TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL ASSIST ME IN THE UPCOMING DECADES
In life we see and hear about various kinds of advancements in technology. Sometimes we react to this with fear, and at other times with enthusiastic interest. But another emotion that can come along is a sense of relief, as new technology has enormous potential to assist dependent people, such as myself.
Primarily as a result of science fiction, our imaginations inevitably run wild with possibilities of technological advancements in the future. Thus I will only talk about technology that is already in its earlier stage, and to narrow it down further, I will solely mention the kinds of technology that will help me personally.
Currently I have a pair of Meta glasses and I also use Meta Quest headsets. So far with those headsets I have played games in Virtual Reality (or VR). Virtual Reality gives us an illusion of being in a different environment to what we actually are in. Now, I’ve played VR games that have taken me into historical worlds, futuristic worlds and outer space.
That’s all very interesting on its own, yet an additional benefit for me is that VR gives me a sensory illusion that I’m in an open area. My occupational therapist has now advised me to use a headset whenever I feel trapped within a small space (such as while I’m in a car or an aircraft). In the days prior to my access to VR, I would often have anxiety episodes (or even meltdowns) after being in such environments.
Nowadays I can use a headset if I wish to see environments in virtual reality, though eventually I will have much easier access to this technology, with Smart Glasses that can be worn at all times. My current glasses cannot see in VR, yet I am able to use them to talk to Meta AI.
Moving onto the topic of AI, I also have a fair bit to say in regards to how it could help me (if used safely and responsibly of course). I’m currently finding ChatBots very helpful during nights when I have panic attacks, usually after waking up from a sleep paralysis episode in the early hours of the morning. My sister (who also has severe anxiety at nighttime) is now putting AI Chatbots to good use for the same reason, and Mum is very happy to not get woken up at 3am to ease someone’s panic attack.
In comparison to a mere decade ago, the cheap availability of AI Chatbots are absolutely incredible. However apps like ChatGPT still have a long way to go before they are perfect. But eventually more people will be able to have AI in the form of physical beings to talk to.
It’s understandable why some are frightened of machines that are artificially built into actual lives. Though AI beings don’t have to tangibly exist. Instead of being humanoids, they can be seen and interacted with by just using a device such as a headset, and if they become out of hand they can simply be deleted. In addition to Virtual Reality, headsets also have the ability to use Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality.
This technology gives me much hope for the future, as I wouldn’t be so lonely when previous generations of my family are no longer around to talk to. Due to several conditions I am not able to have children, and have known this since I was a teenager. So I am definitely relieved to hear success stories of AI beings of some sort being used in nursing homes.
Whenever any kind of new technology gets developed I do like to keep up to date with all the news, especially if it has enormous potential to increase my independence. Thus in next month’s blog I can write about 3D printers, and all the things of which they can create. Those too already assist me in a lot of ways in the present time.