This blog could have been titled, "It isn't easy teaching grade 10 history".
If we look at WWI and WWII we can see that during both these wars technology took a tremendous leap forward. As an example, at the beginning of the WWI, pilots of aircraft were using pistols to shoot at people on the ground. In a few short years, by the end of the war, pilots had machine guns mounted on planes that could reliably shoot through the plane's propeller. The same war saw the development of the tank, use of radar, mustard gas, wireless communication, more sophisticated internal combustion engines - a wide variety of newly developed technology which we still find in use today.
The second world war saw the same kind of technological leap, the atomic bomb being the most notable example. From this technology came nuclear power and the development of a wide variety of non-lethal outcomes including the treatment of cancers by radiation therapy. In broad technological terms, war has been good for our society.
But what about the times in between wars. What drives technology? Following WWII technology was driven by man's desire for sex. He came home after a long day at the office and wanted a little quality time with the wife but was stymied by the Too Tired Tonight or TTT syndrome. After all, the poor little woman had to beat the carpets, broom the floors, wash dishes by hand, chop and blend food using antiquated forks and knives, as well as drag laundry across a washboard and hang it on a line to dry. Who wouldn't be tired?
Ahhh - so how did man respond? He invented the vacuum cleaner, the washing machine and dryer, the dish washing machine, as well as the food processor and blender - countless improvements designed to make the little woman's life easier. Man's motives were clear - he was trying to rid the little woman (or more accurately - himself) of the dreaded TTT syndrome. (
I discussed this particular issue in length in a blog entitled Pink vs Blue two years ago - 2 YEARS AGO - WOW have I really been doing this for 2 years?!!). If you examine all of the technological developments developed after WWII to the early 70's, more than 80% of them were designed to rid the world (namely man) of the TTT syndrome.
As discussed in my earlier blog - the ultimate outcome was that we kept developing and improving our products to the point where women no longer needed us and were capable of using the technology without our input. We made the technology too easy to use, too numerous in it's scope. Worst of all, we didn't rid the world of the TTT syndrome since women were now too tired of doing the work that was once in our exclusive domain. In fact, for a brief dark time in the history of man, we often found ourselves doing female or 'pink jobs.
But men are smart. We ultimately get what we want. What drives technology now? Our need for better toys of course. Having spent our best years developing better technology for women (and getting nowhere with respect to the TTT syndrome) we have turned our attention inward. We are now developing better toys for our own use - to help us make better make use of the time on our hands (there is a double entendre here somewhere) afforded us by the TTT syndrome. Big Screen TV's, 7.1 sound systems, bigger & faster computers for playing Warcraft, portable GPS systems to use with our canoe following a divorce, ATV's, bigger and better boats - TOYS for MEN!
Where will it all end, you ask? I've been thinking about that and as history tells us - it must end full circle. The Japanese (who else) have just announced the development of a
robotic woman. The ultimate in a man's toy! I know what you are thinking - a robotic woman is just an elaborate 'blow-up' doll. A mere toy not to be confused with a real woman.
For enlightenment may I suggest that you read David Levy's new book,
Sex and Love with Robots. In his book, Mr. Levy claims that, in the not too distance future, it is highly likely that most of our intimate relationships will be with robots. As Stephen Cobert noted during his interview with Mr. Levy -
Once you go Bot, you never go back.
So we come full circle - our technological prowess will result in the winning combination of War, Sex & Toys. Imagine you and a friend getting together on a Saturday night to watch your respective robotic females stage a cat fight for your benefit. Of course they would be appropriately dressed in sexy lingerie. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!
While it is true I didn't have to go to school today, exams finished yesterday, I don't really count this as the start of my summer. I spent most of the day marking exams, a small portion on renting a tux for the prom next week, and the balance on leering (there is no better word to describe it) at Big Screen TV's.
