Last night, I saw a weird dystopian movie in which people “sold” years of their lives, using the money to improve their subsequently shortened expectancy. Immigrants were rounded up, their stolen lives purchased by the wealthy and celebrities, yearning to reverse aging.

The premise was preposterous, but it got me thinking.

Just ten years ago, today’s technology, especially the practical implementation of artificial intelligence, would have been deemed science fiction. Further fueling the fantastical is the leap from one paradigm to the next is getting shorter.

Consider, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Ninety-seven years later, Motorola introduced the first mobile phone, weighing in at a hefty 2 ½ pounds. The first smart phone, the Handspring Treo 180, made its debut 29 years later. And in less than two decades, smartphones are replacing desktop and laptop solutions.

Unfortunately, technology is expensive. Someone having to choose whether to pay the rent, buy food, or repair a much-needed car isn’t going to invest in a new smartphone or digital assistant.

In the same vein, not everyone has the aptitude or desire to leverage technology. I recall speaking with a woman who regrets not being able to attend performances with mobile-only tickets. Hailing an Uber, paying for on-street parking, sending and receiving SMS text messages, and increasingly, attending events requires a smart phone and use of mobile apps.

According to a 2019 survey by the European Commission, 43% of people in the European Union didn’t know how to perform basic tasks. The same year, the Internet World Stats estimated the internet penetration in Africa to be 47%.

The technology gap equally impacts students who may not have a computer or smart phone, and if they do, it’s slow. And even if they have them, they may not have reliable access to the internet, making it difficult to complete their school assignments. While local libraries usually have computers, they’re not open 24/7, and use of a computer is often limited to an hour or two.

In a sense, accessing and being proficient in evolving digital technologies and associated applications is the life force that propels and enhances one’s livelihood and ability to engage with the world around them. In the coming years, it’s important to both support innovation and ensure no one is left behind because of their inability to use the latest technologies.

Image created by Fotor, using AI.