If we look around, we will see that things are getting bigger, faster
and better. Bigger buildings, better shopping complexes, faster cars,
more advanced gadgets and so on. This seems obvious as the advancements
in technology were bound to bring these changes.
But hold on for a moment and think it this way. Bigger and better things invariably are consuming more and more resources. Human brain has no limits but this planet has. In the mad rat race for big homes, faster SUVs, we have forgotten that this race is killing our planet.Almost every new product launched creates more demand for energy and resources which we don't have.
Our companies are delivering what the customers are demanding. And our demand is seriously skewed. Why don't we see Ipad or Android kind of discovery in the field of solar energy? This is certainly because all the attention has been shifted towards the market demand. All powerful brains are working to serve this irrational demand.
Science and technology is progressing but in the wrong direction. We need cheap products which can work with lesser energy . We need frugal inventions which can serve the purpose with almost no energy.
There are websites which will let us know the best of gadgets but hardly any website will let us know the most energy efficient gadgets. Clearly there is no demand for it. We don't understand the gravity of situation.
So much can be done in this field. Programmes can be written which need less computing power. Buildings can be constructed which produce everything that they consume; from food to electricity.. Bicycles can be designed that generate electricity.
Not that the above things are not getting done. But these inventions are few and far away from teh market forces and hence unaffordable.
Market forces will have to align themselves sooner or later. The sooner the better!
But hold on for a moment and think it this way. Bigger and better things invariably are consuming more and more resources. Human brain has no limits but this planet has. In the mad rat race for big homes, faster SUVs, we have forgotten that this race is killing our planet.Almost every new product launched creates more demand for energy and resources which we don't have.
Our companies are delivering what the customers are demanding. And our demand is seriously skewed. Why don't we see Ipad or Android kind of discovery in the field of solar energy? This is certainly because all the attention has been shifted towards the market demand. All powerful brains are working to serve this irrational demand.
Science and technology is progressing but in the wrong direction. We need cheap products which can work with lesser energy . We need frugal inventions which can serve the purpose with almost no energy.
There are websites which will let us know the best of gadgets but hardly any website will let us know the most energy efficient gadgets. Clearly there is no demand for it. We don't understand the gravity of situation.
So much can be done in this field. Programmes can be written which need less computing power. Buildings can be constructed which produce everything that they consume; from food to electricity.. Bicycles can be designed that generate electricity.
Not that the above things are not getting done. But these inventions are few and far away from teh market forces and hence unaffordable.
Market forces will have to align themselves sooner or later. The sooner the better!
yes sir u r absolutely right ... materialistic world .. materialistic demands ... it isn't that people r not aware of all this ... they r .. but only awareness won't help provide the solution right ... the general perception which i have observed in many people is , what diff an individual's sacrifice will make in this gigantic problem concerning entire world ...and if u talk abt technology ..well i think they r making efforts to make this energy efficiency an imp classification criteria .. don't know how effective their scale is but u see all these ratings on electric appliances and other electronic stuffs ... and people now a days look for such energy efficient appliances and gadgets ... don't know whether it is bcoz of awareness for energy preservation or the fear of end of the month electricity bill :P
ReplyDeleteHey nice to see your comment! I always knew that you would understand it.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is that a lot of smart people are designing things which does no good to our generation. I don't see any point when an outstanding engineer designs an SUV, even if he makes it a notch fuel efficient.
The point is that you are designing the wrong thing. Beautiful brains should more and more try to cut costs, and usage of natural resources in there designs.
Currently, We are all working under the impression that the supplies are unlimited. We need to break this mindset.
Abhilash :
ReplyDeleteGREAT POST Goofy!! Sorry I saw today itself! :-)