- Artificial Intelligence
- Robotics
- Singularity
- Virtual Reality
- Blockchain
- 3-D Printing
Shall we chat about one of these?
Could you chat about any of these?
Like it or not, all of the above are part of the future of the planet. As with many concepts that are outside of the box we think in, there are naysayers and doomsday prophesiers… however, there are so many positives about so many of the newest capabilities and discoveries – it’s exciting and promising!
It’s Beyond Me!
By mid-life, many people are willing to suggest that anything technological is “beyond me” or something “kids today pick it up so easily”.
We are living longer now, though, so one of these new discoveries or technologies might enhance the life we have in our elder years or even save our life.
The advantages of being a life-long learner is well documented so I have a suggestion: why not acquaint yourself with new discoveries? You don’t have to delve deep, sometimes just knowing a potential for something exists is enough to wow or excite you.
A Short Story
I have a suggestion for you at the end or this post but first, I’d like to tell you a short story.
My son could be said to belong to that tribe called “futurist”. What he does in his NY office is “beyond me”! He understands and could probably explain any of the topics listed above. I try to stay aware even if I don’t understand.
It was quite fun recently to have a conversation with him and his partner where she looked at me blankly and said “Do you understand anything he says?” I admitted I didn’t understand but I was able to ask intelligent questions about several topics. Point – Mum!
I was also able to recount other things I’d read about and ask if they were related. I was able to ask about the next step in a development and its global consequences. Point – Mum!
A Newsletter…
Every Friday I receive a newsletter with about 5 different advancements/discoveries highlighted. There is a brief explanation and a “Why It’s Important”. There is enough information for me to then Google the whole story if I’m interested/curious. Honestly, most of the time I go “Holy Moly!” and move on – awed by what people can invent when they have no bounds to their imagination and do have a desire to forward science and technology.
Every once in a while though, something grabs my interest and I do follow up, reading until I really cannot digest more. I believe it keeps my brain synapping along and I love how others can invent that which I couldn’t even dream.
I also love being able to ask an intelligent question of someone who might be thinking I’m a bit of a dinosaur. Then there’s my friends… some of them think I’m brilliant!
Now The Suggestion
Now that I’m at the end of this post, here’s my suggestion. Why don’t you sign up for a newsletter that will acquaint you with the future, the potential of tomorrow?
Like me, you may just go ”Holy Moly” and move on… but you certainly don’t have anything to lose! Wouldn’t it be fun to drop a question or an intelligent comment into a discussion you’ve been left out because of your age? (I can answer that – it’s fabulous!)
Peter Diamandis is a rather brilliant man with no boundaries on his imagination and he collates these newsletters every week. Here’s the link: https://www.diamandis.com/subscribe
The newsletter is called the Abundance Insider. If you want to jump in deep, you can sign on for his Tech Blog as well. Again, what have you got you lose?
Another site of interest is Futurism.com – their updates “This Week in Science” and “This Week in Tech” are intriguing.
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” ― Henry Ford
Full disclosure: these are clean links. There is no way me to receive any credit or money from your subscription. (You can share this post on social media though! 😊)
I will definitely need to check out those links. As a former tech manager at a wireless company, I used to stay on the cutting edge. But I was downsized two years ago and miss not just the people I worked with but learning all the new tech/geek knowledge that came with the job.
I am one of those that some things are beyond. This is my own fault because my husband is such a techie that I haven’t bothered learning these things. Shame on me.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, Victoria! Much of it is interest, and I was never interested until I had to challenge myself and discovered I did have some skill. Most of it is still beyond me – I just love reading snippets and being able to say “WOW!!!”. Things are being invented/created that I couldn’t even conceive of!
Our son is a mechatronic engineer and on the cutting edge of designing and building robotic equipment (so new that he’s often not allowed to talk about what he’s working on). I ploughed my way through his PhD thesis and was very proud to reach the end! There’s so much happening these days and I’ll check out those two links – it never hurts to be able to sound intelligent when you get the chance!
MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
Wow!! Getting through a PhD thesis is truly note-worthy, Leanne, Congrats! Because I browse these articles I once sent a link to my son that I thought might relate to one of his projects and I did get a ‘Hmm, thanks!” back – it’s hard to keep track of all the developments at obscure research facilities in faraway countries, and nice when someone else does the collation! Be brilliant!
I’m intrigued and will take the challenge. I’m one of those that frequently says “It’s over my head,” but I do love to learn. Thanks for the inspiration and the links.
If you’re at all like me, Christie, much of it will still be over your head… but the concepts alone are awe-inspiring!
I am hardly the most technological person, but I managed to build my own website and run my own social media feeds and I have a business on-line so I try. I think that learning new things keeps your brain sharp. I love learning anyway so it is an easy “chore” although I have to watch because if I am not careful I will go down the rabbit hole and spend all day reading about things!
Michele, you sound very much like I was. Until I started keeping track of all the technological abilities I’ve agained over the last 7 years. Now I may still struggle but when I remember all I’ve learned, even mastered, I don’t back down if I think the skill is something useful.
I agree about the rabbit hole which is why I have designated reading time after my lunch and set a timer to be safe. 🙂
Will check them out You have piqued my interest and given me an intellectual dare – love it
Ah, the old intellectual dare! I shall prepare a test! 🙂 I hope you find something interesting and something awe-inspiring!
This is an awesome suggestion. Thanks for the links. I am off to check them out now. #MLSTL
Thanks, Donna! I’m thinking that being amazed is just as fabulous as understanding!