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| "Portrait of an Artist: Pool with Two Figures" (1971) by David Hockney |
Would you agree that if we can build computers that can perform demanding tasks faster and more efficiently that human can perform them, we should do it, so that human beings can dedicate themselves to performing tasks that require a "mindfulness" the computers can never have? If so, what kinds of mindful tasks should be left to human beings?
Alternatively, should "mindfulness" even be the ultimate human goal? Couldn't you say that "mindfulness" is usually accompanied by worry and anxiety? Don't most people prefer "mindless" entertainment to entertainment that requires work on the part of the audience? Wouldn't we all be happier if we could lead lives unencumbered by the worry and anxiety that comes with "mindfulness"? As you are thinking about these questions, ask yourself if you'd rather be doing something mindless like lying on a beach, playing a video game, watching a TV show, etc. Or look at the image of among and ask yourself if you'd rather be the swimmer or the "mindful" man watching the swimmer?
In this case, I believe that a sweeping statement simply will not do. There are some tasks which a human can certainly do with utmost efficiency and most importantly, in a conscientious way. However there are some tasks, such as interpreting lines of code, that it would be a waste of brain power for an individual to devote hours of work for a fraction of progress.
ReplyDeleteThere are tasks that I deem absolutely "human" in nature. My prime example is the diagnosis and treatment of disease. While it is certainly possible to develop an algorithm in which symptoms are put in and treatment recommendations come out. There are extenuating circumstances in every single case that are beyond the grasp of software and should instead be trusted to the care, and when I say care I do mean actual compassion, of a trained professional.
My US History teacher impressed upon me the importance of meta-cognizance, which is being aware of your own thinking. There is no way that I could ever condone mindlessness in any sense. As such, I relate to the swimmer wholeheartedly.
In this case, I believe that a sweeping statement simply will not do. There are some tasks which a human can certainly do with utmost efficiency and most importantly, in a conscientious way. However there are some tasks, such as interpreting lines of code, that it would be a waste of brain power for an individual to devote hours of work for a fraction of progress.
ReplyDeleteThere are tasks that I deem absolutely "human" in nature. My prime example is the diagnosis and treatment of disease. While it is certainly possible to develop an algorithm in which symptoms are put in and treatment recommendations come out. There are extenuating circumstances in every single case that are beyond the grasp of software and should instead be trusted to the care, and when I say care I do mean actual compassion, of a trained professional.
My US History teacher impressed upon me the importance of meta-cognizance, which is being aware of your own thinking. There is no way that I could ever condone mindlessness in any sense. As such, I relate to the swimmer wholeheartedly.
I believe that computers have both helped and hurt us as human beings, as have all things. It is all in how and by whom it is used. Technology has always been a double-edged sword. Nurses often depend on automatic blood pressure cuffs now. The computer programming is much quicker and precise. Human error is removed from the scenario. The nurse now has more time to spend with the patient, or to tend to other patients. He or she can give the patient more human-like care now to make the patient feel more at home, something a computer can not do. However, he or she may lose his or her ability to manually take blood pressure. Can he or she relearn this skill if needed? Absolutely. We can always learn again. Technology taking over some of our tasks is not the end of our ability to do them.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "mindful" tasks that should be left to humans, I do not have an exact answer, but I do believe that anything that we are passionate or compassionate for, should be left to us.
I feel that I relate more to the swimmer. Who is to say that the swimmer is not also being "mindful" while swimming?
I don't believe there is an absolute for the types of tasks computers should be used for. In the case where speed and efficiency are priority, computers should he used. Brooke mentioned nurses using automated blood pressure cuffs. Those are primarily used in the ER and ICU where the nurse must also assess the patient and prepare for the doctor. In most doctors offices, the manual blood pressure cuff is used so the nurse can listen as well.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things that computers cannot do, especially in the health field. A robot will never be able to assess the sounds in a person's lungs. One can not completely test the quality of a product. These tasks can be seen as mindless in each profession.
I think my generation prefers mindless activities because they do not require work. Television and video games allow us to isolate ourselves from any possible conflict. Sports and other similar activities make us socialize and teach us that we can't always win. That's the part we hate the most.
