I have lived in a remote community in India for the past 12 years. During that time i have visited Europe briefly every few years. It is interesting to view the world through snapshots, because you can see the changes happen with more clarity .. a bit like how you don't notice your children growing up unless you are apart from them for some time. I have also had the opportunity to visit Indian cities and see how they have changed and evolved since 2008.
When I think back to 2008 the most obvious change are of course technological! When i used to take out my cellphone or laptop I used to have a crowd of Indians around me watching and looking. I was a rarity in 2008 having a colour touchscreen phone! Nowadays almost everyone has one, and no one even flinches if I get out my iphone in public. The mobile phone already revolutionized India in many ways, and the smart phone just took that to the next level. This technological change is also every prevalent in Europe, and most notably the increase in automation, and ubiquitous use of smart-phones.. I can JUST about remember the days when I used to queue up or wait for hours and would just sit there thinking or fiddling. Now there is no such thing as waiting any more, its just an opportunity to check in on everything on-line.. even if it takes absolutely hours! WE do seem to be ditching human service very quickly now, and I can see that happen in almost every step of my journey. When I buy a train ticket i use a machine. When i pass through passport control I use a machine. When i pay for items at the supermarket, there is the option to self checkout with a machine..Although it is not apparent yet, these changes are very significant, and may also be a pointer toward where we are headed!
Let's put technology aside for one minute! There is a cultural shift happening, and its a kind if universal shift. One thing to note is that the ideas and values of ALL of our countries seem to be becoming homogenized. There are only a few countries left in the world that have very different values, such as China, Africa, India. For the most part of Europe and North America we seem to all be getting on the same train. The themes are becoming synchronized and we are all starting to have the same conversations! This may well be a result of technology, but either way, let us look at a couple of really important themes that are playing out right now.
Freedom Of Speech!?
DO we still have it? I'm not sure any more. I remember the times when someone could say What ever the f*ck they wanted, and there could would never be a note from the police or a knock at the door about it! One thing is for sure, the freedom for people to say how they feel is being eroded. I have heard many stories of people being contacted by the authorities for something they said on Facebook or Twitter. The worst of this is happening in the USA, and the UK is following closely behind!
Cultural Changes
Now this is a very interesting observation! If you watched TV ten or 20 years ago you will notice that the presenters and TV personalities were very masked indeed, didn't show their real personality or feelings at all, and basically presented a front that would please the audience. The UK was especially formal until only very recently, and it makes me shudder to watch how people talked and presented in just the 1980-90's!
Let's look at two example of two very famous couples. Princess Diana And Prince Charles back in the 1980's , and the equivalent 2018 version with Prince William and Meghan Markle
1980's
2018
How Have Things Changed?
I would like to share some of my obervations and differences between these two videos:
1980's. Very Formal, Minimal display of feelings and authentic emotions, both are very guarded. The man (Prince Charles) is in charge and does most of the speaking! They even joke about Diana being a good housewife (2:57).
2018: There is no gender dominance visible between William and Meghan. They both feel (relatively) relaxed and unmasked, and able to share or talk as they feel is appropriate. They are holding hands. They speak with animation and feeling, and don't feel so guarded. They are both displaying their authentic emotions and are able to express themselves with feeling.
What a difference! We can see these differences in many if not all media personalities, and we also have quite a few very extravvagent ones, such as Russell Brand, who are quite respected even though they are totally unconventional! When we look at the above example, the difference is very clear. We have a generational gap, but also great social change. Many of these social changes have also filtered to the older generations, who today are far less racist, sexist, and close minded than they were in their youth. We do live in a different age to even 10-20 years ago and this is just the start!
It's amazing really what you can see from a comparison between two similar interviews from different times!. It really drives home to me that we have already had a cultural revolution in many ways, and these changes have now taken root. I really like how people are being themselves, and expressing their uniqueness without it being a big deal. I just love how people are really emotional and that is also OK, and indeed quite acceptable... Just look at many of our favorite TV personalities these days! Reality TV is a big thing these days, and that is a sign that we are starting to get real! We are slowly becoming a culture with morals and ethics, even in big business. Whilst we still have a long way to go, the signs are promising (if you DONT watch the news)
Where Are We Headed?!
