Invisibly important

Several of the most powerful technologies in human history have become invisible.

We pay attention to them, only when they don't work. When they work well, we don't really see them.

We no longer marvel that a car works. Or trains take us to our destinations. Or electricity supplies power. Or that we can now transmit information across space and time.

We no longer marvel that at the slightest turn of the knob on our taps, water gushes. Or what happens behind the scenes when we dial a series of numbers on our phones and another phone rings elsewhere. We pass on ideas today building on the foundation of systems invented in Iraq and Egypt over 5000 years ago.

These were once new and celebrated technologies. The more important they became as they worked, the more they became invisible to most people.

The more invisible they are, the more invincible they become. We only notice when they go wrong or become obsolete.

I'm reminding myself of two things. Most of the technologies we rave about today will get to this stage if they work so well.

This applies to tech, not people. Be conscious, so we don't use the same lens for the most important people and relationships in our lives.