Science fiction movies of past years envisioned a futuristic world after the Year 2000 where robots and cyborgs were a normal part of society, cars could fly, and inter-planetary travel was as common as getting on a plane to travel across the country. And yet, here we are in 2011, and although technology has advanced and progressed so much, we do not have flying cars yet, and robots have not run for Congress just yet because they are busy being used in automotive plants.

It cannot be denied, though, that technology has changed and continues to revolutionize every part of our daily lives. Labor that used to be done by hand is now performed by machines, and transactions that used to take a while can now be done in just a few seconds on the Internet. People from different parts of the world can have a virtual meeting and talk to each other as if they were all in one boardroom. You can study languages, finish your Business Administration degree, or take up guitar lessons online, all without getting up from your couch.

And yet, a world controlled completely by computers and artificial intelligence still seems like a far-off reality. When we look at what aspects of technology have really exploded in growth, it is, ironically, the people aspect of it all. Why have social networking sites been tremendous factors in contemporary society? They connect people and provide a venue for sharing one’s experiences, feelings, and opinions. Even as more and more of our activities are being digitized or made more convenient by machines and gadgets, what makes them successful is still the human control behind the technology.

So are we going to be overrun by the rise of the machines anytime soon? Probably not, because all the progress we have made so far have not been towards making technology independent from humans, but rather, making technology work towards a better life for man.