Emerging Technologies, and Technophobia. Security Problems

  Technology is always changing, every day there is a new emerging technology, some form of new computer, gizmo, or gadget.  All of the while shrouded in a mask of fear, and rejection from a huge portion of the public.  Adoption of new and emerging technologies gets shelved for many years, letting early adopters test out the problematic details, while the company who invents ends up crumbling until that technology becomes "cool" or "hip".

  Douglas Adams
(author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:

• Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
• Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
• Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.  

   Our problems with technology do not always exist in age designated area's, but adoption and acceptance for things as simple as security get ignored in favor of comfort and convenience.  Technologies such as security should never be ignored as a nuisance, or discarded to favor familiarity, the end result is and will be some form of attack created by a baddie in an attempt to gain access to ones computer.  Even when security is ignored, the general consensuses of familiarity in and of itself is a problem, barring the idea of security and sticking with a familiar operating system, or particular software, invokes the wrath of security being dashed.

  As an IT professional working in the computer science arena, all too often do I have the opportunity to see these forms of fear focused on new technology.  Many folks sticking with their windows XP machines because they knew it was the best thing they'd ever had access too, without giving 7, 8, or 10 a chance.  People who are unwilling to buy a new desktop because their old desktop was working perfectly fine.  Placing faith in their co-workers not to use their computers by leaving their computers wide open, unlocked, while they are at lunch.

  We need to begin to accept change as a sign of progress and stop side stepping a new innovation as a capitalist money pig trying to snort your life savings.  Sure a certain level of skepticism is to be expected, and makes perfect sense.  Early security implemented on new technology is generally pretty sporadic and weak, and being weary within the first few months is fine.  Outright dismissal of any new form of technology based on preference of dated and potentially less secure alternatives is a bit on the saddening side.  Yes there will be hiccups, and yes there will be flaws with any new and emerging technologies, but we have to accept there will be flaws with newer opportunities, as older things will become less secure as time moves forward.

  What the goal of today is, stop denying or rejecting future technology in the hope that older, hardware, software, and gizmos will last the span of time.  The mentality of "I'll buy this laptop and it will last me for the rest of my life" is factually inaccurate, sure it may last, sure you may find a way to keep your windows 3.1 PC running for another twenty years.  At the end of the day though, does the minimized productivity, and the lack of protection really help span into the future?  I for one say no, new technology needs to be embraced.

 It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.  -Charles Darwin-

  And as always, be safe my fellow Goblins.  If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, let us know in the comment section below.

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