I don't believe there is an absolute for the types of tasks computers should be used for. In the case where speed and efficiency are priority, computers should he used. Brooke mentioned nurses using automated blood pressure cuffs. Those are primarily used in the ER and ICU where the nurse must also assess the patient and prepare for the doctor. In most doctors offices, the manual blood pressure cuff is used so the nurse can listen as well.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things that computers cannot do, especially in the health field. A robot will never be able to assess the sounds in a person's lungs. One can not completely test the quality of a product. These tasks can be seen as mindless in each profession.
I think my generation prefers mindless activities because they do not require work. Television and video games allow us to isolate ourselves from any possible conflict. Sports and other similar activities make us socialize and teach us that we can't always win. That's the part we hate the most.
The need for efficiency has been a human archetype for millennia. Efficiency has almost always increased the quality of life in a society, which sounds appealing. Automation seems like the holy grail needed to create the ideal and efficient world. However, it comes with a cost. Jobs that require low skill level or are monotonous in nature would be one of the first areas to be fully automated. These positions are one of the broadest categories of occupations in the job market; the application of full automation could potentially affect millions.
ReplyDeleteWe, as humans, are unique. We can communicate ideas, invent tools, feel emotions, remember information, and use critical problem-solving skills. We also have developed consciousness. We are meant to be mindful. We have established our species at the top of the food chain because of these abilities. Even when we participate in "mindless" activities we are constantly thinking and learning. To relegate the duties of a human to an automaton is simply insulting. With each position that is automated, we lose a bit of our humanity.
Mindfulness shouldn't be the goal of humans as it is one of our innate traits. The ideal goal in our modern age should be to find a balance between efficiency and retaining our humanity. The key to this is learning how to use automation as a tool instead of an alternative to human labor.
Laura, I greatly agree with your last two quotes. The whole debate on mindful vs mindless has to do with balance. Personally and locally, I think it is easy to find a balance, but on a larger scale, it becomes harder. As CEO's and manufacturers look to up efficiency, the value of automation as an alternative rather than a tool rises.
DeleteI believe that computers are very useful and important for many tasks, but they are not the best option and should not be used for every task. Computers are enable to form opinions, show compassion, and make individualized decisions based on specific situations; meaning that computers will never be able to do every job a human can. Jobs such as childcare, teaching, healthcare, law enforcement, and many other fields that deal with human interaction should be left to humans. I also think that our society would get bored if computers did everything for us, I know that I would. None the less, computers have become essential in our lives today and do give us more time to do the work that they can’t, which has improved our economy and overall lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that “mindfulness” should be the ultimate goal for humans, but I do believe it is a good thing to strive for in our everyday lives. I think it is important to be mindful of our own actions and thoughts, but it is also enjoyable to relax and take a break for being so mindful. Therefore, I would be the swimmer. I would also rather be the swimmer than be watching TV or lying on the beach, because swimming does take some thought and effort.
I believe that if a computer has the capability of performing a task more efficiently than a human then the computer is the better fit for the job. Ideally, humans can and should devote their time to more mindful things such as cures for diseases in the medical field and welfare issues like world hunger and the homeless. But I do believe humans need to perform everyday tasks that do not require the use of a machine.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to a human’s ultimate goal, I believe a human’s goal in life is to not be mindful but to serve a purpose that they deem fulfilling. I agree that the more mindful a person becomes the more worry accompanies with it. Mindless tasks such as watching TV or lying on a beach seem more appealing to humans, but are less fulfilling. Doing tasks that test your mind such as a crossword puzzle or a math equation is less appealing, but more accomplishing once completed. I believe a human should balance both being mindful and mindless.
Whether or not I would prefer being the swimmer or the observer I would choose the swimmer. I enjoy being busy and not having to worry what I should or should not be doing.
