The Acceleration of Technology

In his book "Where Good Ideas Come From," Stephen Johnson notes that for most of the 20th century, technological advancements adhered to a predictable timeline, typically taking a decade to create and another decade to gain widespread acceptance. This pattern remained consistent across various innovations, including automobiles and personal computers.

However, everything changed in 2005 with the emergence of YouTube, a platform created by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. Their innovation coincided with the rise of broadband internet, leading to its rapid adoption within two years. This drastic reduction in the traditional timeline—from 10 years to just 1—marks a significant acceleration in how quickly new technologies can gain traction.

The internet has exponentially increased the speed of innovation, altering our perception of time. If two individuals spend an hour in a room—one with a smartphone and the other without—the one with the device often perceives time as passing more quickly, as they occupy themselves with distractions. Thus, we fill every moment with activity and noise, living at an overwhelming pace, while lamenting that time seems to slip away.

The Consequences of Our Choices

We are inadvertently constructing a precarious existence, racing towards an uncertain future, blind to the impending consequences of our actions.

Kleiber's Law, named after biologist Max Kleiber, posits that an animal's metabolic rate is proportional to the 3/4 power of its mass. This principle translates to larger animals living longer and having slower heart rates.

Theoretical physicist Geoffrey West examined whether this law could apply to cities, discovering that as urban areas expand, their "metabolism" does indeed slow down, while innovation increases significantly. A city ten times larger than its neighbor is not merely ten times more innovative; it is actually seventeen times more so.

Can We Keep Up?

As Anne Lamott observes, "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Yet, this is often easier said than done. Many of us are tethered to our devices, constantly seeking stimulation. Whether at work or home, we juggle multiple screens, making it challenging to disconnect.

I often find myself in a similar predicament. I disabled notifications about my screen time because the statistics were disheartening. Instead of addressing issues in my life, I would rather tune out by turning up the volume on distractions.

I acknowledge the difficulty of stepping back from technology and the implications of our rapid advancements. The pace of change in fields such as social media, artificial intelligence, and climate change has outstripped our ability to fully comprehend or regulate their effects.

Disaster Porn and Reflection

While I prefer not to dwell solely on doom and gloom, it is essential to address the issues we face. Having grown up in an analog world, I have witnessed the transition to a digital age, which has been both exhilarating and jarring.

As I strive for a slower pace in this fast-moving world, I recognize that doing so may be seen as rebellious. I am not searching for activities to fill my time; rather, I grapple with the complexities of my thoughts and feelings.

Writing, thinking, and listening to music help me find solace amidst the chaos. I strive to regain control over my perception of time, and perhaps one day, I will manage to slow it down.

The video titled "Race to Oblivion" explores the implications of our fast-paced lives and the potential consequences of our technological advancements.