A Superior Region in the Next Century
A region in geography is a geographical area with comparable features, both constructed and natural. These range from woods, climate, and wildlife to language, working culture, religion, and even the government. In this context, the Silicon Valley region incorporates both of the previously listed traits. California is geographically located in the San Francisco Bay area, reaching all the way to San Jose. In recent years, the region has expanded significantly to incorporate the adjacent municipalities in San Mateo County and the San Francisco Peninsula (Saxenian 45). In addition to geographical enlargement, the world's largest and powerful technologically advanced corporations are located in this region, among all the manufacturers and innovators of the silicon chip. The organizations like Apple, eBay, and Google were invented at the Silicon Valley. Furthermore, other prominent social media organizations like Facebook are headquartered in the Silicon Valley. Technological and scientific research is intensively done in the region with approximately one-third of the American investments annually directed there (Fairlie and Aaron 369). In other words, the rapid and sophisticated technological innovations taking place in the Silicon Valley create the great potential in being a superior region in the next century. Nevertheless, it is critical to consider that effects of being the center are both adverse and advantageous.
Potential Dangers of Technological Innovations
On the one hand, scientists have warned that humanity is at the edge of destroying itself, following the significant technological discoveries that have characterized the current century. Even if these developments could be positively impactful, there are risks that people will face the same problems as before (Etzkowitz 12). In the case of the Silicon Valley, the fact that it is the hub of the most erudite and sharp minds on the planet is evident. Specifically, both the microprocessors and the microcomputers were invented there among other cutting-edge technological inventions. However, this situation has potential dangers. In this context, scientists have postulated that the Silicon Valley is yet to make more inventions that will take the world by surprise shortly (Etzkowitz 6). Among them, there is no guarantee they will not concentrate on sophisticated and mass destructive nuclear weapons, genetically engineered viruses, and global warming discoveries to change the world disastrously. With the current project in the nuclear field, the region can potentially turn into the center that contributes to jeopardizing the whole human race in the state of war. Among the other discoveries, genetical engineering and development of microorganisms like viruses also could be used as bioweapons in future. In any case, it is reasonable to state that artificial know-how and high-tech intelligence will influence the human race in the next 100 years.
The Influence of Technological Discoveries
On another hand, the Silicon Valley is home to many influential companies on the planet. Among them, there are social media enterprises with the enormous effect of their discoveries on globalization and human interaction. Moreover, some of the helpful technological discoveries made in the Silicon Valley include mobile radio systems, radar, nuclear applications, and satellite technology. (Fairlie and Chatterji 376). In this context, the current research on nuclear weapon reveals its value when properly utilized, especially to cure certain malignant ailments like cancer, during radiotherapy. With the given achievements, the technological innovation within the Silicon Valley can lead to even better living conditions. Technologies will enable people to do domestic and official chores by touching buttons or through remote control systems. For example, traffic jam will be history, as there will be flying cars, receiving and transmitting signals among themselves without human control. Most people will not need not to walk on their feet. People could request meals by phone calls and be fed by machines. Online shopping will be more prevalent, and people will stay in their homes and order shopping on the internet for delivery, including vehicles, clothing, and food stuff. Even though most scholars have challenged the arguments about what high-tech technology could drive the word at, current research has confirmed otherwise. For instance, some scholars argue that in the present age, people cannot function without planes, vehicles, mobile phones, or any other automation that make life better. Generations in the last century who did not enjoy the technological advances in the current decade could as well argue that they did not need them then, and they were not foreseeable; but they were wrong (Keller 776). In other words, the Silicon Valley will make the world move and revolve around technology.
The Dual Nature of Technological Discoveries
In short, the technological discoveries at the Silicon Valley by the end of 100 years will be both helpful and highly destructive. With technological inventions, many things are bound to happen. The discovery of hugely efficient machines and equipment could make life better, and human life could become more effective and meaningful than it currently is (Keller 783). The borders departing continent and countries will have no significance and will most likely disappear. The world will become a single entity, because the world is humanity, and people will interact more efficiently regardless of their geographical locations on the planet. At the same time, the automation of human life get automated can also lead to a myriad of problems, including social deterioration. Notwithstanding, taking into account the influence of science and technology, it is evident that the Silicon Valley will turn into the center of human development in the next 100 years, notwithstanding the direction of these changes.
Works Cited
Etzkowitz, Henry. “Silicon Valley: The Sustainability of an Innovative Region”. Social Science Information, vol. 52, no. 3 (2012), pp. 1–25..
Fairlie, Robert W., and Aaron K. Chatterji. “High-Technology Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley”. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, vol. 22, no. 2 (2013), pp, 365–389.
Keller, Wolfgang. “International Technology Diffusion”. Journal of Economic Literature, vol. 42, no. 3 (2004), pp. 752–782.
Saxenian, Annalee. “Lessons from Silicon Valley”. Technology Review, vol. 97, no. 5 (1994), pp. 42–51.