Computers and technology have had such a huge impact on not only the workforce, but also society that it has become exceeding difficult for us to determine where to draw the line. It is difficult for us to determine which tasks are better suited to a machine rather than being performed personally or by another human being. While it is obvious that technology is much more equipped for a job such as coding or performing difficult equations, it makes sense to leave the jobs that have been deemed "too complex" for humans to complete than it should be completed by a machine. But at what point do we decide that too complex for humans is actually "too complex"? We live in a world where are children are taught to use a calculator for functions such as long division or graphing and multiplication instead of being taught how to perform these tasks for themselves. At the same time we have adults who were once able to perform these elementary tasks now find it exceedingly difficult and at times impossible to perform these problems manually. They have allowed computers to change them, and not for the better. What about when it comes to childcare? Who would you have educating and caring for your children? The computer that can efficiently teach you child, but is limited to only the educational aspect; or the human who can not only support your child's every need, but can also help your child grow mentally, physically, and emotionally.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to "mindfulness v. mindlessness" it is impossible to determine which is more important for personal growth and the development of society. I think to be successful it is essential to find a happy medium between the two. While it is true that being mindful can cause you to worry or feel anxious, it is also important to be mindful of you safety or to be mindful when completing most tasks. On the other hand, indulging in mindless tasks is the perfect way to rest and rejuvenate so that we are better able to complete the more mindful tasks.
In regards to the swimmer or the mindful observer I think that I can better relate to the swimmer, because at the end of the day I would rather relax and not have to worry about a thing.
I would agree that computers can most of the time perform tasks more efficiently and faster, however I do not agree that we should completely switch over to everything being done by a computer. Computers are still prone to make mistakes, or break down. Some tasks should be left to just the humans, such as double checking a prescription before it goes out to the patient. If a computer replaced the job role of a pharmacist, it would be harder to understand why a person suddenly needed a new type of medicine that was uncommon, or if the wrong medication went into a patient’s prescription. A computer would not be able to tell the difference in the little differences in a pill
ReplyDeleteI believe that mindfulness should be every human’s goal to an extent. Every human is responsible for their actions to some extent. As for whether I’d be the swimmer or the watcher, I would probably be the swimmer. As the swimmer, I have the choice as to whether to swim, or to float around. So depending on my mood, I could do either one. During the moments when I need to watch my actions and thoughts, it’s easier to swim. On my lazy days, it’s easier to float and relax.
In some cases, I would agree with this statement. There are certain activities that are pointless for human beings to work towards because machines provide an equal quality alternative. For example, computer coding, as Tanner Stone pointed out earlier, is an activity that computers are well versed in, and delegating this to computers saves a human being time so that they can work towards a higher and more “tacit knowledge” based task.
ReplyDeleteTasks that a person should always be in charge of includes many undertakings that involve interacting with a human. Because of the unpredictability of human nature, a computer could not be programmed to anticipate every action a person may execute, and therefore, may not be able to respond appropriately.
I personally believe that mindfulness should be a goal of life, but not the ultimate goal. In my life I have experienced the phenomenon the book called “miswanting.” For three summers I mowed lawns. I would dread going to work, but while I was at work, I was happy and content. This confused me to no end. I finally realized that working towards a goal is what made me happy, not laying around doing nothing all day. Ultimately the concept of mindlessness is rather dull and boring. Society tell us that leisure is to be lusted after, and work is for the people who matter less. Mindfulness definitely seems much more interesting.
Based on my perception of the photograph, I believe both the swimmer and the onlooker are being mindful. From my perspective, the onlooker looks like he is engaging his mind while watching the swimmer, probably learning how to better swim as Noah suggested, which is deemed as being “mindful.” On the other hand, it seems that the swimmer is swimming laps, and not swimming for leisure. As a swimmer myself, I have experienced the amount of “mindfulness” this activity requires. For example, when you are swimming, you are working towards a goal, whether it be in weight loss or in competition. This is considered “mindfulness.” You are also concentrated on making the different parts of your body work together as a cohesive unit. This too falls under the banner of “mindfulness.” As the book states, “We are happiest when we are absorbed in a difficult task, a task that has clear goals and that challenges us not only to exercise our talents, but to stretch them” (16). If engaging our mind and body causes us to be more content, I would say that I wholeheartedly relate to both of them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if computers can perform tasks quicker and more efficiently then let’s have them do it. I mean why wouldn't we? As human beings we are always looking for a more efficient way to do our job. I worked at a tire building factory this summer and the whole summer they were talking about how hopefully the job I preformed wouldn't be needed by this time next year. They believe that it will perform the task quicker and save the company money as well. Now I do believe that certain tasks just should not and cannot be performed by computers. Carr even states that the self-driving cars have trouble telling the difference between road debris that it completely harmless and road debris that could cause serious problems. I believe that computers should not be placed in any position that requires quick thinking or any decision based jobs such as being a law enforcement officer or a judge.
