Tech Advancement: is there an iPhone app that measures fear of tech evolution?

i'm reading a book by Christopher Moore called "Fluke". it has little to do with technology; it's actually a story about a whale-watching scientist who sees a strange message on the tail or 'fluke' of a diving humpback. this blog entry stems from a minute part of the story that had little to do with the plot or characters. it was simply a description of some of the scientist's equipment which included a "portable GPS (global positioning system) device". when i read this, i was taken aback because the book was written in 2003, and yet, the author felt it necessary to explain the acronym GPS. if he wrote this book a mere 5, maybe even 4, years later, that explanation may not have been necessary. a bit profound isn't it?

to me, the evolution of technology is both wonderous and terrifying. in recent decades, the rate seems to have grown exponentially. i had an earth science professor who believed that our technology is growing too fast for us - that it is developing at a rate that we humans cannot handle. i tend to agree with him. and i don't think that bodes well on our survival as a species. sure this evolution has created miracles in health care and information access. but at what cost? face-to-face communication is decreasing and we learn about each other through Facebook statuses and MSN names. of course i'm glad i can see up-to-date pics of family members in other countries. and i do enjoy writing up these little blurbs. but the print industry is suffering. as are musicians trying to break into the scene. our young people have underdeveloped social skills because they spend hours hunched over a computer instead of out in the world learning how to socialize appropriately.

i know you cannot slow the progression of technology nor would i really want to. but doesn't part of you hate how dependent you are on your computer, your cell phone, your GPS (global positioning system)? no need to try different restaurants in search for that gem in the city - there's an app for that. why pick up the phone to greet your friend on her birthday when you can post on her wall? these may seem like fairly trite issues but the bigger picture is there too.

ancient South American tribes were wiped off the planet leaving only the ruins of their vast and beautiful cities. their technology was incredibly advanced for their time. could the same be said about the human race now? perhaps just 5 or 10 years down the line? i for one hope not. because some historians believe that those societies could not handle the rate of their advancement - and were crushed under the weight of their own technology.