The theme for the month of June is technology and how technology impacts our lives, for positive or negative. I’m kicking this theme off in a perfect place, too… Japan! I’ve been travelling here for a couple weeks with my family, which has been great. There are many technical innovations here that we don’t typically see in the U.S., or at least Alaska… self-locking doors, intelligent sushi conveyor belts, and ubiquitous WiFi.

Technology Enables Experiences
Travel really is so easy these days, thanks to the wealth of information that is available at our fingertips. Not only were we able to book affordable housing that had decent reviews ahead of time, we can show up in a city with no foreknowledge and find the way to our lodging. We rented a pocket WiFi device for about $100 and have access to Google Maps and the web wherever we go. 

It also has allowed us to stay connected with those we want to stay connected with, like our daughters who are at home. We can check in on work, as needed. In fact, the ability to work remotely is available to many these days, and the number of positions that support remote work will only grow. This allows people to live where they want to live, travel at times that are convenient for them, and have experiences they might otherwise not be able to have.

What experiences has technology afforded you?

Didn’t Know You Needed It
The Japanese have completely elevated the bathroom experience. You may think their toilet seats are over the top, but once you experience them for a while, you’ll find it hard to go back. My dad came here several years ago and, upon returning, he bought a seat. When we were doing some work on our bathroom, he insisted we put in a special outlet in case we decided someday to get a toilet seat. I humored him, but didn’t think we’d ever get one.

For the last 2 weeks I’ve been in Japan and basically every toilet I’ve used has one of these seats. Even at transit stations and public areas… everywhere. And, now that I’ve lived with it that long, I’m actually considering what model I want for my own home!

That’s how technology works sometimes. An innovation comes along that you didn’t know you needed, but once experienced, you can’t live without it. I don’t think this is a bad thing. Without technical advances we wouldn’t even have indoor plumbing, let alone heated remote controlled toilet seats. Whether it be to meet a need or to make our lives more comfortable, technology solves problems. 

What problems are you currently wrestling with? Is there a technical solution available? If you designed your own technical solution, what would it be?

What Are Your Boundaries 
As part of this trip, we visited Hiroshima and Peace Park. We toured the Memorial Museum, which is very moving. The mission of the museum is to promote peace and make sure there is never another Hiroshima. Technology allowed the development of the atomic bomb. I grew up during the Cold War, where we built enough nuclear warheads to destroy the entire world over multiple times. What kind of logic is that?? 

Clearly there are boundaries to what technical advances should be used for. Regardless of our role in life, we have personal influence in deciding how technology gets used. For instance, just because I can send an email to address a sensitive issue, there are certain cases where I will always have an in-person conversation. We all play a part in the responsible use of technology and we should have personal boundaries and guidelines.

What will be your framework for the responsible use of technology? 

Next
I’m wrapping up this trip in the next few days and settling back into life. I’ll be considering what topics to cover the rest of this month, but will be focusing on technology and life. If you have any questions or topics you’d like to hear more about, please let me know.

Thanks for reading!

Brian