OP-ED: TECHNOLOGY

In this ever-advancing technology-centered world, it can be hard to distinguish the fine line between using technology as a tool to help us or abusing technology to the point that it will pose a threat to society. How does one find that point and how do we ensure that we won’t cross it? A lot of good has come out of technology. Communicating and sharing knowledge has never been easier, and as a result of this, lives have been saved, cures have been found, and new inventions have been created. That being said, technology is a lot more powerful than one might think and has also caused a lot of problems in the world. It has been used to lie, steal, and destroy lives, economies, and even nations. As exciting as it is to see new technologies be unveiled and released into the world, it is important to stay in touch with reality and not become fully dependent on these new exciting tools.

Without a doubt, technology is an extremely useful tool in a variety of fields. Technology helps with time efficiency and assists in things like cooking, cleaning, communicating, working, and traveling. Technology has advanced the world in so many ways and it is nearly impossible to imagine life without it. The world is changing with quickly evolving technology changing our lives positively and negatively. While this can be a scary concept to grasp, it is important to think about the ways technology is striving to change the world for the better.

Technology has given humans the power to complete tasks that once took hours or even days to complete in a matter of seconds with just the touch of a button. Computers surround humans in their daily lives and many wouldn’t know how to live life without them. Phones, cars, refrigerators, washers, and dryers are just a few examples of machines that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the gift of technology. Contacting a person on the other side of the world can be easily accomplished in minutes or even seconds. The way we learn, communicate, and entertain is now almost entirely reliant on technology. An article from the Medium, previous studies have shown that there are just over 17 billion internet-connected devices in the world, roughly two devices for every person on Earth, Medium, April 2020.

The future of healthcare is currently being built with various digital healthcare technologies. These include artificial intelligence, VR/AR, 3D printing, and nanotechnology. An article from The Medical Futurist explains how digital technology for healthcare can transform unsustainable healthcare systems into sustainable ones. These budding advancements can equalize the relationship between medical professionals and patients, provide cheaper and more effective treatments for disease, and could even help win the battle against cancer.

It should come as no surprise that technology has found various ways to make itself present in the fashion industry, both on the runway and behind the scenes. In 2018, French luxury designer, Maison Margiela, put on a fashion show that had an interesting twist. Many of the models were wearing VR headsets while walking down the runway, as well as wearing

smartphone holsters on their wrists and ankles. One last technological touch added to the show was one model wearing a TV down the runway, which was streaming a show as she walked. These unique touches to the Margiela fashion show are perhaps indicators of what the future of the world will look like: fully and completely centered around technology.

It is hard to escape from technology and screens, especially since they are so prevalent in daily life. Technology is everywhere, and it is here to stay. The overuse of technology has negative effects on mental and physical health and well-being. Social comparison and cyberbullying all stem from what we see online. While the long-term effects of screen time are still being studied, it has been concluded that excessive internet use is linked to anxiety and depression. Excessive screen time can even disrupt sleep, especially if that screen time is right before bed.

Technology does a lot for society, but does it do too much? Slowly but surely, technology is evolving in ways that decrease the job market. Many companies prefer to use machines over hiring humans because the machines are able to do the same jobs more easily and efficiently, therefore eliminating many traditional entry-level positions.

Cashiers have been replaced by self-check-outs and factory workers have been replaced by machines, just to name a few ways machines have taken the place of human workers. The number of manufacturing jobs in the United States has dropped by almost 30% in the past twenty years and only continues to decline, according to a Berkley Economic Review.

Technology can easily turn into a very terrifyingly harmful tool for hackers, predators, and anyone using it with ill intent. Being as powerful as it is, it is difficult to regulate who uses technology and what they use it for. Many traffickers take advantage of digital platforms to target their victims. Every one in three victims of trafficking detected globally is a child, according to Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficing in Persons (ICAT) statement, showing that children in particular, can be vulnerable to online exploitation. Traffickers are able to use anonymous online services to commit crimes in secrecy and are able to operate across borders and in multiple locations at once.

Regardless of the good, the bad, and everything in between, it is an undeniable fact that technology is only going to get more abundant and powerful by the day. The perfect balance in technology use may never be found and there may never be a definite way to control and put a stop to technology abuse in this lifetime.

Technology is not all good, but it is certainly not all bad. Moving forward into the unknown, it is crucial to keep focused on all the ways technology improves and saves lives daily.