The Argonaut

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Opinion

In terms of vehicles, fusion and hybrids have been on the rise. However, this is due in part to the declining level of fossil fuels. These days, cars aren't just cars anymore. BMW offers vehicles with voice command telephone prompters. DVD players have been built into vehicles for years. Internet and GPS can also be accessed. Mountings for MP3 or iPod players have been installed. Then of course, we have the obvious feature of increased gas mileage. Where in the process of dreaming up more fuel-efficient cars did we come up with the idea to turn a vehicle into a mobile office?

Some technology doesn't take over our lives as much as simply improve the quality of it. However, some form of technology might promote the sedentary lifestyle that so many have been speaking out against in recent years.

A couple decades ago, GameBoy and GameGear came out. Nintendo64 and Sega were part of that same generation. After a dozen stages of evolution, we have the PSP2, the PlayStation3, and the Xbox 360. All of these allow not just for the space-age graphics of a computer nerd's wildest dreams, but to fight said battles with players from all over the world. It's not enough to play with yourself anymore; playing with a rival from Eastern China is the "in" thing.

Of course, with all of these special features being added to everyday conveniences, the prices rise accordingly. The iPhone 3G prices around $200, but that doesn't include the monthly plan, which can cost you over $100. Common hybrid vehicles range from $20,000-$35,000, depending on which options you include. Each of the game consoles cost several hundred as well, with each game costing $50 or more.

So where's the boundary? Where's the line that we shouldn't cross? Would we even recognize it when we see it? If technology was shut down for even a single day, could the human race survive?

There are more questions than answers regarding technology and its limits. As of now, we as a people are excited and fascinated every time a new gizmo comes out for us to play with. We eventually get bored, which spawns the need for a new toy. To find a balance requires serious reflection on just how much we are shifting our reliance off of ourselves and putting smart pieces of metal in charge of our lives.

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