My AI guardian angel

Blog post from May 31, 2033

The voice of Hallie comes softly but clearly from just behind my left shoulder. She is my AI guardian angel. A Christmas gift from my children. At the ripe old age of 80, my children support me living independently, but worry about my cognitive abilities. Did I mention this was a Christmas gift from my children?

Replacing the “medical alert” bracelet that my mother’s generation wore for their personal safety, Hallie is a small implant* that uses my five senses and wirelessly connects to the larger datasphere. She of course will notify authorities should I fall or have a stroke, but she also guides me in other areas. Here are a few “suggestions” I was given just today…

• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you should not leave your keys there. You are unlikely to locate them tomorrow since this is not where you usually store them.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but this is your third glass of wine this evening. Your physician recommends no more than two 4 oz glasses per day. 
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you don’t really need to buy that shirt from Amazon. You currently own twelve shirts that are quite similar and which show little wear.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you should be dropping lower when you do these squats. You are not getting the full benefit of the exercise.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you have not called your children for over two weeks now. You should be calling them to assure them you are OK.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you should not eat that. It has been in the refrigerator for over a week and tastes as though some bacteria may be present which could cause diarrhea. 
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but shouldn’t you be reading something with a bit more content than the latest Jack Reacher thriller (his 96th now written by Lee Child’s granddaughter.) You only have so many years of reading left.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but the stock you are about to purchase has had mixed reviews on its expected yield. Inflation has left you with few discretionary dollars.
• I’m sorry, Douglas, but you have been sitting in your recliner now for three hours. You have enough dirty clothes to justify a load of laundry. I suggest you run the washing machine.

Hallie, shut up.

• I’m sorry, Douglas, I can’t do that.

I don’t know about you, but I have the audio turned off on GoogleMaps. I don’t use Siri or GoogleVoice or other voice-activated devices. I don’t really trust the auto-braking feature of the cruise control in my car. 

But I expect the monitored and guided life provided by sophisticated AI will become common, if not mandatory, for folks of a certain age or with diagnosed mental impairments of one kind or another. Did I mention Hallie was a Christmas gift from my children?

Ah, AI. I am still wondering if you will be more like HAL or like C3PO. 

*Neuralink: Elon Musk's brain chip firm wins US approval for human study BBC News May 27, 2023 <https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65717487>

Mixing up the volunteering

Early in my education career, I tended to get a bit bored after a few years of doing the same thing day after day (classroom teacher, building librarian) and would change jobs.

But no two days were ever the same when I was employed as a school technology director. 

Being a tech director from 1991 to 2019 meant new challenges each and every year. New technologies, of course, new installations, new policies, new training for staff, new ethical issues, changing tech and library staffing, and new security concerns kept one from being bored. To say the least. The work changed sufficiently that I stayed with one school district in the same role for 23 years.

In retirement, I find that I also like variety in my activities. I vary my exercise routine, take trips to new places, try hikes on new trails, and read new authors. But I also like to shake up my volunteering activities, the things that fill my days and give me purpose.

In the month of May alone, I…

• Served as a volunteer driver, taking people to medical appointments
• Shopped for groceries for those who are home-bound
• Drove a van for a senior center to take residents grocery shopping
• Led hikes for an outdoor club
• Cleared trails in northern Minnesota for the Border Route Trail Association
• Organized and participated in service projects for my Rotary Club and served on the club’s board 

In the past year I also

• Presented programs for the outdoor club, Rotary, and YMCA groups
• Served as a History Day judge
• Participated in a hearing aids test for the University of Minnesota

A couple weeks ago I learned how to give rides on an ebike to people in wheelchairs. (It has a platform in the front of the bike on which the wheelchair sits.) I’ve not yet signed up to actually do this, but I will next month. 

It’s not hard to find opportunities to volunteer, that’s for sure. Each Saturday the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper prints the “Get Involved” column listing a dozen different volunteering needs by organizations around the city. The University of Minnesota has a volunteer center for retirees. Our county has a volunteer coordinator. There are several online resources for locating volunteer opportunities matched to one’s preferences, including Volunteer Match.

One should use caution when volunteering, however, One can get addicted to the work. Attached to the people one serves and with whom one works. Satisfied by the sense that one has done a good turn for others. Gained comfort from knowing one has improved one’s karma. 

Enjoy doing good work. Perhaps that is the secret to happy living.

The eagle as a symbol for America

 

     The first time I saw an eagle in the wild was in the mid-90s. My friend Cary, our families, and I were taking a boat ride on Lake Vermillion in northern Minnesota. While avoiding what seemed like countless rocks just below the surface of the lake, we watched in awe as one of these splendid raptors flew directly overhead and landed high on a tree on a nearby island.

     I like the symbolism of the eagle as our national bird. Not because the bird is big, powerful, ferocious or beautiful, but because its very presence shows that our country has the potential to do the right thing. I never saw an eagle or any other bird of prey growing up since the insecticide DDT so weakened the birds’ egg shells that they could not last long enough to hatch chicks. Despite heavy opposition from agricultural interests, the US managed to outlaw the use of DDT in 1972. It may not have been the popular thing to do, but it led to the survival of the birds.

     As a result I now regularly see eagles in flight, even over the Twin Cities suburbs. And each time I do, I am proud of at least that once slice of Americana.

     I reflected on this a few days ago while attending my younger grandson’s Boy Scout Court of Honor where he received the rank of Eagle Scout, the organization's highest, awarded to than fewer than 4% of all Scouts. The ceremony made it abundantly clear that earning the award involves a lot of community service. Giving back to the community. Giving more than one receives. Giving selflessly.  I think both my Eagle Scout grandsons understand this and I could not be more proud of them. And their parents who raised them right.