On the Use and Abuse of Technology

Prepared by Peter Lichang Kuo

I. Preface

In "On the Use and Abuse of History" (from Untimely Meditations), Nietzsche (1844-1900) says with deep gravity: "People want the flowers, but not the roots and stems, and so their hopes are disappointed." He considers this a simple truth—straightforward and unpleasant, yet a powerful truth. It is like how technological progress has led people to only desire the "fruit" while disregarding the branches and leaves, an irony that is helpless.

Fig 1: Friedrich W. Nietzsche (1844~1900)

Every "living organism's life" is not only connected to light, but also to darkness. A person who tries to perceive everything solely through "technology" is like someone who "forces themselves not to sleep" or an animal that must "keep ruminating" in order to survive. Therefore, no matter whether it is an individual, a nation, or a cultural system, when the "technological sense" rises to a certain extent, it will harm and ultimately destroy the life of that organism.

The deeper a person’s "root of inner nature," the better they can absorb the past, just like how school education involves learning from the past. No matter how incompatible the past may seem with oneself, such a nature will assimilate and digest the past, transforming it into flexible driving force. This kind of nature will forget what it cannot conquer. We must know when to forget and when to remember, and instinctively know when to "sense technologically" and when to "sense non-technologically." For the "health" of an individual, a society, and a cultural system, both "technological sensing" and "non-technological sensing" are equally necessary.

II. Pulling Seedlings to Encourage Growth

I recently watched a video on YouTube featuring Taiwan's well-known political talk show pioneer, Li Tao. He mentioned that after stepping away from the screen, he had been serving rural areas and showcased artwork created by children there using “artificial intelligence” (AI). This left me deep in thought. When we are excited about a drawing made by a child, it is not because of the neatness of the drawing, but because of the atmosphere of innocence and naivety that it conveys.

The scene of a child holding a pencil with their small hand, focused on drawing on paper, creates an impression that "time has frozen" at that moment. Their concentration makes it feel as if everything around them has come to a standstill, leaving only their hand, the pencil, the paper, and the sparkling focus. Even though the finished artwork may not compare to that of a master craftsman, it is often cherished as a precious keepsake by the parents.

However, with the introduction of modern AI into rural areas, anyone, young or old, can simply "describe in words" and see beautiful results—flowers on the screen without needing the roots and stems. Technology has created "accessibility," and especially for growing children who can now "rely on AI technology to generate artwork," this may lead them to overlook the importance of learning hand-drawing skills, which could impact their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and the depth of their artistic expression. In the process of hand-drawing, children must face the physical challenges of the real world, and these challenges themselves are a form of learning and growth. On the other hand, generating artwork through AI lacks this physical engagement and specific skill challenges.

III. Reflections on the Creation of New Technologies

As one of the creators in the 21st-century technology industry, witnessing this phenomenon, I really regret having spent decades saving and investing all my substantial earnings into developing the "Consumer Technological Products" needed for the 21st century, which has led to the convenience we now experience, as well as accelerating the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI). Now, I don’t need to think about it, and am able to just write down eighteen major inventions as below:

01. Contactless Technology (Contactless-tech)

02. RF Transmitter

03. Power Chip

04. TranSmart Chip

05. Transaction Reading Device (TRD)

06. Vending Machine Operated by A Chip Card (Vending Automation Manager)

07. Sensor-based Entry Security Device (ESD)

08. Contactless Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

09. Interphone (Toll Free)

10. Electronic Toll Collection for Transportation (ETC)

11. Cashless System

12. Shopping System

13. Electronic Store (eStore)

14. Virtual Asset Management System (VAM)

15. Transaction & Transmission Supply Chain Management Software System (TSCM)

16. Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

17. Integration of Consumer Electronics, Computer & Communication (3C)

18. Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce)

First, the exploration of contactless sensing technology took three years. I found that using "Radio Frequency" for RF Transmitter converters was a promising approach, but I burned through one hundred million dollars and saw no results. Later, we developed the “TranSmart Chip” and integrated it with the “Power Chip Module,” which led to some progress. Eventually, by combining all three elements, we created the "Contactless Transaction Reading Device" (TRD).

Fig 2: Components of the RF Transmitter in TRD

To create something out of nothing and produce a “TRD," it took reading at least 10,000 books, spending billions of dollars, and leveraging "past experiences" to bring the results to the Vancouver APEC for presentation, igniting the global e-commerce wave of "Contactless/ Non-cash (Cashless)" transactions.

The power of "Past Experience" built on a solid foundation. What kind of power does this well-established "past experience" hold? For example, in 1984, Mattel Corporation brought in 10,000 man-hours but could not fix an automated machine. On May 20th of that year, I hobbled in with one leg and, like performing magic, fixed it! The machine ran automatically for 24 hours, until they shut down the factory and moved the equipment to Malaysia. The skills of a person had developed from childhood never faded. In fact, they strengthened one's internal foundation as time passed, making him more capable for new challenges that came along.

