Wearable Technology and the Starving

You Think Poor Starving People Own These?

This morning during our walk I recollected several novels I read from earlier  days that all had to do with divided societies, the rich living in “cloud” cities, either orbiting or the tops of city buildings isolated from the poor masses below, or the rich living in special “domes” which exclude the masses or the rich living in separate walled off cities. Some moron’s idea of Utopia, if you are rich. Then I thought about a discussion from yesterday where some expert was explaining wearable technology. Sensors in shoes to measure all kinds of parameters. Clothing with built in technology to keep you “connected” at all times, and cameras built into buttons or fabric to record the daily events.

The thing that astonished me was the nonchalance the guy displayed when he said “in ten years we will all be wearing technology all the time.” Not me, but that is another essay.

No, the aspect that astonished me was the complete ignorance this guy seemingly had about the majority of the people of the world, and their plight. Does anybody really think that the Somalis, Sudanese, Bangladeshis, and the hundreds of millions of other deeply impoverished people will be wearing Bluetooth shoes in 10 years? They will be lucky to not starve to death in 6 months, never mind years.. I know. I know. The guy was really talking about the affluent rich of the world, not the masses, whose population keeps growing despite world conditions.

He was really talking about a Utopian future, and he honestly believes it is right around the corner. And it may be for him and a few million others. But I think anyone with a brain can see that for the struggling rest of the world, just plain shoes would be nice. And maybe some food once a day. And maybe some clean water once in a while. Wearable technology for everybody? Not bloody likely mate. Not bloody likely.

Just for fun, Google “wearable technology” and see how many images of poor people you see.

Image: http://www.zdnet.com/a-pulse-check-on-wearable-tech-think-beyond-the-wrist-already-7000027843/