down.

Change Needed?

Is there truth in the statement "Change is constant"? If it is, why does change not happen to certain things?

As Einstein said "The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking". We always try to improvise and make it immaculate. "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often" was said by the Winnie the British Bull Dog. For those who wonder who is this, it is none other than Winston Churchill. The process of perfecting need constant change. In process of improving we adapt ourselves to the surroundings and relationships. This makes us the fittest to survive which is contrary to the understanding of Darwin words "Survival of fittest" as physical strength. One who adapts fast survives. If survival is necessary, then as Einstein says we will not be able to, unless we change our thinking. Countries that had leaders who understood this need have developed as first world countries and dominate world economy & propel growth. Top 10 countries in the Change Readiness Index are developed nations.

Change beings within, Change is constant & it is for better. "Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek" words by Barack Obama which resonates those of Gandhi "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Only those well established, perfect and proven systems/processes/procedures require no change while the things related to or created by humans need change. 

Ponder on Mother's Day

One of the commercial gimmicks of the millennium are the celebration of days in name of Friend, Mother, Father etc. On one hand economy is kept going by these & on other we can be happy that, at least on these days there is thought given to these ever to be cherished relationships. Coming up next in few days is Mother's Day. If you want to make your mum feel special, which is the most appropriate day? Is it to be Second Sunday of May every year?

As the Tamil saying goes "Maatha, Pitha, Guru, Theivam" which means "Mother, Father, Teacher, God". Mother is treated above all, cos if you can have one person who with no expectation feels happy for your growth & development in every stage of your life, it is your mother. One gets to live in this world after around 10months inside their mother's womb which is the world for the fetus. A mother gives herself a rebirth by giving birth to a child. She cares, showers, scarifies for & on you. Her teaching are the first every child gets to learn. Foundation makes a building stronger.

So wouldn't it be appropriate to celebrate your Mother's Day on your birthday rather than on Second Sunday of May? If you agree with this thought please thank & wish your mum on your birthday. That will make her feel special.