There was once a "antenna terminal" product used in over 80% of the world's television sets; yet, I still developed the "coaxial connector" to replace it. Later, when developing the "TranSmart Chip," I created the "Embedded Antenna," which eventually led to the lightweight and convenient "EasyCard" and "Suica Card" systems.

Fig 3: TranSmart Chip Card and its Embedded Antenna

I once had a young protege, who I took great care of since he was weaned—teaching him how to eat, use the bathroom, and write with a pen. Despite failing the university entrance exam and not being accepted to any school, I encouraged him to take supplementary classes and try again the next year. Eventually, he managed to earn a doctoral degree after much hardship. I advised him to start from the basics and become a professor, but he wanted to take my company to greater heights. By 1993, he still brought up the antenna terminal, saying, "If I just change the screws to ‘copper,’ this product will be perfect!" It gave me a profoundly ominous feeling.

At that moment, I recalled Nietzsche's words: "A person's historical knowledge and sense of scope are quite limited; his vision is as narrow as the ravine of the Alps. His judgment is inaccurate, and his experiences are mistakenly taken as something new. Yet, despite all these inaccuracies and mistakes, he stands forward with an 'invincible' posture, pleasing those who tend toward him." Later, he could only rely on the hardware I had built to become a landlord, earning income from rent.

Experience that has not been honed is what I call "shallow experience." It is like seeds scattered on stones—they cannot take root or grow into fruit-bearing trees. Just like how modern children use AI to generate artwork, their creativity vanishes before it even begins to take shape.

IV. The Supremacy of Life

The "technology and knowledge" we are familiar with are means for humanity to understand and control the world, but they are by no means the ultimate goals. Knowledge is the understanding of phenomena and facts, while technology is the application of that knowledge to create concrete tools, machines, and techniques to solve problems and change the world. The two are closely connected: knowledge provides the theoretical foundation for technology, and technology, through practice, tests and advances knowledge.

Nietzsche believed that "the fundamental purpose of humanity is to realize the strength, creativity, and freedom of life, not to rely on external knowledge or technology to determine the value and meaning of life." He strongly opposed placing knowledge or technology above life, believing that doing so would cause people to become lost in abstract theories or technical frameworks, neglecting the actual needs and creativity of life.

Clearly, life holds supremacy. Technology and knowledge should exist as tools to maintain and enhance life, not to transform human existence into a cold, lifeless world devoid of creativity. Therefore, life should rule over technology and knowledge, rather than technology and knowledge ruling over life.

Knowledge is a part of human life; it provides the ability to understand ourselves and the world around us. Knowledge can guide us on how to live, how to interact with others, how to create, and how to bring about change. Modern technology should only be a "tool" for human life, making our lives safer and more convenient. It should never dominate our lives.

V. The Emergence and Development of Modern Technology

Since taking over the family business in 1966, I have always approached product development with a focus on the customer first, never inventing for the sake of invention. As a result, within a few years, I managed to revive the family business, creating Taiwan's Precision Industry while also producing both the "Old Buddha” (Empress Dowager Cixi) and the "spoiled youth" of Tainan. The so-called "World-changing Inventions" mentioned above were never my intention.

After experiencing two coups that led to the loss of my assets, I eventually found my way to Taipei, where I began teaching and training the apprentices. In 1985, many foreign investors withdrew from Taiwan, believing there was no longer any value in investing here. Their reasoning was: "Taiwan's per capita income has already reached US$ 3,000..." Each round of capital withdrawal left thousands of unemployed, and many of them, having tasted the bitterness of joblessness and unable to find work, would come to complain to my wife, Linda Din. They would often say, "If I can't find another job, I’ll have to become a taxi driver."

One day, Linda opened the newspaper and was shocked to see a report on "a taxi driver being robbed." In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, she said, "I am going to invent a system where there is no cash inside the car, but the driver can still make money— a 'Cashless' system..." She indeed started a business, working hard to support herself. Every morning and evening, she would meditate, and had once inspiration struck, she drew a diagram, claiming it was for "The eStore System" (TES).

Fig 4: Diagram & Flowchart of the eStore System

She defined two types of future eStores : "1) fixed-location stores, 2) mobile taxis." The main transaction tool was a "cashless" method, referred to as the "TranSmart Chip Card." She traveled around Taiwan and abroad, visiting research institutions and major electronics manufacturers, but ultimately returned empty-handed. As her final support, I had no choice but to change my fundamental principles and help her realize her "Universal Concern."

After 11 years of hard work, Linda Din brought her result of research and development to APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), immediately attracting the attention of representatives from various economies. She then spent another six years in APEC and perfecting her invention, ultimately making it the best practice at APEC — the "Global Channel-TES." In response to her non-cash (Cashless) system invention, forums like NFC, EMVCo, PCI SSC, Mobey, Kona-I, and others were established worldwide, leading to a nearly uncontrollable frenzy.

