Medical Nightmare

Skimming through the many aisles of books in Barnes & Noble today, I stumbled upon a novel that reminded me of this class and the ever-evolving technology that surrounds us. Written by New York Times bestselling author Robin Cook, Cell, is structured around a media advanced world where the uses of apps have taken over basic needs of society, including medical procedures, surgeries, and even diagnosis.

 

When the protagonists, George Wilson, fiancée dies after participating in a trial test for a new medical app called iDoc, his suspicions arise on whether the system has been altered by hackers. From there, an idea of a government conspiracy surfaces, death tolls increase, and a true medical thriller begins...

 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cell-robin-cook/1115700032?ean=9780399166303

My question or interest lies within this well-beyond decade of technology; what if there is a time where technology like this actually exists? Where this fiction novel is instead a history book, is it really possible?

I remember a class I took sophomore year; I forget the name, where we discussed the future of technology. One student said that computers are going to become so advanced that they will be able to teach themselves and the level of knowledge will well-exceed what we as people can conceive and understand.

That’s a terrifying thought.

I immediately go into Terminator mode, scared of the future cyborgs that could take over the planet…  

… as much as I love my cell phone, I think an app like iDoc is unnecessary. Machines don’t feel, and they can’t sympathize with people. They don’t understand the importance of life like a human does.

Needless to say, I didn’t end up buying this book, but it is on my top 5 things to read next. Instead I went for a love story between a photographer & a roofer: still life with bread crumbs, by Anna Quindlen.

 

This blog post is to just get you all thinking, is this really even a possibility for the future?

And if so, what are your thoughts on it, if it were true?