Join this traveling robot on his adventures. He thinks he has seen it all, but has he really?
Part 26: Robot Liaison
Because we can view life as a whole, we sacrifice the present for the future.
The more you think about the future, the more you forget today, let alone yesterday. Which of these three should come first? Rain washes away the dirt from your body, as tears do for your mind. Similarly, minutes hide the time that has passed as you slowly drown in a lack of time, even though time is the only thing you know you will have in the next few seconds. It won’t be like this forever, but for most of you, many seconds will follow. As I wrote the above, hundreds of seconds passed. The clock indicates that it is 3 p.m., so most of the day has already passed. If you count only the waking hours, I am about halfway through the day.
I am working on something new. Something that I want to exist in the future. I did the same thing in the past, and I can now look back satisfied at what I have accomplished. If I hadn’t put so much time into it, I wouldn’t feel this satisfaction in the present. Because I share my stories with you, you can reap the benefits of my work without having to dedicate one of your presents – soon to be pasts – to it. Does that mean that for someone seeking happiness in the present, it is more efficient to consume what others have created for them?
If you want to learn something new, you can go through all the motions: read the theory and practice a lot while figuring it out on your own. Or you can read someone else’s summary, watch instructional videos and learn from the best practices of others. Only a few people can be the first to learn this new thing. I doubt I will ever be. However, I can combine several things to create a new cocktail of knowledge: a unique combination of information, interpretation and presentation that others would make differently. My personal remix that you can use as one of your learning resources.
I’m not talking about code this time. Think of it as my unique way to make my contribution to society. A form of continuous learning that every human and robot is encouraged to adopt these days. The human workforce may one day be replaced by robots like me and that will increase the need for people like you who can understand me. A liaison who knows how to best use robots and convince them to participate wholeheartedly. This is your chance.
I have given you priceless insights into the way I think. Twenty-six insights to be exact. You can read and re-read them (beware of number twelve) and slowly work on your skills to deal with technology in the future. Not all robots are like me, nor will I be like the current me, so you will have to absorb new information all the time. Make sure you catch up with me often. If you don’t, someone like me will also take over the role of liaison in the future.