Man, Mind, and Machine: A Vulnerable Symbiosis

Introduction

Let us begin with a simple question. What does technology mean? Well! Most people perceive technology to be synonymous with computers. Some perceive technology to be the creation and application of scientific knowledge. Others perceive technology to be a collection of tools, techniques and systems. But only those who truly comprehend the real meaning of technology will be able to define “technology” as anything that can meet a human need. There is a famous proverb stating that invention is the mother of necessity which evolved from what Pluto had once stated: “our need will be our real creator”. This holds for technology. A simple example would be the invention of the microscope. When there was a need to explore the world beyond human sight it led to the invention of the microscope. We are surrounded by technology and it has indeed become a very integral part of our lives. One might assume technology to be mostly electronic, but that is not the case. For instance, when we are tired and need some sleep we lie down on a mattress which is again a product of technology or when we wake up in the middle of the night we switch on a bulb, it is again the most fundamental form of technology for humans, all the gadgets that one uses such as washing machines, mobile phones, television sets, gaming consoles etc. is simply technology. A computer on the other hand is one of the most advanced forms of technology. People are so integrated with various forms of technology, that one finds it difficult to isolate them from it. Hence when humans are so unified with technology, it becomes imperative to add a touch of humanity to it.

Hence, this article revolves around a symbiosis of the human mind and technology with a touch of humanity. Technology is also a way of doing things. It requires both intentional and non-intentional interactions with other machines, devices and humans. For instance, most people love drinking coffee in a coffee shop. Coffee is made out of coffee beans which come from trees. But these trees have been grown by farmers and the yields from these trees support the farmer and his family. This farmer needs pesticides for the trees that he grows and this need for pesticides supports another family. The coffee beans once harvested would be packed and transported to various countries. Finally, the brewed coffee is served in paper cups that were manufactured for a specific purpose. The whole idea of giving this example is to explain how interdependent the choices that people make could be and how the lives of so many people get affected due to those choices. Nowadays due to the heavy dependence of individuals on technology, rather than human needs influencing the change in technologies, it is now the technologies that are changing people and causing them to grow, evolve and develop. It also has begun influencing our communication and relationships with other people. When Industry 4.0 is still gaining ground and has not yet reached maturity, Industry 5.0 is ready to take the stage. A fifth industrial revolution known as “Industry 5.0” is one where consumers may meet their own needs based on preferences and expectations. Industry 4.0, which is at the mass customisation level, uses robots to complete monotonous jobs, but industry 5.0 seeks to perform mass personalisation using artificial intelligence. Higher autonomy for collaborative robots is projected to revolutionise the manufacturing process in Industry 5.0. Industry 5.0 is a hypothetical industrial revolution that will enable robots to carry out monotonous activities, increasing creativity and innovation in products. Industry 5.0 is anticipated to make the best use of human creativity and intelligence. Currently, the manufacturing industry is transitioning from mass production to custom manufacturing; therefore manufacturing processes must advance quickly, as well as the digitalization and intelligentization of production systems. For tasks like loading, unloading, painting, welding, etc., robots are a huge help. An autonomous robot is used to conduct a more precise independent manufacturing procedure and to work in places where human employees are restricted from working. Industry 5.0 can learn from big data, which creates a network of digital knowledge, to produce symmetrical innovation. It can do what a person desires to achieve and makes use of cooperating robots to increase precision and performance.