It is awfully hard to always keep an open mind as new ideas and technologies come down the pike. When I am struggling with this subject I remind myself of technologies from the past that became mainstream long before I was born. One example that comes to mind is what was originally called the horseless carriage which has grown into what we now call the automobile. I am sure a large portion of the population openly scoffed at this new technology which would one day later replace the horse.
I can hear the comments… not as reliable as a horse, who will fix it when something goes wrong, how will it traverse mud and snowy roads, what will you do if it won’t start, and much more.
The next one that comes to my mind is the pneumatic air-filled tire. The idea of riding around with air holding you up had to seem ludicrous. I can hear comments like, yes it rides better, it has better traction, but what are you going to do if it gets a hole in it? A solid tire will never leave you to sit.
Today I find myself struggling with technology such as hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and many other technologies that are easy to scoff at today. It will be interesting as time passes how many of these new technologies will become as mainstream as the trucks that ply our highways today.
As I look at these new technologies I remind myself that the earliest of automobiles and trucks were easily outperformed by the common horse. As we all know today in most situations the horse can no longer compete with the automobile or the truck. It will be interesting as time moves forward what technologies become viable in our future.
Till then I will continue to work towards having an open mind so I am not left behind as technology moves forward.