Tech Dependance

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners, I cannot thank you enough for stopping by
for another episode of everybody's favorite podcasts, the Technology Versus
Humanity podcast. Our tech is coming to get us. Just
because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean that somebody isn't out
to get me, including my gadgets. I'm just kidding. I'm

(00:28):
not really paranoid, but my gadgets are out to get me.
Today's episode, we're going to talk about dependence and vulnerability
to technology, starting off with cognitive and behavioral dependence. Modern

(00:53):
users rely so heavily on a search engine's and cloud
storage that they don't commit facts to memory. Psychologists call
this the Google effect. When people are less likely to
retain information if they know it's easily retrievable online. This

(01:16):
shifts our memory capacity from internal retention to external recall,
changing how the brain processes and stores information. Traditional map reading,
sense of direction, and spatial memory have declined. Studies show

(01:45):
that reliance on GPS reduces hippocampal activity. That's right, I said.
Hippocampal the brain region involved in spatial memory. In emergencies
where GPS fails, such as your battery dying or your

(02:05):
signal losing, users can become dangerously disoriented, even in familiar locations.
I usually just curl up in a fetal position and
suck on my thumb. Instant access to answers via AI

(02:29):
or search engines reduces the cognitive strain required for a
problem solving, hypothesis testing, and research evaluation. Students often bypass
understanding in favor of quick results. This leads to a

(02:54):
shallow learning curve in reduced long term comprehension. I certainly
couldn't make it a sentence without this next one. As
people depend on tools such as spell check, other grammar tools,

(03:17):
and even autocomplete language skills, especially among younger users, it's degrading.
There's a growing inability to recognize errors without automation and

(03:40):
tools like it. Grammarly, while helpful, often reshape writing styles
to generic patterns, eliminating individual voice. Next up, I just
forgot what I was talking about. Tech induced short attention

(04:04):
spans and focused disorders. The rise of social media and
short form video content contributes to reduced attention spans. The
constant dopamine reward loop from notifications and constant refreshes mirrors

(04:25):
gambling behavior and increases the incidents of attention deficit like
symptoms even in non ADHD users. What about dependency on
health apps for basic well being? Wearables and health tracking

(04:48):
apps can promote wellness, but users sometimes over rely on
their data, ignoring their own body signals. Experience health anxiety
due to false alarms or misreadings and decisions, and hydration,

(05:10):
rest and exercise are often outsourced to algorithms. As the
IoT becomes smarter in our world becomes more integrated, the
infrastructure becomes more fragile. Smart blocks and automated home systems

(05:37):
depend on internet and power. Users have been locked out
during outages, and hackers have gained access to homes, adjusting thermostats,
unlocking doors, or activating microphones and cameras, posing serious safety risks.

(05:58):
What about power grid vulnerabilities due to networked systems. Modern
power grids are smart, but increasingly exposed to cyber attacks.
A new curious example was the twenty fifteen Ukraine blackout
caused by Russian hackers exploiting weaknesses and industrial control systems.

(06:20):
A large scale digital attack on national grids could paralyze cities.
Next up, cloud dependency for essential documents and data. Individuals
and businesses now store critical records. Online. A single misconfigured server,

(06:43):
deleted file, or hacked account could result in irreversible data loss.
Cloud outages from providers like AWSF broad down websites, apps,
and essential services. Globally centralized control by tech giants means

(07:06):
that one bug or crash can disrupt billions. These single
point failures, such as Facebook's twenty twenty one DNS error,
took down not just a Facebook, but WhatsApp, Instagram, and Oculus.
Such incidents highlight how interconnected in a fragile hour, digital

(07:30):
ecosystems are. Next, let's take a look at public transit
and the emergency services that could be paralyzed by tech failures.
Subways and buses increasingly use automated to dispatching. A software
bug in Toronto once halted its entire streetcar system. In

(07:55):
another case, a ransomware attack on an ambulance service delayed
emergency repast times, putting lives at risk. For our next topic,
let's talk about economic and financial vulnerabilities, such as cashless

(08:15):
societies and the risk of digital financial lockout. With the
rise of digital only payment systems, people without access to
smartphones or banking apps can be excluded when servers crash,
or apps go down, commerce stalls. Vulnerable populations include the

(08:40):
elderly or unbanked, are disproportionately affected. High frequency trading driven
by algorithms can trigger massive market volatility. The twenty ten
of flash crash wiped nearly one trillion off the ustock

(09:01):
market in minutes. It was largely due to an algorithmic
loop response. It only partially was recovered within the same day.
Banks like Wells Fargo and Capital One have suffered system

(09:22):
outages or breaches, preventing people from accessing funds, paying bills,
or transferring money. Such incidents can trigger panic, credit problems,
or even civil unrest in extreme cases. Sign me up

(09:45):
for this next one. The dependence on subscription models. Essential
tools like Microsoft Office or Adobe are now SaaS software
as a service. If your subscription lapses or your account
is flagged, you'll lose access to key documents or creative projects.

(10:07):
This can interrupt business workflows or academic submissions. Unfortunately, that's
all the time that we've got for today's episode of
the Technology Versus a Humanity podcast. The tech is coming
to get us, and I can't thank you enough for
listening until next episode, But right now,