Now on the topic of "mindfulness" being the ultimate goal for humans I do not believe this is true. I believe that the ultimate goal for a human being should be self-fulfillment and joy. Now with me saying that "mindfulness" is a very important thing to humans too, because I believe you cannot be truly happy and self-fulfilled without a bunch of mindfulness thinking. People these days are doing things out of so much hatred. But where is this hatred coming from? most of these people are just looking at things from the past or on incident when they need to stop and think about what we could do to make sure what happened in the past doesn’t happen again, and I believe if we did more activities that kept us thinking we also have time to look back inward on ourselves and see what we truly have to be happy for.
As for the swimmer and observer question personally I believe that I relate more to the swimmer because I believe in multi-tasking and when I think while doing something I find that i actually think better and remember what I was thinking about.
There are some tasks that are much better done and worked by a computer/automated system. Lets say that a worker has to take inventory once a week. It would benefit him to be able to use a computer with a barcoded system to instantly mark down an item and its specifications into a file than it would be to have to write down the item, the date, the number of items you have of that type, for every single object. This is a mindless task, but something that still requires a human input. Some jobs obviously require "mindfulness" as Carr suggests, however, I don't think that those jobs could ever be automated in a way that removes the human element from them. A judge is never going to be able to be a computer in a fair system. However, some actions that a judge does can be done by a computer.
ReplyDeleteThere are some tasks that are much better done and worked by a computer/automated system. Lets say that a worker has to take inventory once a week. It would benefit him to be able to use a computer with a barcoded system to instantly mark down an item and its specifications into a file than it would be to have to write down the item, the date, the number of items you have of that type, for every single object. This is a mindless task, but something that still requires a human input. Some jobs obviously require "mindfulness" as Carr suggests, however, I don't think that those jobs could ever be automated in a way that removes the human element from them. A judge is never going to be able to be a computer in a fair system. However, some actions that a judge does can be done by a computer.
ReplyDeleteIf the use of mindless technology is the best way to increase the speed and effectiveness of a task, then it would seem a bit ridiculous to opt for a purely human alternative. In fact, modern technology and machinery has contributed to the growth of intellectual society, and has been doing so since the beginning of civilization itself.
ReplyDeleteTake, for example, the early irrigation systems and farming tools of our ancient predecessors. Although some manual labor was still necessary, these technological advancements greatly reduced the amount of focus, muscle and manpower required. This allowed individuals who would otherwise be spending their days laboring for a meal to explore more mindful endeavors such as philosophy, religion, and mathematics. These mindless mechanisms and systems are essentially the glue that holds together civilized society.
Unfortunately, the technologies of today may take away from the focus and brainpower we apply to some jobs, and many professionals are less competent in their respective fields to to a decline of manual skills deemed necessary. However, this fact does not take away from humanity's ability to operate as a mindful species. I believe the thing which defines "mindfulness" is self-awareness, a trait which humans cannot lose and computers, beyond the realm of science fiction, cannot gain. Note that the swimmer mentioned in the question is not a mindless machine acting on its programming, but a human being performing a task out of a personal desire to achieve a goal. The fact that the swimmer is making a conscious personal decision to act is evidence of mindfulness equal to that of the person watching the swimmer.
There are many tasks that computers can do for us that would save time on the job and bring more productivity, especially in the medical field. Devices such as automatic blood pressure cuffs like Brooke said, computers that can constantly monitor patients’ heartbeat, and software that stores patient information that can be brought up quickly have all made jobs easier. All of these electronic advances have allowed for healthcare practitioners to focus their time on more demanding problem solving. On the other hand, in the medical field, there are innumerous amounts of situations that cannot be resolved by a press of a button. Computers cannot be relied on to make the decision whether to give a patient chemotherapy first or to do a surgery first, nor could they decide when to talk to a family about taking their loved one off of a ventilator. They may help improve clarity of situations such as these, but ultimately, they cannot be used as a substitute for human empathy.
