How good is todays technology.

[Valid8]

I must say that I am sooooo impressed with the level of advancement with technology today. I bought a stereo on Ebay , googled the address in Albury NSW and it gave me the street view so I could even see the house I had to go to. I entered the street into my GPS and set off from Berwick Vic, most of the way resting my right foot with the cruise control on. The GPS took me through all the little streets in Albury ,straight to my destination without a problem. When I got there I had to ring them on the mobile to let them know my ETA. Picked it up with no problems, and set off home with the cruise on again. Got home set up the surround sound system, sat back and marveled at how we are spoiled today with the internet, surround sound systems, google street view, GPS, mobile phones and even cruise control . What ever did we do without them? :

[saber]

Thank the scientist who did the research, and the engineers who create such devices. Without these scientists and engineers, we would all still be living in the stone age!

[barbarian]

and as technology further develops, man kind gets more lazy and fat.

I wouldn't be surprised to see cars that actually drive them selves in the next 20 years

[GUTLES]

You drove from Berwick to Albury for a Stereo/Surround System? Must of been very cheap!

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by barbarian

and as technology further develops, man kind gets more lazy and fat.

True. However there is Technology now that strips the fat from your body (literally) and soon enough technology will also create a pill that can change your metabolism to target the fat you already have, turning you into a slim lazy person.

[Valid8]

About 6 weeks ago I bought an LG system on Ebay and I was so impressed with it that I have kept an eye out for another one for another room, one popped up in Albury and I love a drive so I went up and got it.

[GUTLES]

Nice mate, I like your dedication to driving! You have a Burgandy BA Wagon with COOGES plates? Seen ya around a few times..

[Valid8]

Yeah, probably on my way to the car wash near maccas.

[IH8HSV]

I remember it was only around 10 years ago when my dad had his HUGE mobile phone that could only send 5 preset sms messages - Hello how are you or Ill be late for our meeting e.t.c.

Now I watch t.v on my mobile, get directions with GPS, browse the net, and can see my mates face when speaking to him in New Zealand.

Only thing left must be a teleporter or even better a time machine!

[XR Martin]

We built the Pyramids, Easter Island statues, Stonehenge, put a Man (men) on the Moon, created nuclear energy.. etc etc Thats what we did without it
Quite a bit more impressive than you picking up a stereo isnt it :

[mik]

Originally Posted by COOGES

I must say that I am sooooo impressed with the level of advancement with technology today. I bought a stereo on Ebay , googled the address in Albury NSW and it gave me the street view so I could even see the house I had to go to. I entered the street into my GPS and set off from Berwick Vic, most of the way resting my right foot with the cruise control on. The GPS took me through all the little streets in Albury ,straight to my destination without a problem. When I got there I had to ring them on the mobile to let them know my ETA. Picked it up with no problems, and set off home with the cruise on again. Got home set up the surround sound system, sat back and marveled at how we are spoiled today with the internet, surround sound systems, google street view, GPS, mobile phones and even cruise control . What ever did we do without them? :

same here Cooges , about a week ago my brother said his work was sending him to New Zealand for a couple of weeks, i typed in the name of his company into google which gave me the address, then entered it into google maps street view , holy crap gave me a picture with big letters of his company in the street first go, the mind boggles....

[GUTLES]

Originally Posted by COOGES

Yeah, probably on my way to the car wash near maccas.

Yep! I was sitting in the KFC drive through once & saw ya... Also seen ya somewhere else but can't remember... If you didn't have the plates I could see ya every day & not know!

[futura97]

I'm actually more impressed with really old technology and the way they achieved what they did with what they had. Today it all seems so easy, I actually reckon we should be more advanced than what we are...

[duaned]

Originally Posted by futura97

I'm actually more impressed with really old technology and the way they achieved what they did with what they had. Today it all seems so easy, I actually reckon we should be more advanced than what we are...

