Let’s cut to the chase — the answer to the question posed by the headline for many people will be yes. It’s an inevitable next step in the relentless march of techno-capitalism combined with an insatiable desire for personal improvement.
That said, it seems like an unlikely time to trumpet the next big thing in personal technology. We’re currently waging a rebellion against our smart phones in general, and manipulative social media apps specifically.
But it was people who designed those apps to be addictive, just like it’s up to the rest of us to resist technology when it doesn’t serve our interests. I’m certainly no technology cheerleader, but I do admit to being excited about what barriers we’ll be able to break with the right digital assistance.
The idea of technology as personal enhancer is mostly taken for granted at this point. From clocks, to bicycles, to cars, technology not only extends our capabilities, it becomes an aspect of our identities. Think if terms of Walkmans and iPods, to the latest breed of fitness trackers and smart watches, and you realize that technology has been baked into our experience of self for a while now.
The next level appears to be about enhancing our wellness and well-being by getting past the limitations of our own psychological makeups. Science tells us that we’re mostly at the mercy of our genes and cultural conditioning, which is why no amount of willpower seems to help in certain situations.
It’s at this point that the conversation generally jumps to cyborgs, mind uploads, and other wild transhumanist scenarios. But we’ve got a whole lot of less extreme technology to adopt before we get there, and most of it involves interfaces that are a lot smarter than that stupid rectangle in your pocket.
That’s why this issue features a bit more tech than usual. I’ll also explore the intersection of technology and personal growth with some Further originals, coming soon.
In the meantime, here’s something to get you started:
Technology Can and Should Be Designed for Emotional Wellness
Keep going-
Brian Clark
Further
further: top ten
Gut Check
It may be the least sexy aspect of health this side of the colonoscopy, but it turns out your gut is super important. So, reach for the kimchi, sauerkraut, artichokes, coffee, and chocolate. But watch out — one category of food will make your microbes wither.
¡Salud!
This week three of the biggest names in American business — Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase — announced a new venture to provide better, cheaper health care for their employees. Access to data is the key.
A Revolution in Health Care is Coming
Rocky Mountain Way
The first part of the answer to this is affluence and access to superior health care. But beyond that, the Rocky Mountain Way is definitely conducive to living long and well. Although, the Canadian Rockies might not be bad either, all things considered.
Why do Residents of Colorado’s Mountain Towns Live Longer than Anyone Else in the U.S.?
Long Game Plan
If you can’t move to Breckenridge or Aspen just yet, there are still actions you can take to extend your life expectancy. No, it doesn’t mean you should start shoveling supplements down your throat. You need a strategic plan that begins with understanding your own unique set of circumstances.
Developing a Science-Based Personal Longevity Strategy
Transcendental Express
Theoretically, if everyone meditated, we’d all be well-adjusted and happy. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. What if technology could step in and adjust our brains as if we’d put in 10,000 hours of meditation? It’s an interesting question, but I’m sticking with the old-fashioned way for now.
Engineering the Future of Human Wellbeing
Chips Ahoy
Okay, so I’m trying to keep this foray into technology-assisted performance relatively free of Black Mirror plot lines. And then this guy had to go and get a chip implanted in his hand.
I Got Chipped: A Dispatch From The Frontier Of Wearable Tech
Home Smart Home
Gadgets from thermostats to ovens have become smarter, using sensors, data, and cloud computing to set the ideal temperature or cook a pizza just the way you like it. But a recent patent by Google points to another trend: smart home health tracking.
Smart Homes Won’t Just Automate Your Life — They’ll Track Your Health Too
Apocalyptic Thinking
The world appears to be in a rough place right now. But are we really doomed? Or is your animal brain playing tricks on you? Chin up — things aren’t always as bad as they seem.
The Cognitive Biases That Convince You the World Is Falling Apart
Only Happy Beeps
Sometimes, findings from the research on well-being seem a bit obvious. But the findings of other studies are much more counterintuitive. This kind of research challenges how we think the world works; if we’re open to it, it can drastically change our day-to-day lives and our communities.
Three Surprising Insights about Success and Happiness
Keep Going
Following true adversity — I’m talking about the gut-wrenching, hole in your heart, sleepless nights kind — there is no bouncing back. There’s only moving forward.
Resilience Is Not About Bouncing Back. It’s About Moving Forward
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