ReplyDeleteMindfulness, I do not believe, is the goal of life. I believe that somewhere between mindfulness and mindlessness, there is a happy medium where one is able to be at peace with his/her life. To me, that balance and happiness is the goal of life, but I would have to say I would rather be the swimmer.
Without computers we would be lost. It makes you wonder how we ever survived before we built them. They were constructed in the first place to make our lives easier and they have done an exceptional job at that. Now they continue to make advances in technology due to our society's drive for laziness and our increasing impatience. If the computer screen does not load we become irritated because we are so used to the computer giving us instant results. This is changing our society tremendously. We are throwing away the way we do things that have been there for decades and starting new ways of doing them with computers. Now, is this the right path for humanity? This is a hard question to answer, the human in me wants to say yes I want to be lazy and have everything done for me. I think this way of thinking may stem from growing up in a technological world where many things were already done for me. So why not create a robot that will make me a sandwich and bring it to me? Our anatomy is designed in a way that we need to move. We need proper blood circulation to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The same way our body needs to move our mind needs to think. Why are there always new "brain games" out there to train your mind with? It's been proven that the more you challenge your mind to do things the better it becomes. If we start letting computers do all the thinking for us then we will become ignorant and this could lead to the downfall of our society. Also, the people who are creating the programs could easily influence the masses who rely so heavily on computers to solve their problems. It has already been happening and will continue to happen. From pop up ads to subliminal messages in the online games we play, we are being influenced. I am against humans being influenced through technology, because we are so open to our computers that it feels like our privacy's our being invaded. Go in your search bar and search for a specific brand, you'll find that later while you are browsing for something else that there will be specific ads for that brand you searched for earlier. They call this accommodating to your preferences, but is it really? We as humans are impulsive, so the more they throw that new pair of shoes at us the higher the chance we will grab at it. This kind of salesmanship should be stopped. Out of the swimmer and the "mindful" man. I think I'd have to go with being the mindful man who is watching, but at the same time I will go for a swim on my own when I am done watching the swimmer.
ReplyDeleteThis question requires much more than a simple yes or no answer. I believe whether or not we as humans should build computers that can perform demanding tasks more quickly and efficiently than humans can should depend upon the tasks for which these computers would be used and to what extent. For instance, as humans, we should not want only computers running our governments, but perhaps allowing them to manage our financial exchanges wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Computers are capable of making exchanges much faster than human traders. By building machines dedicated to performing demanding tasks, humans could devote more of our time to tasks that require a “mindfulness,” such as furthering education and aiding in better patient care.
ReplyDeleteBeing nineteen, I don’t know that I am an accurate judge on what the ultimate human goal should or shouldn’t be, but I would venture as far as to say that it’s definitely not the same for everyone. Being mindful does not necessarily mean one is always full of anxiety or worry; I enjoy mindful activities such as studying a piece of art, solving puzzles and riddles, and performing tedious tasks others would find interminable. Although many do seem to prefer more leisure forms of entertainment, there are those of us who prefer the mindful aspects of life.
I would rather be the swimmer, but I don’t think of him as “mindless.” Swimming can be a very demanding task that requires efficiency as well. Perhaps it is the man watching the swimmer who is mindless. It is merely based upon perspective. I chose the swimmer because he looks free within the pool even though he’s under thousands of gallons of water. He swims without worrying about the man watching him, or perhaps the task at hand is too demanding for him to notice. Like I said, it is all based upon your perspective.
Ultimately, I believe that computers can, in fact, perform tasks in a much quicker and efficient manner than a normal human would ever be able to accomplish. But I also believe that the topic of “mindfulness” depends on all how the individual perceives the task that they are either performing in or participating in. I have many friends who hate reading books but love watching movies because its “easier”, which often means that they would rather not have to use their brainpower to imagine what is happening. On the other hand, I love to watch movies as well. But when I watch them I tend to be constantly thinking and analyzing the movie while I am watching it. So, in my opinion it is hastily to say that certain activities are “mindless” just because there is a lack of visible motion or knowledge being shared.
