Will We Experience a Loss of Ideas in the 22nd Century?

The instruments, amenities, machinery, and pleasantries of life that we have experienced in the 20th and 21st Centuries have allowed humans of industrialized nations to bask in security and comfort. However, none of these conveniences came to us overnight. They all began with a concept in someone's mind that soon evolved into a plan and then emerged into public and private domains. The Internet was in existence for almost 30 years before the public was able to benefit from it. However, let's discuss these ideas. Where do they come from? When do they emerge? Ideas come from our imaginations coupled with the discovery of a need. When a savvy person realizes there is a need for something that can be in high demand, they typically begin the implementation and fulfillment process. By the time we hear a song, see a movie, or are introduced to a new product, it has been a concept for months and sometimes years.

The question is when are the times that we develop new ideas? Ideas come from active imaginations. Imaginations germinate from an active mind. In other words, ideas are developed when the brain is most active. Studies show that a person's brain is 12 times more active when reading than while watching television and 8 times more active while drawing than playing a video game. Here is the problem. With the superstructure of a vast technological empire, have we reduced the origination of ideas possibilities? One of the discussion questions that I pose to my labor economics class is, "Can computers ever completely replace human beings in the workplace?" The answer is no because computers do not originate thought or ideas, they simply carry out the tasks they have been programmed to but are unable to develop new concepts. This is why new computers are so often produced. Their capabilities are constantly upgraded by humans.

On the other hand, with the reduction of mental challenges in our daily lives due to the technological conveniences and human replacements, does this mean we should come to expect a decrease in new ideas brought to our society? We saw a boom of inventions brought to America by Blacks in the 20th Century. Many would attribute this wave of inventions to Blacks being legally allowed to read, study, and become educated. There are doubts that this trend will continue past the 22nd Century because of the reduction of reading and the increase of "watching" and the Black population. This is up for debate. What we do know is that many industrialized cultures' children are being allowed to increase the amount of television they watch at alarming rates, and ideas they are capable of generating never become reality.

There is no denying, technology absolutely makes daily living easier but when does that ease crossover into regression? A culture shift can result in a culture shot. There are a lot more learning possibilities and intellectual breakthroughs waiting on the horizon for humans to conquer. However, we will only accomplish them if we don't replace what is critical for our lives with what is convenient for it. If we don't reserve time for reading and the cultivation of ideas in our current era, the lives of our grandchildren in the 22nd Century can wind up looking like a splitting image of the lives of our grandparents of the 19th Century's era.

Devin Robinson holds a Bachelor's in Business Management and a Masters in Business Administration degree. He is currently earning a Doctorate in Business Marketing degree. He is the author of 7 self-help books and Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper columnist. To contact him or purchase one of his captivating books, visit http://www.devinrobinson.com.