3 minute read
Helga Raesfeldt-Mings Technology: Positive or Negative?
Has Technology made a Positive or Negative Difference to our Lives?
The development of Science and Technology makes our life more comfortable and convenient, even exciting, or does it? From personalized computers in our pockets to self-driving cars, the world is at our fingertips today thanks to technology. Technology has advanced into many areas of our lives, making information more accessible, improving communication; changing transportation, and the list goes on. While it is easy to sit back and benefit from a plethora of technological advancements, it is crucial we do not become blind to its effects on society. Today, society is hugely reliant on technology and showing no signs of curtailing its dependence. When thinking about technology impacting our lives, what comes to mind may be more extreme than what is currently impacting us.
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Small aspects of everyday life in society are changing, or have already changed so drastically that it is merely just a societal norm. We may not have flying cars yet, and artificial intelligence has not taken over the world, but technology is still influencing society. Something simple to notice on the surface of technologies is that people no longer memorize phone numbers. Smartphones and most phones today, in general, can carry hundreds of phone numbers that are all a click away. If you lost your mobile phone, and all its contacts, you'd have no idea how to get in touch with anyone. Technology, in the main, makes our life more comfortable and convenient and offers older people new insights, more choices to live a happier and fulfilled life.
There is a new vocabulary: High speed Broadband can now be brought to every home and business, or soon will be...through new broadband infrastructure and fibre optics. This will in turn give us opportunities to entertain ourselves through computers, electronic gadgets and games, and instant communication through mobile phones. Information technology has advanced and is readily available at the tap of a key. I can play a game of chess or create a biography. It is now blog-ographics rather than biographies. Life is changing rapidly and S & T has come a long way since the millennium. These effects make our life trouble free and it is all due to the wonder of science New Technology has brought wonderful advances in medicine, a particular tiny miracle I have personally come across is some cancers are cured through nuclear medicine with radioactive pellets injected straight to the source.
However, scientists have created many problems which are not easy to be resolved, such as air pollution, deterioration of the environment with creation of new diseases and viruses; and the scarcity of natural resources, to which we must find solutions.
The disadvantages are there too. Men and women have misused technology and terrorists are using modern technology for destructive purposes. Due to the development of nuclear energy, horrific accidents have occurred causing death and harmful diseases. New Technology such as mobiles and high speed 'smart phones' can have ill effects on children, and the fashion of texting and use of calculators can cause lazy brain syndrome.
We must not forget that in the midst of all this powerful symbiosis of art, architecture and engineering, we are still confronted by drugs, crime, unemployment and poverty. Confronted by these new problems can scientists find prompt and feasible solutions. Would we go back to the 'old days' pre millennium - a quieter era, a world not dominated by devices and gadgets; without disturbing piped music at every outlet and venue. There was less stress in life, less pressure to achieve, though we will remember there still existed unemployment, poverty and uncertainty, and less over-crowding, with no forced immigration of non-nationals. The question is, have the advantages outweighed the disadvantages of modern technology?
The advancement of Science and Technology has brought about both positive and negative effects on us. Let us hope new developments utilise technology in the service of humanity and improvements in the quality of life.
