Personally I think it's a weak take. The current tech landscape is mostly depressing because of addictive social media corroding the cultural sphere.
Generalizing that into 'tech is depressing' is understandable since it is literally designed to occupy our attention, but I don't think it's an accurate view of the world.
Tech is unbelievably fantastic: GPS, wireless, lithium batteries, high end displays, etc. have given us extremely useful tools for everyday life. Tech itself is not depressing at all.
What is depressing is the current effect it has on society and a large percentage of sci-fi describes new ways humans make each other miserable. I can believe (but have no numbers) that that kind of sci-fi has become less popular.
Its certainly how I feel. Nothing 'Big Tech' has done in the last decade has been inspiring. Its all, subscriptions for car warmers, and new ways to show ads, and 'the metaverse' which science fiction fans have known to be ghoulish since at least the 70s.
I guess? Uber and grubhub are tech insofar as paying their not-technically-workers less is only legal when its done through an app. Can't deny its convenient though.
WebRTC is nice and I like it. Work from home is lovely.
I think the internet is having a rough time with things, and that in general corporations have become more greedy and more bold, which overshadows the smaller improvements.
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Personally I think it's a weak take. The current tech landscape is mostly depressing because of addictive social media corroding the cultural sphere.
Generalizing that into 'tech is depressing' is understandable since it is literally designed to occupy our attention, but I don't think it's an accurate view of the world.
Tech is unbelievably fantastic: GPS, wireless, lithium batteries, high end displays, etc. have given us extremely useful tools for everyday life. Tech itself is not depressing at all.
What is depressing is the current effect it has on society and a large percentage of sci-fi describes new ways humans make each other miserable. I can believe (but have no numbers) that that kind of sci-fi has become less popular.
Other than social media, what is it about tech that is about new ways for humans to make each other miserable?
Its certainly how I feel. Nothing 'Big Tech' has done in the last decade has been inspiring. Its all, subscriptions for car warmers, and new ways to show ads, and 'the metaverse' which science fiction fans have known to be ghoulish since at least the 70s.
It really seems as though you're focussing on the most negative examples, and self-fulfilling prophecies.
'Big Tech' as you call it, in the last decade, enabled us to work from home during the pandemic via zoom calls, and still shop and get food delivered.
Is that 'inspiring'? I guess that depends on what inspires you.
I guess? Uber and grubhub are tech insofar as paying their not-technically-workers less is only legal when its done through an app. Can't deny its convenient though.
WebRTC is nice and I like it. Work from home is lovely.
I think the internet is having a rough time with things, and that in general corporations have become more greedy and more bold, which overshadows the smaller improvements.
Yeah - to me this isn't so much of a problem with tech but with the law in general being based around 1950s notions of employment.
Being able to summon a car to my location at the push of a button and to be able to track it as it arrives is amazing.
Being able to make money at any time by giving people rides in my car is great too.
The legal system of distinctions of different kinds of workers that allows Uber to exploit drivers - not so great.