Reflections of technology

Over the past 10 weeks I have talked a lot about technology has changed our lives and how it will continue to do so in ways that my mind has not even fathomed yet. I think it is important to say that we must be weary of any and all advances in this field and that the only way top protect ourselves is to learn how to use technology. I must reinforce my idea that this does not mean learning how to code.

It has been suggested that everyone learning to code would be a great thing, but as Sherlock Holmes said in A Study in Scarlet:
"You see," he [sherlock] explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."

If we were to tell everyone to learn code we may be elbowing something out that is more vital to their own happiness. Therefore we must offer that which allows the most for everyone. Classes on how to use social media are just as important as learning how to type these days. Technology is all around us, but we must learn how to use it not necessarily create it.