The announcement of the iPhone 6 showcased a phenomenon in our culture today. Millions of people paid in advance so that they could leave what they already knew and instead struggle to learn unfamiliar features and software*. Trying to learn new software can be frustrating, but it also reminds us that we are not idly remaining stagnant as the rest of the world flows by us. That's why we describe these periods of ignorance optimistically as "being on the cutting edge of technology". The "cutting edge" is whatever is new, innovative, different...the things we don't yet understand. Apparently that thrill of being a pioneer outweighs the ignorance that inevitably comes with it, as evidenced by the iPhone 6's immediate success. No wonder the technology industry has flourished, given how constantly it is able to evolve and make us all be ignorant again.
*http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468504,00.asp
These are interesting ideas and topics. I wonder to what extent society can be thrilled with the idea of being in the dark. I know often it is not that way. Many people shy away from what they do not know because of fear. I think we see this when people avoid certain classes in school, different food or cultural experiences, or even nuclear energy. That is why it is so interesting to me that many simply fawn over new technology like the iPhone 6 like you point out. In my opinion, it is the fad or cult-like culture Apple has created for themselves that instills curiosity and intrigue in their new products rather than fear.
ReplyDeleteI have too many times run into people there were not just ignorant and didn't want to know more but they seemed hostile to change or anything new that they didn't understand.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, but is "being on the cutting edge" really all about always being ignorant like this? I always thought that "being on the cutting edge" meant that we are following development so closely that when a release happens, we are not surprised. Something to think about...
ReplyDelete