Agreed, just look at how they built villiages using stone all shaped by hand on top of mountain peaks etc. We would all complain of blisters in the first few hours! As for cars, look at the traditional internal combustion design. Yes it's more advanced but the basics remain the same. I reckon at this point of time, technology is only at it's beginning. I wish I could fast forward 20 years at the flick of a switch!

[BigCav]

Originally Posted by duaned

I wish I could fast forward 20 years at the flick of a switch!

that technology will be out next week lol

[gtfpv]

technology . my life was far simpler when i received bills in the mail ( altogether quarterly) and went and paid them at the post office . before computers and before mobile phones . street directories did and still get me where i wanted to go.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

technology . my life was far simpler when i received bills in the mail ( altogether quarterly) and went and paid them at the post office . before computers and before mobile phones . street directories did and still get me where i wanted to go.

Don't see how manual work is simpler?
GPS, BPAY etc are all far more efficient and mobile phones speak for themselves.

[Rodp]

Had a loan car while I had some warranty work done on my VW. I'm a big fan of cruise control as you don't waste time constantly checking your speed and no need to worry about accidently drifting over the limit infront of a camera. It had 'Adaptive Cruise Control'.

Hit a hill, it'll knock it down a few cogs to maintain your speed. Catch up to a car and it'll maintain an adjustable distance to the car infront. Was rather cool. Also had an autopark function where you get out of the car and it'll slot it into a parking space but wasn't game enough to try it.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

technology . my life was far simpler when i received bills in the mail ( altogether quarterly) and went and paid them at the post office . before computers and before mobile phones . street directories did and still get me where i wanted to go.

Ok, I'll bite too. How was is simpler?

As far as I'm aware, you can still do all those things if you wish.

[GT69]

Ever since internet banking, i've been unable to save money or put things in the 'i dont have the money for the right now' category lol

funnily enough, ^ is normally whilst buying latest technology things

[Lukeyson]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

turning you into a slim lazy person.

i like this pill of which you speak ... lol

[jphanna]

There is stuff today that even in science fiction movies 30 years ago wernt dreamed of. I remember in 73 my dad bringing home a tape recorder, and we all crowded around to see this amazing invention. Then in 75, I saw my first digital watch which my uncle proudly displayed. The kids today you see on buses with laptops and IPHONES etc wouldn’t survive if they were taken back to that era. Could you imagine them getting up to walk to the tv to change the channel….

[Gabbs]

I love technology. Don't need a mapbook in the car, don't need cds in the car, pay my bills online so no more lining up in lines at the post office.
I remember my dad telling me how he paid a grand for a colour tv back in the day and it lasted a good 20 years all that was wrong with it was the volume knob ended up snaping off and it ended up giving it to a family member when he got the rear projection tv.
Wonder what another technology we will have in another 20 years.

[jphanna]

Originally Posted by Gabbs

Wonder what another technology we will have in another 20 years.

i would like to see the old world combined with new stuff....like 2 cans and instead of string, connect them both with optic fibre.

[sfr rob]

Still waiting for the shoe phone, then I'll be happy.

But yes, technology is great, here I am browsing the Internet, playing games, shopping online, talking to people interstate while killing time in my truck, all from my iPhone.
It is pretty amazing when you think about what could be around in another 5 years, let alone 20!

[mrbaxr6t]

I read a thing about small gucose powered machines that can be injected into your bloodstream running on the glucose in your blood and that can bore thru cholesterol, tiny little cholesterol mining robot thing, this exists and will get better - nanotechnology or something. Just imagine having little machines poured over a wound and they "build skin" faster than the human body or a whole myriad of other tasks to help us live longer etc.. Kidney failure - no problem inject some syringe full of super kidney building/repairing robots! this is there and it warps my brain that we can do that!

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

I read a thing about small gucose powered machines that can be injected into your bloodstream running on the glucose in your blood and that can bore thru cholesterol, tiny little cholesterol mining robot thing, this exists and will get better - nanotechnology or something. Just imagine having little machines poured over a wound and they "build skin" faster than the human body or a whole myriad of other tasks to help us live longer etc.. Kidney failure - no problem inject some syringe full of super kidney building/repairing robots! this is there and it warps my brain that we can do that!

