Technological advancements provide substantial life and global changes for humans. With the discovery and invention of various tools, energy sources, communication systems, medical equipment, electronic devices, architectural design techniques, and weaponry, among others, the lives of humans have drastically changed, improved, or worsened. The advancements have paved the way for humans to vary the way they conduct business and develop relationships with others. Innocent lives have been saved as advancements in medical science and technology continually evolve and provide answers to the medical needs of people, while some were also sacrificed with the creation of machines used for attacks and wars. Central to all these technological advancements is the transportation technology, without which, business will be limited to one locality only, maintaining long-distance relationships would be impractical, transporting medical equipment, supplies, and even patients, from one location to another would be impossible. Therefore, transportation technology is one of the best technological advancements ever discovered by man as it influences humans on a personal, social, and economical level.
One of the more popular technologies that man ever discovered is transportation technology, which addresses two needs of humans. One is transport intended for water and air, and the other one is for land (Post). The main purpose of transportation is for accessibility and mobility (Victoria Transport Policy Institute 7-1) of people to move from one place to another in less time and in more convenient ways (VTPI 7-2). The development of transportation technology traces its roots beginning in 3500 BC with the invention of wheeled vehicles such as carts and chariots. About the same time, river boats were also invented as response to people's need to travel by water. Since then, the transportation industry has never been the same as new modes of transport were built one after the other. Humans, with the help of animal power, typically pulled early vehicles. Steam engines provided power to locomotives and ships in the 19th century. When the internal combustion engine was discovered, inventors did not lose time in manufacturing cars and trucks, which were the first "users" of the engine. Thus, from horse-drawn carriages to the wheelbarrow, steam engines to bicycles, powered railroad locomotive to gasoline engine automobiles, cable cars to airplanes (About.com), all these were further improved with the help of other inventions created by man. In addition, who would have thought that man could invent vehicles such as the personal jet pack, the Gossamer Albatross, the Shweeb monorail in New Zealand, and the Shanghai Maglev Train (National Geographic Daily News), among others, when no one thought there would be a need for them? Nevertheless, as the transportation industry continues to make use of other technologies for further improvement, the industry will continue to advance to heights never imagined by man.
However, transportation technology is not only about the invention of vehicles, but is also about planning and building the land, sea, or air infrastructure that these vehicles will use (Post). For instance, people who travel by land must have safe and easy access to roads, railroad tracks, highways, and other similar forms of infrastructure. The same thing goes for people who travel by water. They must have access to canals, rivers, oceans, and wharves as these are their "sea highways" (Post).
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that in the United States alone, more than 6,000 businesses offer access to public transportation allowing Americans to choose their manner of traveling (2). Thus, regardless whether commuters use other forms of transport, including buses, trains, taxis, and ferries, the public benefits the most with the availability of such services.
How then has transportation development benefitted man in general? With the many technological innovations and improvements that transport providers offer, people also see progress on their personal, social, and economic situation.
On a personal level, transportation technology benefits humans so much as people are able to improve relationships through face-to-face interactions. Families who are spread all over the world may visit each other without regard to distance, time, and space. They also have the option to choose how to get to wherever they want to go. In an interview with Mark Lindt, he concedes that transportation technology has helped him bridge the limitations that being away from family and friends brings. Through efficient railway systems and airlines, he says he now gets the chance to see his family often, unlike in the past when writing letters and long-distance phone calls were his only means of communicating with family. During the holiday season, he used to spend days and nights on the road just to celebrate the important occasion with them. Lindt also recognizes that not only old and existing relationships are maintained, but development of new relationships as well because the technology helps in bringing people closer to each other regardless of spatial considerations.
APTA claims that public transportation, an aspect of transportation technology, has accorded thousands of commuters the opportunity to "save money" instead of buying his or her own car, which could be more expensive considering the costs for "buying, maintaining and operating cars" (4). Adding up what one can save from using public transportation can be substantial, aside from saving money and time in traffic congestion costs and rising gas expenses (6), it has also helped consumers conserve energy and reduce oil dependence (5).
As more people opt for public transport, transport services must ensure that they cater to the needs of commuters of all ages. This is imperative for a nation where the aging population is higher than the younger generation. Take, for instance, the use of buses, which requires the elders to plan their trip and understand the bus routes and stops. Having access to public transport information is important for them and although transportation technology has improved over time and uses the internet to inform the public about bus schedules, elders are averse to these modes of information dissemination. Thus, ensuring that flyers and leaflets are available for the older generation is one of the thrusts of modern transportation technology (Broome et al. 44).
