Frontier as a Powerful Symbol/Inspiring New Technology

 

Margaret asks, “What new technologies are making us more self-sufficient?” Why is it necessary to be self-sufficient in these areas? How will this help us progress as humans and as explorers?

When I think of self-sufficiency, my mind goes automatically to "of the land" skills, not to technology in the way we're using it here.  I think of growing and foraging our own food, start fires, being able to collect and purify water, growing medicinal herbs and being able to provide basic and advanced first aid in medical emergencies.  Perhaps this is because it feels like we're living in the end-times, but there you have it.  

If I have to think about technologies that are making us self-sufficient, I think of (related to the tricorder prize in the video) things like the EKG I just saw an ad for that individuals can run on themselves with a small piece of equipment and an app on their cell phones.  The idea, of course, is that any change in the heart rhythm can be reported to a doctor as soon as possible, resulting in earlier treatment.  Any advancement in diagnostic field medicine like this (provided you have the power and knowledge to run it, and access to treatment), brings medical care to remote locations--the developing world, far-flung areas that we're just beginning to explore, Mars (?!).  As I mentioned in an earlier post about technology, the medical tech in Star Trek is what fascinates me the most.

As an aside, and related to the course video, solar power is probably the best thing we can do across all areas of technology in terms of self-sufficiency.  We now have access to portable solar power generators which open up options for remote work, emergency use, and (yes) operating medical equipment (and so much more).