Here we are at the beginning of a new year and the start of a new decade. Time seems to pass faster every year so we better make the most of what we have because you never know what will happen tomorrow.
I am by no means a visionary but in looking ahead for 2020, I see a lot more internet of things affecting our lives. We have gone from dial up phones to talking to our smart phones and actually getting answers.
Speaking of phones, they have enabled us to eliminate desk top computers, tv’s, paper calendars, atlases & maps, calculators, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauruses, and of course, cameras.
Phones have also encouraged little conversation among humans by replacing the spoken word with texting. Some people talk to their pets more than their friends.
Cursive is losing its place in the school curriculum. Some people argue that it’s a waste of time to learn and use it. I totally disagree on this one.
Correct spelling and grammar, due to tweeting and texting, seems unimportant to many and spills over to the spoken word, which in my humble opinion, makes the person sound illiterate and uneducated.
Lastly, social media has given permission for people to be blatantly ill-mannered and downright ugly to their fellow human beings, whether they know them or not. The festering hate pops up on every message board, every comment and much of the social media platforms.
Of course, look how the internet of things is affecting the economy. The number of smartphone users worldwide today surpass three billion and is forecast to further grow by several hundred million in the next few years. Think of all those people who have accrued billions of dollars due to technology.
What’s next? As I said before, I am not a visionary but I will say things are getting increasingly better and worse.