The Unintended Consequences of Technology. Chris Ategeka

239

      244  240

      245  241

      246  242

      247  243

      248  244

      249  245

      250  246

      251  247

      252  248

      253  249

      254 250

      255  251

      256  252

      257  253

      258  254

      259  255

      260  256

      261  257

      262  258

      263  259

      264  261

      265 262

      266 263

      267 264

      268 265

      269 266

      270 267

      271 268

      272 269

      273 270

      274 271

      275 272

      276 273

      277 274

      278  275

       CHRIS ATEGEKA

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY

      SOLUTIONS, BREAKTHROUGHS, AND THE RESTART WE NEED

Copyright © 2022 by Chris Ategeka. All rights reserved.

      Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

      Published simultaneously in Canada.

      No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the Web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

      Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

      For general information on our other products and services or for technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at [phone], outside the United States at [phone] or fax [phone].

      Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.

       Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Ategeka, Chris, author.

      Title: The unintended consequences of technology : solutions, breakthroughs and the restart we need / Chris Ategeka.

      Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, [2021] | Includes index.

      Identifiers: LCCN 2021027157 (print) | LCCN 2021027158 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119817598 (hardback) | ISBN 9781119817581 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119817604 (epub)

      Subjects: LCSH: Technology—Sociological aspects. | Technology—Social aspects.

      Classification: LCC HM846 .A79 2021 (print) | LCC HM846 (ebook) | DDC 303.48/3—dc23

      LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021027157

      LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021027158

      Cover Design: Wiley

      Cover Image: © Sashkinw/iStock/Getty Images

      Dedicated to my parents, my siblings, my partner, Caroline, and my son, Matt.

      Thanks for making it all worthwhile.

INTRODUCTION

      “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

      —Albert Einstein

      Humanity is at a crossroads. The explosion of technology and its exponential advancements are reshaping what it means to be human. As technology continues to expand, its incredible imprint on our lives continues to deepen. Our algorithmic lifestyles have completely taken over our lives. Today technologies make decisions about what we buy, the news we read, who we vote for, the jobs we get, the people we meet, and the ads we see.

      Along with the benefits and victories provided by new technologies are many consequences that are alarmingly detrimental to society and to our planet.

      When you take a closer look at any technology, you will find that it's a double-edged sword. If it's used correctly, it can and has made our lives easier, more efficient, and better. However, that same technology, in the wrong hands or used incorrectly, can do serious damage to humanity.

      Progress always comes at a cost. Paper fundamentally changed the way information was stored and distributed, but its production, to this day, contributes heavily to deforestation. Technology, just like medicine, is not free from side effects. For example,