I am writing in response to the letter entitled “March of Technology.”

I agree that in many ways, technology has enslaved the human race.

But I believe that is only what it appears to be on the surface.

I feel that the main problem is that our technology is advancing faster than our humanity.

Technology in the past 20 years has advanced more than in the prior 200 years, and we are just struggling to keep up.

Think about it. The Internet has only really taken a major foothold in society within the last 10 years, and it has had a significant impact on how we conduct our lives.

It can be used for everything from just plain research, playing games or buying merchandise on-line.

Even now, NASA is testing a new propulsion system for spacecraft called an ion drive that will allow 10 times the thrust of conventional propulsion or speeds of up to 180,000 mph.

Sounds like something out of “Star Trek,” right?

Wrong.

We are playing with such technologies right now.

So I guess the question is: Are we, as a society, ready and able to deal with fast advancements in technology?

Only time will tell.

But I have to believe that we will survive our technological adolescence, and our humanity will catch up with our technology.

That view may be a little naive, but without the faith that everything will eventually work out for the best, why bother with any of it?

Shawn Beard

Alumnus

Oskaloosa