The Future of Technology

         

The Future of Technology: Real People, Real Interactions

(By: Nathan Hui)

The recent onset of the L1-LY virus has shaken the nation at its very core. The afflicted have found it difficult to process. One patient, Jack, describes how he first felt when he was diagnosed with L1-LY: "It just hit me right after breakfast. I felt this hole inside of me and nothing I could browse could fix it."
Jack was immediately brought to the ER, where he is receiving experimental medical attention.
The L1-LY virus is the first major outbreak since the advent of the Google Infinity, a breakthrough technology creating unlimited data storage and seamless internet connection covering the entire earth. Hailed as the greatest innovation since the computer itself, Google Infinity has made it possible to operate one's entire life from any device, with absolutely no lag time. Never again will one have to wait five seconds for web pages to load.
People all around the world have taken advantage of this supreme convenience. All the basic necessities of life, the majority of tasks required in the current job market, and day-to-day errands can be done from the comfort of a computer. Basic tasks that previously required physical activity can now all be done remotely.
But now, experts have attributed the unintended effects of the Infinity to the dramatic spread of L1-LY. "We're not entirely sure what the cause is," says expert Hitachi Yamaha, "but we've seen a strong correlation between increased time in front of a screen as a result of the Infinity and the aggressiveness of the L1-LY virus in patients. Because of the Infinity, digital screens act like a vacuum literally sucking the life out of people."
Jack describes having a similar experience at the onset of his L1-LY. Jack woke up at his usual 8am on a Thursday morning and began his routine of feeding and walking his virtual dog, Buddy_2.0. He wasn't feeling as energetic as usual so he scrolled through his iFriend options, Siri, Cheery, and Weary. He selected Cheery's animated voice to get some conversation going:
"What a day, Jack! How are you doing this morning?"
"Cheery, make me some coffee please."
"Sure thing, boss!"
And that's when it hit him. All of a sudden, he felt like "Life just didn't have meaning anymore." Symptoms immediately following included mild depression and social anxiety. The number of viral cases has since increased exponentially every week. However, new, successful treatment options have been been prescribed by L1-LY expert Dr. Samson Galaksi, an MBA (Make Better Associations) graduate and technology expert.
         "Two person-to-person interactions a day will do the trick. Real, face-to-face interactions are best, but even Facetime or group chats produce some of the same health benefits. One is better than nothing. Think of it like brushing your teeth. Try to get one in the morning and one at night." For those in more serious cases, like Jack, more hospitals are being staffed with professional social butterflies to facilitate these interactions with patients.
         Other experts are advocating to criminalize and eliminate the Infinity completely. But are the risks associated worth sacrificing the benefits produced in the last year alone?
Since the advent of Google Infinity, violence, disease and crime have dropped by more than 75%. Recent studies have analyzed the correlation between the Infinity and a dramatic increase in quality of life. Studies show that violence and disease have been drastically reduced because the number of physical interactions per day has decreased. Of course, online menaces still roam the web, but increased internet awareness has educated people in using the "Block" button to eliminate negative interactions. Criminal activity has been on the decline as the number of purely positive interactions have been on the rise.
         But while general measures for quality of life have been improving, general happiness hasn't seemed to improve much. In fact, some, like those who have contracted L1-LY, have reported a decrease in happiness in the long run. As treatments improve, however, there seems to be hope for reconciling our nation's social awkwardness with the application of advancing technologies.
         After only a month of treatment, Jack seems to be getting better. His mom says he's actually happier than he was before: "Jack is a new person. He hasn't touched his phone in months. He's hardly talked to Cheery, but we have spent more time together than we have for the past 10 years!!"
         Dr. Samson Galacksi concluded, "The solution is social, not technological. We need to begin valuing real connections over web connections... Real people... it's the future."