Linda was very generous in promoting her invention, worried that she might not be able to fulfill her mission of "Resolving the Global Unemployment Problem." Her company was visited by a constant stream of people, and she warmly welcomed strangers. Many well-known multinational companies adopted her invention to improve their deteriorating operations. In 2008, the famous "Disney" cited her invention, claiming to have invested US$ 1 billion dollars and, by 2013, produced a MagicBand that improved their ticketing and shopping systems, enhancing the user experience. Disney applied at least eight of her inventions, including "01-07 and 15," enabling a hundred million of visitors each year to experience the convenience of our invention, contributing to the company’s growing success.

Fig 5: Cinderella Castle at Disneyworld

Linda, fearful that she might not achieve her mission of "Providing jobs for everyone and food security for every family," took the "ZIP" to the 2000 APEC conference in Brunei to advocate for the importance of "ICT" (Information and Communication Technology) — as it would encompass all the digital technologies of future life, not just computer hardware and software, but also a wide range of communication technologies such as the internet, mobile devices, satellite connectivity, and more.

Fig 6: ICT Control Center Involves Technologies in Multi-field

The "Hardware" aspect of ICT includes electronic components, personal computers, laptops, servers, mobile communication devices, network equipment—such as modems, routers, switches, fiber-optic equipment, and related storage devices, communication satellites, network security firewalls, messaging equipment, and so on. In terms of "Software," Linda’s “TSCM 2000” has already prepared everything from communication software, office software, design software, social media, and database storage and analysis systems to the entire control center platform operation. The application fields of ICT will cover various aspects of human life, such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment, as well as government and business sectors, and even "artificial intelligence" (AI). Its impact on future society will be profound.

The day before yesterday, I went to a public sector to discuss the "ICT Operation Center," and the response I received was surprisingly the same as on March 6, 2001—listeners looked confused and indifferent, as though it were not their concern. Fortunately, over the years, the importance of ICT has been widely spread through our proclaiming. Taiwan's export of ICT products has reached over US$ 100 billion, laying a solid foundation for the development of AI.

Fig 7: Record of ICT Presentation to the Ministry of Economic Affairs on March 6, 2001 (Linda Din, 2001: 356-369)

The ICT we introduced to the world, as long as it "serves life," is a tool transformed from knowledge, serving a higher power. To what extent life needs such a service is one of the most serious issues affecting the health of an individual, a nation, and a culture. This is because, while an appropriate amount of technology can enhance our quality of life, an excess of technology can damage and degrade life itself, and history will follow suit in the same manner.

In the past, people conveyed emotions and even business communications through letters. Although it took time, the sense of trust between them grew stronger over time. However, when the 18 inventions we brought to the world for universal concern are misused, messages instantly traverse time and space, crossing thousands of miles. The term "Instant Reply" has become common, accompanied by responses that indicate a crisis in trust, with social capital continuously and irreversibly depleting.

VI. Conclusion

Humanity should maintain a sense of caution and fear towards science and technology. This means having a clear understanding of its power and ensuring that it does not stray from the essence of life, while remaining sincere in its respect for life and human experience. Therefore, life should govern knowledge, not the other way around; knowledge that destroys life will ultimately destroy itself, because it strays from the essence of life and cannot truly nourish human existence. Similarly, if technology exceeds the scope of serving life, it will become domineering, losing the meaning of life and ultimately failing to endure.

The 18 inventions we introduced to the world, fostering global applications, are based on the core principle of " Humanism." We hope to establish a new and better "Cultural System" — a mutual care system where "you help me, I help you," with no distinction between internal and external, no customs or pretenses, but a unified body of thought and will, life and appearance. Every step toward sincerity is a step toward this cultural system, regardless of the fact that its sincerity may hurt the "Inferior-quality Consciousness" that is currently revered. This sincerity holds a power strong enough to shatter the purely decorative, inferior consciousness, as it is rooted in the deep moral, willful, and life-giving forces of human nature. It generates creativity and revolutionary power that can completely overturn the kitsch, pretense, and decoration of inferior cultural systems, thereby elevating "High-quality Consciousness."

In short, knowledge and technology should "serve life," rather than dominate or control it. Technology and culture are two sides of the same coin, the hardware and software of the whole system, both aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all humanity in the universe. However, only philosophy can allow them to merge and coexist with one another. Therefore, Nietzsche’s philosophical thinking is crucial. True knowledge and technology are those that can inspire human creativity and vitality, and enable us to break free from narrow, rigid historical and scientific views, in order to seek a broader meaning of life.

References:

Din, Linda (2001). The Daughter of a Defense Employee. Taichung: Panhornic.

Peter Lichang Kuo, the author created

Taiwan

's Precision Industry in his early years. Peter was a representative of the APEC CEO Summit and an expert in the third sector. He advocated "anti-corruption (AC)/cashless/e-commerce (E-Com)/ICT/IPR/IIA-TES / Micro-Business (MB)…and etc." to win the international bills and regulations.