There is an aphorism in the world of technology that says that innovation is “the one-tenth inspiration and nine tenth perspiration” (Harrington, 9). Scholars agree that history of technology, although history of invention and tools is indeed the history of humankind. Technological advances have made it possible for people to create new things, and achieve aspirations that were previously impossible. Thanks to technology, humanity can now study the universe in more details, travel to the world faster and make use of the world’s resources efficiently. It is true to say that technological innovations influence human lives affecting society’s cultural traditions. Technological advancement also strengthens some nation states while weakening others.
Perhaps one of the biggest inventions in world’s history is the printing press. Before the printing press, books and all other readings were only for the church and the governments’ use. It was the responsibility of the church and the state to teach people what the books thought. In the Renaissance age, just at the end of the medieval period in Western Europe, the masses begin to question the validity of the church and states’ primary role as the custodian of knowledge. The masses were starving for independent thought. In 1450, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. The printing press enabled people to publish numerously and cultivated independent thought by increasing access to books.
Even though the internet is relatively new, it had precursors that date back to the 19th century. The telegraph system served the role of the internet today by enhancing communication between different countries or continents. The system used an electromagnetic medium in the form of a radio or electrical wire to facilitate communication. While this technology was helpful at the time, it was only limited to communication from one point to another. On the other hand, the internet has instant communication, emails, video calls, and other communication apps that facilitate communication. In addition, the internet serves as a social community, source of information, and library or records among others.
In my view, technology enables humankind to do things fast and efficiently. It is difficult to underscore the helpfulness of human technology. However, the risk is when we get so dependent on technology that we stop to do things ourselves. This occurrence limits human activity, and interaction with the world around us. In essence, technology has made the world smaller.
Work Cited
Harrington, Jan. Technology, and Society. New York: Johns and Battled
Communication, 2009. Print.
