The Trouble With Technology: Losing Our Lighthouses

Lighthouses have been picturesque coastal fixtures in America for hundreds of years, but may soon become extinct if things don't change fast. Seems the financial crisis has hit even our beloved sentinels of the sea, and with dwindling budgets to maintain the estimated 10 to 20 thousand of them out there shining their beacons in the night, they are simply rotting away. Most of these historic landmarks were built in the 1800s, even the 1700s, so that means they survived the Great Depression, but it looks like they won't survive the Great Recession. Satellites are better and cheaper, but is it wise to rely on new technology alone?

Beside their aesthetic value, of course lighthouses diligently serve to warn ship captains of danger and aid in navigation. Since the advent of GPS, though, the old towers seem obsolete. In order to save them, local groups have to pool their volunteer resources and convert them into museums or bed and breakfasts. That might keep the buildings intact, but they are no longer functioning navigational aides, leaving sailors totally dependent on electronic devices.

GPS works great, most of the time. NOAA recently announced the latest numbers on just how many lives satellites have saved. But what about the times when they don't work? What happens when a solar flare hits the earth just right and knocks the satellites out of service? Sound far-fetched? Who hasn't had a computer go haywire for no apparent reason? And there are plenty of other real-world examples of electronics "bugging out."

Consider the deadly uncontrolled acceleration problem Toyota owners have experienced. The media reported on a study by NASA saying they could not find an electronic cause for the flaw and then blamed sticky pedals, floor mats and driver error. Look beyond the lazy headlines and you'll see that NASA scientists admit they cannot rule out electronic causes, they just were not able to duplicate the problems. The experts also admit it is difficult to replicate the exact conditions under which the problems occurred. Glitches in software and electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be impossible to duplicate perfectly, and EMI can come from static, cellphones, airport radar, even from within the system itself. These glitches can be untraceable, undetectable and unfixable. So, again, should we rely on electronic technology soley?

No, this is not some Luddite lecture meant to scare people away from technology. And its not even a "Save Our Lighthouses" rant. But in this age of smartphones, wireless internet and satellite tracking there is something to be said about balancing the use of these devices with the use of our own human instinct. When it comes to travel and adventure, many young people are starting to recognize that we may have become a little too wired. They see that there may be more value out of actually learning about new places from local guides instead of the internet. And it may be just a little more spiritual to navigate a boat by the stars instead of a computer screen.

So instead of planning your next trip around where the best wifi is, try unplugging and exploring with your own senses. There's a place for technology, and we will always be wired--heck this is a website for Pete's sake. There is also a place, though, for intuition, getting lost in the moment and lighthouses.

sources: nomadicmatt.com, usatoday.com, dailyherald.com, cnn.com photo: freefoto.com

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