Bots and Apps and Technological Progress

One of the startling things for old guys like me is how rapidly technology seems to advance and progress.

I remember handwriting all my assignments in university, and I don’t think I typed up anything until my final dissertation. As I didn’t have a typewriter, I think I took it to a typing service where I paid quite handsomely, if I recall, to have it typed up for me.

Nowadays, I see my son typing up his homework and projects. He’s illustrating them with powerpoints and graphics and images, and it all seems very sophisticated in comparison to what I submitted at his age.

For so many things in life, we have become accustomed to doing our administration online, whether it is filing tax returns or sending in prescription requests, or even doing our grocery shopping.

While some would suggest it makes life more convenient, there are others, like myself, who miss the human interaction. When the technology fails, or the user is incompetent, as I happily confess to being, where do we turn to for assistance?

I recently shared on this blog about how a bot, or artificial intelligence, engaged in trying to assist me solve an issue with my BT vision box. When it proved too complex for the Bot, it referred me to an engineer and, as he talked me through tests and did other ones remotely, they came to the conclusion that I needed a TV aerial engineer. It took almost 2 hours to do this. When I phoned a TV aerial engineer, he replied to my message and arranged to come the next day. He came at the designated time, did the repair he needed to do in 15 minutes, gave me some helpful advice and was gone in 20 minutes after some pleasant interaction.

Last weekend, I was due to take my son to a climbing competition in Sheffield, but Storm Darragh meant that our flight was cancelled. I was advised to go on the airline App to try to book another flight. When I couldn’t do that, and booked with another airline, I wanted to use my return flight as originally booked. The App couldn’t cope with this transaction and I was told to call the customer advisors. It took an hour and a quarter to get through as lots of other people were in a similar predicament. The customer advisor was very helpful and it took them, maybe 20 minutes, to resolve everything. It felt like such a relief to hear a human voice after endless messages and reloading of the App and great difficulty generating the necessary  boarding passes.

As our flight was very early, and we had two trains to catch on the far side, we decided to have breakfast at the airport. Instead of queuing up and buying our food at a counter we were told to scan a code, make our payment and a robot would bring breakfast to the table in 15 minutes. This is exactly what happened as this robot came down the aisle with the number of our table flashing, and stopped opposite us while we unloaded the trays, before saying goodbye and whizzing off to serve the next table.

It seemed such an impersonal transaction and, eventually, a girl came by to clear the table. Apparently, it’s difficult to get staff for the early mornings and, while I recognise that,  do all these gadgets, Apps and bots really make our life easier?

We were fascinated to see them at work, but I like the human interaction. You can explain your issue to a person much easier than to a machine, and they can immediately understand what is necessary to resolve them.

The Bible speaks powerfully of how, as human beings, we are created in the image of God. We are called to reflect His light and His likeness, and maybe that’s the difference between us and the machines and the technology. No matter how sophisticated or clever they are, and even if they work 90% of the time, none of them can ask you how your day was or express sympathy if things aren’t going so well. They can’t listen and engage with our hearts the way human beings can. Quite a contrast to God becoming human in the form of Jesus, as depicted in an event I went to recently with our daughter.

Of course, we have to engage with and use technology, but let’s never forget just how valuable human interaction is. Is there someone you know you might call today who is having a difficult time? Can you text them to tell them you are praying or thinking of them? Can you arrange to meet up at a time when you are both not so busy and share a conversation, a laugh or even some tears?

Those are the things that can make such a difference, and I don’t think they will be coming our way from a bot or an App, or even a robot anytime soon in a way that heals our hearts.

Can I ask you to pray for the family of our dear friend, Susan Hilton, who died, after a long illness, on Saturday past. Her funeral will take place on Thursday 12th December at 11.00 am in the church.

Don’t forget our short Advent service on Thursday evening at 7.30 pm, as we draw aside into God’s presence for half an hour.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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