Integration
ɪntɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
- 1.
The action or process of integrating.
“economic and political integration”
synonyms: combination, amalgamation, incorporation, unification, consolidation,
merger, fusing, blending, meshing, homogenization, homogenizing, coalescing, assimilation
Thursday morning, I arrive at work and have a particularly important scheduling report to compile in time to present to a customer visiting today. I shuffle my hands and think “right, got a few hours to get this done, let’s crack on!”
**Unable to connect to network**
Well that knocked the cheese off my cracker! For almost 3 hours the entire site network is down, for those unfamiliar with ERP/MRP, these are software packages integrated into the functionality of almost all operational systems within a business. Therefore, when the software fails, everything else cannot function. Anyway, while I was sat twiddling my thumbs for a few hours, this whole vocational dilemma got me thinking…
How reliant are we upon the technology we currently have access to?
At present, it’s particularly wonderful to marvel at the technological creations we have to enhance our quality of life! Note that next month is actually the date which Marty travels forwards in time in the movie ‘Back to the future part 2″, yet cynics complain we are yet to see flying cars and hoverboards! (Yes I want one too). But how about having a super-fast computer in your pocket, that’s connected to a network containing a massive amount of information that is multiplying tenfold every year! That’s pretty spectacular in my opinion!
How many times in the last month have you been unable to find an answer to a question and thought, “I’ll just google it”?
When I get in from a productive day at work, I like to chill out with a few guildies in SWtor. When I take a step back and think about it, it’s a pretty remarkable thing in itself too, despite all the games pitfalls brought to light by the naysayers. I mean, I can chat and play a videogame with friends from all over the world, without even having to commute. Even going so far as to play with people on the other side of the globe. And because of global time zones, they are technically “in the future”. Marty McFly, eat your heart out broseph!
So with access to all this technology and wonderful electrickery, are we integrating this functionality into our everyday lives to such an extent, that we can be defined as a cybernetic organism? I’m not sure I would go that far, but you can certainly see its infancy in comparison to science fiction scenarios where cyborgs are present.
The movie ‘The Terminator’ touches on some really interesting topics surrounding this subject. Not just the physical aspect of scary robots, but the “Self Aware” world wide security network ‘Skynet’. That’s the thing that is really scary. Other paragons of fiction relating to this technological assimilation also give food for thought. ‘The Matrix’ of course is an obvious one, as is the manga series ‘Sword Art Online’. With the recent development of products like ‘google glass’ and the VR gaming headset ‘Oculus Rift’, notable parallels can be discerned. Even the recent release of Apple’s watch harks back to the classic TV series ‘Knight rider’.
We are constantly connected to social media. Facebook, Twitter, Google+ cater for our communal needs, LinkedIn for our professional requirements, Tinder for more amorous desires. Shopping on Amazon, music on iTunes etc… I for one miss the days of going to a record shop and searching through hundreds of vinyl’s, only to find a few flawless ones. There’s something romantic about the tactile sensation of picking up a record rather than just downloading it. The tangible proof that the music exists as more than a bunch of 1’s and 0’s.
We spend our lives plugged in, logged on nowadays. Unable to find that amazing curry recipe you had at the weekend? Reach for your handy Internet search engine. While it’s a wonderful tool, on the flip side I find it quite sterile. How about just try and make that curry recipe up? You could just inadvertently create something special but all the time you’re plugged in you’ll never know…
**connected to network**
Better get back to that report.
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