ReplyDeleteI do tend to prefer doing mindless activities from time to time because I am the type of person who tends to be an over thinker, so if I can ever get myself to stop thinking for a moment I take the chance. But at the same time I find it difficult to do nothing all day because that alone makes me anxious. Who’s to say that I can’t take turns being both the swimmer and the watcher? Life is all about balance and I feel like a normal life should lend to being equal in having both times of mindfulness and times of mindless.
I firmly agree that a state of absolute mindfulness should be part of the goal of life. This state of "mindfulness," alas should be impossible to achieve. Being mentally engaged for extended periods of time can be detrimental to the quality of what ever you might be doing, so balancing the amount of mindful and mindless task you subject yourself to would result in absolute productivity.
ReplyDeleteThe question at hand now is what is the difference between a mindful or a mindless activity. I argue that any activity that can eventually become mindless. The common phrases "I do it without thinking" or "I could do it in my sleep" are evidence that, what could have once been a very mindful and engaging activity for you, could now be as boring as staring at a wall. I think you should constantly be searching for new and exciting ways not only to challenge your mind, but stimulate it as well. The activities we leave to technology aren't as mindless as they might seem. The assembly of 10,000 engines a day is considered mindless enough for a computer to control practically every aspect of it. The only aspect controlled by humans might be along the lines of quality control. So I ask which is more mindless completely assembling an engine or making sure it runs well enough to pass a standard of quality. In my opinions building the engine would be more mentally engaging, others may disagree and support the latter. The only deciding factor would be human opinion, thus making what activities are and aren't mindless subjective. Laying on the beach or playing a video game could be considered leisurely but not mindless.
The only reason we rely so heavily on computers today is due to two human traits. These traits are greed and laziness. Computers take the reigns only when society deems an activity not efficient enough or boring. This is evident in many practices especially the ones Carr focused on in the first chapter. Technology can alleviate the work load on a person, but by doing so it slowly disengages that person's mind. This results in people getting bored with something much faster. The work ethic of society is at an all time low in my opinion, and it is due solely to society's over reliance on technology. This over reliance has created a sort-of pompous attitude in people, like why should I have to do this when a machine could easily? This attitude is vastly apparent in our generation and it shouldn't be.
Machines and computers have been around for decades now and with each passing year, they become more revolutionized and they evolve into more capable beings. Humans have been fighting machines for jobs for years now. I believe that there is such a grey area when it comes to the ethics and morals of computers. In one instance, they help us in factories to produce mass amount of products for people and it is almost instantaneous. In another sense, the machines are taking people's jobs. So can we draw the line somewhere in the middle? Can we say that some machines make our live 100% easier whereas some are way too much and that they have too much control? Once we start accepting these machines into our society, it is almost like a slippery slope because some machines are great but others have too much power over things, individuals, and society. I think that humans should be able to maintain their mindful everyday tasks. When we allow people to be mindless, we allow them to not care. It is already evident that people do not care as much as they should, but why should they? They have a machine that can do everything for them. With the increasing knowledge that our machines seem to possess, the human population seems to lose what intelligence it still obtains. What distinguishes us from other mammals is our ability to think and perform strenuous tasks, all while communicating with other people. If we take away all mindful tasks, we take away what separates us from everything else. Don't get me wrong, I love my cell phone, microwave, and everything else, but there comes a point where we have to draw the line somewhere.
ReplyDeleteIf you comment as "Anonymous," make sure you give your name at the end of the post.
DeleteI'm not sure why it posted as anonymous but this is from Ally Gregory!
DeleteThis comment isn't a response to the question and it definitely isn't important, but this paining actually made an appearance in the T.V. show "BoJack Horseman". But instead of actual people, it features horsemen. Its just a funny joke that I wouldn't have recognized without it being here. And I hope someone knows what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteI thought that exact same thing.
