Joseph D’Agnese

In the following viewpoint, Joseph D’Agnese claims that future technology will bring drastic changes to society and to the individual. He contends that genetic engineering, robotics, and nanotechnology—building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules—threaten humans by turning richly diverse personalities into automated machines. D’Agnese is a contributing editor at Discover magazine, a science and technology publication for the general public.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How does the author describe driving a car in the year 2020"

2. What does D’Agnese mean when he says that technology “favors some and eclipses others”"

3. How does the Web resemble the human unconscious, according to the author"

You know things, you child of the 21st century. You may not stop...