LOL... Go and borrow the movie "Inner Space"

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Ok, I'll bite too. How was is simpler?

As far as I'm aware, you can still do all those things if you wish.

i dont want to be a stick in the mud as i enjoy technology as much as the next person.
however with less technology things were more organised , and timed and there was less paperwork.
these days there seem to be more errors . i booked some plane tickets online . only to have the times changed by the airlines 3 times . i was notified by e'mail and had to confirm and accept the changes . i did this , but kept having toi do it every day . then i had to ring up to see why i was prompted to confirm everyday . ( error ) .
my bills used to arrive1/4 ly , and i'd pay them all, now i'm paying bills all the time by autu credit card deduction online. whenever there is an error ( very rarely) it is near impossible and takes hours and hours to rectify. i dont have satnav, but my dad has , and it goes out of date, also has broken 3 times . i use where is .com. and have literally had to throw the maps out the car window and look at the sun position to head due east. my life has changed , and i am addicted to computers for entertainment now , instead of socialising. i talk by txt, after my phone identifies the person if i wish. i have face book friends i have never met and never will , and never want to, i have some i havent seen in 20 years , and never will again. , when my computer FFFS UP often , i am not tech savvy enough to fixit , nor are most of my friends . that means my pay cannot be read , my bills cant be tracked , and so on . my vehicles dont break as often , but when they do, i'm stuck there . relying on compatable tow trucks and online help. if i am in trouble , i need to spend hours and hours on the phone talking to computers before getting onto a human who has no idea how to solve it . my chances of trouble are grestlyu increased because of monitoring technoligy and laws. and signs . paper work is now a nightmare , and i am expected to keep ontop , and file everything , to get myself out of trouble when errors are made .
technology has made my life simpler , but more time consuming , thinking for myself now is not on , i have to comply weith thre rules or procedure . and if i dont , mental technological responsible mess will occur. i could go on and on and on . but overall . my life is now much more complicated and time consuming , rather than simplistic .
if anyone gets my drift .

adding a bit here . technology has changed my perceivement . for example . there are probably people here i admire online . but might despise in real life . , and visa versa . which begs the question. ??? is it brains we communicate with , or physical attributes and actions ?? aside from that are we the same online as we are in real life . ??? perception is taken away with technology. my money is now imaginary digits , my photos are invisable .
i may be a little too philasophical here . but it is all technology related .

[JACK250]

Yeah I'm perfectly happy with everything how it is now, I wouldn't mind if technology (by this I mean day to day things like phones etc) stayed where it is. Medical technology, building etc is a bit different. Although I think everything is happening way too fast as it is

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

i dont want to be a stick in the mud as i enjoy technology as much as the next person.
however with less technology things were more organised , and timed and there was less paperwork.

adding a bit here . technology has changed my perceivement . for example . there are probably people here i admire online . but might despise in real life . , and visa versa . which begs the question. ??? is it brains we communicate with , or physical attributes and actions ?? aside from that are we the same online as we are in real life . ??? perception is taken away with technology. my money is now imaginary digits , my photos are invisable .
i may be a little too philasophical here . but it is all technology related .

Fair call.

Technology has improved the quality of life for lots of people, made the world a smaller place and contributed to our entertainment and downtime but it has come at a cost.

Sometimes you don't perceive that cost. I just received an sms and email from the missus who's at work where, given her job, she'd never have the ability to call me to ask/tell me something... but then we've had several misunderstandings over the written medium that you start to wonder if it would have been better off if she waited until she got home to tell me.

People have become faceless. Can be good and bad, I converse with people I would never have dreamed of conversing with. I've been communicating on the net since 87 so I think I'm a fair representation here as I am in 'the real world' (a sarcastic smartarse... :P ). But others see it as an opportunity to be someone they're unable to be in 'the real world'.

I can't say I've been the victim of an IT administrative balls up but clearly they do happen.

I love my GPS tho, even when she does tell me to take a left up a one way street, she eventually gets it right. ;)