DeleteI think that we should continue making computers go faster and faster and faster but i don't think the goal should be to allow the human brain time for “mindfulness”. Why can’t we do something for the sake of doing it? Why does there always have to be some deeper meaning. Maybe the deeper meaning is that we’re tired and we want to be able to do less. Not to say that we should become complacent or stop doing anything, we should just be able to switch to something else that we want to do. Also, what is mindfulness? Is it consciousness? Is it the ability to pass judgement? Is it a soul? Computers have been used or created for all of these things, but they lack a soul (if such a thing actually exists). So, thinking about it this way, a computer could never be mindful, and if this is true, why are we worried about it at all? So, I think that humanity should just go with the flow. Do what you like to do, and automate the things you don't like. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. There are some unskilled positions that machines could easily overtake that would generate more revenue, perform more efficiently, and require little to no rest. However, when it comes to skilled positions, such as physicians, it is quite impossible for a machine to replace a position of this caliber. Higher-level careers require a little more than mundane, repetitive labor. They require a certain percentage of "mindfulness." If a machine today were to replace a physician, it would only compute and analyze facts. The machine would have zero conscious and self-awareness, qualities that are a must to operate at peak efficiency in the field of healthcare.
ReplyDeleteBefore modern technological advances, many people were farmers and that’s how they earned money to provide for their families. People had to do what it takes to provide for their families and set food on the table, and this was often farming. Sometimes they were even self-sufficient. Farming was a job that required all daylight hours harvesting crops and working around the farm. Imagine the labors of farming before the plow was developed. Even with a plow and the help of a mule to pull it, farming was still a very laborious task. Later with the inventions of things like the tractor and then on to our modern day combines for harvesting, agriculture itself has completely changed. These inventions allowed us to farm both faster and more efficiently. This eventually led to present day, where instead of having many family owned farms on small plots of land, we have massive corporate farms that do most of the farming that our society relies on. This is significant because although it did put many farmers out of work when these new inventions revolutionized farming, it lead to our current system of agriculture where we see the benefits of having the new technology. Now people are able to focus their effort on other tasks since we have been relieved of the burden of needing to grow our own food. Allowing us more time and effort our society didn’t use to have that we can use to spend further developing other areas of society
ReplyDeleteWhile automated computers are not the same as machinery operated by humans, this is still an important idea to consider when we think about our recent developments in automated technology. If automated technology can deliver some sort of revolutionary impact to our society in the same way that the development of machinery had on agriculture, then we may again free ourselves of a substantial amount of time consumed by such demanding tasks.
It may sound harsh, but I don’t necessarily believe that all humans have the capability to do “mindful” things nonstop while they’re at work. At the very least, I know that not all of us have the desire to do so. Whether this is due to upbringing or self-determination doesn’t really matter. I almost feel like giving all mindless tasks to robots or computers is stealing from those of us in society that aren’t cut out for the more difficult tasks. It would create a society where a few mishaps or mistakes will lead to perpetual homelessness without a chance of getting a new job because you simply didn’t go to college to acquire the intellectual capacity it takes for the new futuristic careers. Whereas now, you could potentially get a low entry level job and slowly work your way up. I know I personally don’t hate doing mindless things at work to get a break from trying to solve customer’s complaints.
ReplyDeleteTo me, there are jobs that humans can do that computers can also do, but for the sake of doing the mindless things, such as flipping hamburgers, pressing a button to set a machine to set a stamp, things along those lines, should be left to machines to do in moderation. They do not require skill, and in the real world, there are people who's skills also do not expand past these mindless things. Robots, however, should not be left alone in flying planes, driving cars, or even educating our children and college students. Jobs that require true labor or a high range of skill sets, such as construction and educating, should be done more from a single person or a group of people, while assisted, not dominated, by computers and machines.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe in blanket statements for the most part- and that applies here. Computers are a wonderful tool to utilize to help make tasks quicker, easier, more fun, or entertaining. However, too much of anything is usually a bad thing. It can be argued that eventually computers could possess similar mindfulness that humans possess, so by saying that we should build computers to do things that do not require mindfulness would be opening a door with a mysterious and possibly dangerous outcome. I believe we should always be creating, growing, and learning, and maybe that includes creating computers that can perform demanding tasks faster and more efficiently than humans. However, we must weigh out the pros and cons of this. Humans should always take priority, and we run the risk of destroying human jobs by replacing them with computers. For example, some fast food places have started replacing cashiers with computers. I believe this was a smart business plan and probably saved the corporation more money, and also a very efficient way to take/place orders and cashier, but at the cost of humans losing their jobs or losing job opportunities. But on the other hand, this also increased the amount of jobs needed in technology because we need people to come and work on the computers when they are damaged cosmetically or internally. We also need people to create updates for these systems so they do not antiquate. I personally do not know the jobs replaced vs. the jobs created in this scenario. Only that replacing humans with computers can be both good and bad.