There are 2 paths we can take from here.. Mad Max or Utopia! It can be very hard to see the wood for the trees these days.. and if you glean your view of the world from the mainstream media then it is easy to think that we may all be doomed. Fear not my friends, this is really NOT the case. The revolution will not be televised! When you can see what changes will be brought about by technology in the next 10 years or so, it becomes clear that we have a big shift coming up. Technology has been advancing for a long time now, and we are just reaching the stage where the things we only dreamed were possible are now not only possible, but very probable.
The technological changes that are just around the corner will change everything! What are the biggest advancements that will change everything? The first is unlimited and essentially free power. We can only hold back this incredible tech for so long, and once we are able to power up this entire planet at extremely low cost, there will be some very significant knock on effects. The most significant of these will be the ability for EVERY country to obtain free limitless clean water from the sea. Just look at Dubai! They have vast amounts of oil to drive their desalination plants, and that has allowed them to have such luxuries as swimming pools in the scotching hot bone dry desert! Many people assert that the next war will be about water, but I do not agree for this simple reason. The power shifts and improvements to countries such as Africa will level the playing field to a great extent and allow many countries to become self sufficient for food again.
Now let's visit the next incredible technological advancement that can change everything... 3D printing is a very intriguing technology that is already picking up adoption, and there is a LOT of research and development happening right now. In the not too distant future it will be possible to 3D print almost anything, and even food if you desire. Personally I would never eat 3D printed food unless I was starving to death, but I would use a 3D printed phone! Its not hard to imagine that in the future you won't buy a phone from a shop, but instead you will just download it and print it out at home. Can you imagine what this will do to the manufacturing industry? China will end up ONLY making 3D printers before long!
This leads me to the next incredible interesting phenomenon... automation. Not only will China be mostly making 3D printers, but they will be using Robots to take care of the entire process, from start to finish! The need for human involvement will be virtually redundant for the entire chain of events, right down to delivery! Artificial Intelligence is suddenly ramping up in the last few years, and even now there is rudimentary AI installed on your own smart phone! We are going to see AI take automation to new heights, with AI personal assistants, auto driving cars etc. If you really think about it, you will be hard pressed to think of many professions that wont be replaced by AI and some kind of machine.
With all this considered, and the developments of blockchain and a new way of distributing and creating wealth, I believe we are in for a bright future! Whilst it could totally go the other way, I have seen enough to know that we are in fact headed in a very positive direction.. if you know where to look! What I do wonder is what will everyone be doing in 20 years! If we do see everyone becoming self sufficient with minimal or no living costs then we may see a great upsurge in the arts, music, community activities etc. We will see much more philanthropy because the majority of people will be OK and have time and energy to help others.. When our survival instincts are subdued, because we have what we need and are protected and cared for, we start to see our real humane and altruistic nature rise to the surface. Mental illness will be a rare event rather than the norm, and the overall health and wellbeing of people will take a giant leap forwards!
These changes are all happening under the surface right now. No one is really talking much publicly about this inevitable future that is very close now. It is Us who will guide our future by the choices we make, and the people we support. It is up to us to be a part of a beautiful and prosperous future, and we can ensure that with the decisions we make, and the people and companies that we support with our spending power. It is our small daily decisions that will shape our future! Will you buy from a local farmers market, or the multi-conglomerate companies? Will you store your money in Cryptocurrency or in the Bank? As we start supporting the right things, we will shift the balance of power and put some of it where it needs to be, in the hands of the people where it always was!
If you are interested to learn more, please watch this movie.!
Image Source: http://www.young-diplomats.com/city-of-the-future-fantasy-hd-wallpaper-1920x1080-4985-2/
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