Technology is changing our world. Our devices allow us to do things that were previously UNIMAGINABLE. But is that a good thing? Do our devices bring us together? Are they separating us? Or are we more alone? Are we more connected to knowledge or just more likely to believe misinformation? We know that new technology help save lives, but about the health risks from being so sedentary? Are we more distracted or are we more engaged? What are the effects of adding metrics to our social interactions? And what does it mean that you can publish anywhere at any time and share your voice with the world?
The latter part of the 20th Century saw the start of a new revolution in technology that seemed every bit as powerful as the industrial revolution that preceded it. The impacts and developments of the new 20th century technologies are not easy to assess, as they are still very much part of an ongoing process that may well only be the beginning. The new technologies that have caused such upheaval are inter-related and overlap to some degree.
They include-
- Computers
- New Communication technologies
- Digitally formats
- Multifunctional devices
- New Military weapons
We have to explore the pros and cons of technology and defend whether it’s making life better or worse here on earth. While technology certainly has opened doors and supported us to achieve more in the world of work, it can definitely be argued that- Is all tech actually productivity-friendly?
It’s usual to rely on apps and software to finish everyday tasks – in fact, an average smartphone user has around 30-40 apps installed and spends around 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone per day. But does it make us more productive or not? For that, let’s find an answer.
Pros of Technology
| Thanks to the internet and mobile technologies, we can communicate with anyone in the world and form relationships with people who are some distance away, rather than being limited to people within our physical vicinity. This has some great positives for both work and home life.
| The increased automation of manufacturing and many other jobs, thanks to computers, means greater efficiency, fewer people doing boring repetitive jobs, and an increase in flexibility regarding work times. Many jobs can now be done remotely, thanks to the internet, with many workers increasingly being able to work from home at times of their choosing.
| The wealth of information that is now available is astonishing. In theory, at least, having access to the internet means having access to almost all of the world’s knowledge. Increasingly we don’t even need to be sat at a desk to access the information either, as mobile devices become more and more powerful.
| The entertainment industry has experienced a revolution. Consumers now have an incredible choice of movies, shows, games, music, and other entertainment available round the clock. The music and film industries have been democratized as artists no longer reliant on companies to fund and promote them, as they can do it all themselves.
| Technology can now be used to advance itself. Science is benefiting massively from the lightning speeds that computers can perform calculations and investigate complex questions that would take humans many lifetimes to answer. Medical breakthroughs, chemical, and astronomical discoveries have all been made due to computers.
| Modern technology saves us lots of time, whether it’s our computer-regulated cars driving us to work, washing-machines to do our laundry, or automated banking to allow us to pay by credit card, use internet banking, use internet banking, or get cash out from the ATM.
| Computer regulation and automation mean that many devices and machines now function much more efficiently use less power, either because they are working at the most efficient rate, or they automatically switch themselves off when not in use. This provides benefits for the environment as well as being a cost saver.
Also Read– Top 5 New Technology Trends for 2021
Cons of Technology
| Human relations are diminished in the virtual world. As online social networking increasingly replaces real face-to-face physical contact, alienation can increase, as well as problems such as cyber-bullying, online stalking, and cybercrime, which are related to the anonymity of the internet.
| Human beings are less and less valued in the workplace as their roles are replaced by computers. Outsourcing has meant bigger profits for companies, but a decline in wages and conditions more unemployment for ordinary workers, especially in western nations. Multinational corporations are increasingly impossible to control by individual nation-states.
| Issues of privacy have become huge, as it becomes increasingly difficult to control personal information in the digital and internet world. Financial details can be hacked into, candid photos or videos posted on the web, slurs, and accusations made against people’s characters, and personal identities can be stolen.
| Intellectual property theft and piracy have made it more difficult for creative people to make any money from their output, Media can be digitalized and then distributed across the internet very easily and the process seems impossible to control. Ultimately it will lead to a decline and creative quality as people no longer have time and funds to pursue projects.
| Modern societies are increasingly dependent on technology. So much so, that many basic services such as hospitals, power grids, airports, rail and road transport systems, and military defenses can now be knocked out by cyber attack or a catastrophic failure. Humans would be almost helpless if the technology was taken away overnight.
| We are increasingly becoming overwhelmed by the information overload that modern technology brings, as we are bombarded by irrelevant emails, sales telephone calls, text messages, internet advertising, etc. Rather than saving us time, new technology means that we are expected to process more and more information and work even more intensively.
| Technology brings with it all sorts of environmental problems. As well as machines and devices often being made from toxic, or non-biodegradable materials, most technologies need a power source, which can often mean an increase in the consumption of electricity and fossil fuels.
| Technology has a general dehumanizing effect. As well as in the workplace, the military is increasingly becoming more technological. An example is pilotless drone aircraft, which can attack and kill people with the controller, any thousands of miles away.
Also Read- Top 5 Future Technology Myths
In this day and age, many people live in the digital world more than the actual world. This often has lead to a myriad of shallow relationships, and a great reduction in intimacy which affects directly the way people operate, the way people think about others, and the values and expectations people have. Technology has shaped the way youth and kids see and interact with others and with the world, which greatly affects their progression.
But technology does have the potential to bridge gaps when used perfectly. It has considerably improved communication worldwide, has increased the coherence of transportation, business tasks, and other personal things, and thus has given people worldwide the opportunity to engage with others in a powerful, albeit, different way.