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DeleteI believe the ultimate human goal should be to help each other find our individual purposes and to try to fulfill them. So no, mindfulness should not be the ultimate human goal. I will preface this by saying not everybody fits into a label or category, and I am speaking in generalized terms. For some, mindfulness means misery. Mindlessness is a coping mechanism to get these people by. They often overindulge in things like sleep, food, TV, video games, binge drinking, or drugs. Some other people are better equipped to handle life ignorantly and blissfully, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. These people never took the chance or maybe even had the chance to be mindful. Also, the mindfulness human goal would exclude many people with disabilities. However, mindfulness is a goal for many people, and this goal should be encouraged. Many mindful or intelligent people understand how to maintain a healthy way of living and thinking. We need the swimmers, the viewers, and the judges. Diversity should be celebrated.
According to Nicholas Carr, most of the activities we do can also be carried out by the computer, but the difference lies in the computers not being mindful like us. Mindfulness is an awareness of the moment or an attention paid to one's action, environment. Yes, we human can exhibit that skill due to our inherent trait of being emotional beings; that makes us feel what computer gadgets cannot feel and also take responsibility in a way the computers will be found wanting. But is mindfulness the ultimate goal? I would say no. There are times that speed and accuracy are better priced than mindfulness, hence the computer will be the better choice for handling such tasks. Other times, mindfulness can be a burden and they will be a need to just get away from this mortal body and feel nothing than just exist. By so doing anxiety, pain or whatever it is that plagues the soul can be got rid of.Depression is illness that plagues the mind and increased mindfulness leads to increased anxiety and misery. In that case, assuming the position of someone lying on a beach can actually bring some soothing relief to the sufferer. At the other end, there comes a time when mindful can save a lot-lives, wealth,etc. For instance, being security conscious is a form of mindfulness, the absence of which has led to avoidable loss of lives and properties.
ReplyDeleteGoing further, one of the challenges the author foresees for fully automated cars is the inability to cope in a situation where the traffic is hand-controlled by cops and being able to distinguish innocuous debris on the road from harmful ones, due to the fact that inculcating procedural knowledge into the computer through software has not achieved any success. There is no gainsaying that humans are supposed to take over from the computers in such situations, since they will deliver peace of mind by saving cost. Another instance is in cases where human emotions are salient tools needed to get a job done,an example is taking care of the sick by the medical teams, here the computer cannot do more than taking part in the diagnosis and testing of the sick and should give way to humans with the warmth and love needed to enhance quick recovery. Even a robotic maid or care-giver cannot dispense such duty very well, because they lack in emotions which are natural occurrence. I have seen some of such robots in movies and i can say they are without empathy.
In conclusion, i believe some kind of division of labor will not be a bad idea; computers can bring their efficiency and humans, our mindfulness to form a formidable team and priority should be the determining factor. This is exactly what obtains in society and has been paying off well.
My opinion of mindfulness vs mindlessness is that there are certain things that a computer can do that would alleviate the decay of mindfulness into mindlessness. For example, I do believe that a computer should run an insurance quote through an algorithm instead of an insurance agent doing it because tasks like these would quickly become redundant and make the agent mindless. At the same time, you have to find the right balance between the computer sharing the workload and taking over the workload. As evidenced later in the book, there is a certain decay of the mind that is certain to happen if the agent never has to come up with a quote on his own. By doing it himself, he retains his skills and his understanding of how this quote is relevant to his work.
ReplyDelete-Hadley Clower
I think that automation is great when it allows humans to go on to do different tasks. To be more mindful and more meaningful tasks. But I don't think that is how most of the time is how it works. I believe that it actually makes us more dependent on the machines than to go beyond the machines. Machines seems to make us more lazy than allowing us to perform more important jobs. It's not a bad thing to invent a machine that can do a certain job, but we must remember not to use the machine so much that we must have it in order to function.
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