Not only are the senior citizens benefitted by these transportation innovations, but also the students of all ages enjoy the safety and "unlimited access transit pass programs at many universities" (APTA 12) across the nation. Through these programs, students, teachers, and other school staff get to save money on transportation expenditures, while ensured that they all reach their destinations safely and on time. As an example, Salt Lake City's University TRAX LRT serves more than 45,000 students and teaching staff, which helps in decongesting campus traffic (APTA 12).
Another benefit that transportation technology brings is mobility, which is a "derived demand" (Lakshmanan 4), meaning, it is a result of people's need for travel whether the reason is purely recreational or not. As a social benefit for humans, transportation technology provides people access to medical facilities, social gatherings, and other similar activities. Depending on how advanced transportation technology is in a particular location, interactions between people may be either limited or boundless. Restrictions in human connections are due to spatial considerations when people who can normally interact with other people are situated in far-away places. This inhibits other people from visiting them or vice-versa. On the other hand, when transportation is available, including well-built infrastructure, then nothing can hold down people from interrelating with one another. These link ups pave the way for socialization among humans, which influences societal makeup (Rodrigue et al., section "What is Transport Geography?"). Overall, an aspect of traveling is not only to reach one's destination, but also to enjoy the sights along the way, including enjoying the positive feelings and experiences that accompany the commute.
Transportation technology has also positively affected a nation's economic growth as it allowed communities to do business with neighboring locations instead of focusing on inward marketing alone (Cagle). With the invention of different modes of transport such as cars, trains, boats, and airplanes, the market further extended outwards by allowing manufacturers to conduct business with other countries as well (Rodrigue et al., section "What is Transport Geography?"). Part of the economic success companies enjoy is because clients and investors are able to meet face to face instead of limiting their interactions through electronic means (Newman 4) only. When business partners come together, the more they are able to spell success. In addition, transportation technology "creates certainty for investment" (Newman 4) or a guarantee that the investors will get back their money at the right time.
Despite the seeming benefits of transportation technology, debates are also growing regarding its harmful effects. For instance, with the development of various transport systems, there are widespread environmental consequences that also affect humans, including air and noise pollution, water quality, and health in general. Gases such as lead, nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene and volatile components, and heavy metals (Rodrigue et al., section "The Environmental Impacts of Transportation") are all pollutants affecting the quality of air inhaled by humans. These could lead to various health issues and diseases such cancer, heart and lung diseases, skin inflammations, eye irritations, and other forms of allergies. These gases also contribute to climate change as they deplete the ozone layer.
Rodrigue (Rodrigue et al., section "The Environmental Impacts of Transportation") further claims that due to frenzied sounds produced by various modes of transportation such as trains, airplanes, and even cars, can lead to hearing loss especially when an individual is constantly exposed to the sound. In terms of the quality of water, chemicals and gases released by water vehicles and other land vehicles may also contaminate marine life and the cleanliness of various bodies of water, which are sources of human food. Moreover, when soil quality suffers, it leads to the "loss of fertile and productive soil" (Rodrigue et al., section "The Environmental Impacts of Transportation") that may come from emissions from railroads and ports, thus, resulting to low-quality agricultural crops. Although most of the effects directly impact the environment, humans are affected as well considering that humans depend on water, land, and air for food and clean air to breathe. In addition, there may also be some threats to public safety when it comes to use of public transportation in the form of robbery or any forms of attack, limited routes and operation hours, malfunctioning equipment, and no provision for persons with disabilities, among others (Petersen).
After weighing the pros and cons that transportation technology offers, the question now is whether transportation technology is worth developing or not. The answer is "yes" because despite its negative effects, the advantages and positive consequences far outweigh the disadvantages. Transportation technology is a vital part of the economy and commerce, which is the reason why various corporations invest in this industry. Through improved transportation technology, humans are able to reach out and learn about other cultures, appreciate landscape, improve and develop relationships, and conduct business to a wider market.
It is important for civic life that is why the transport industry continues to develop infrastructure that would make the public's life easier. It recognizes that traffic in cities has reached unprecedented levels, thus, resulting to higher individual costs when it comes to transportation. Other technological advancements have played important roles in influencing the transportation systems today, which has benefitted humans by shaping the lives of man, the landscape, and civilization in general. As today's world is kept abreast of the innovations that transportation technology offers such as automated highways, self-driving vehicles, and fully computerized vehicles (Post), it is normal that naysayers criticize transportation-related inventions. Nevertheless, what humans must think of is when the first cars and airplanes were invented, nobody thought that it would begin a "transportation revolution" (Post) that would transcend expectations and experience in the transportation industry.
Works Cited
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