In the 21st century, technological innovation and inventions have ventured into different fields in society. In fact, every aspect of life has a relationship with technology. Humanities too are not an exception. Despite the critics that exist on the relationship between humanities and technology, technology is still a valuable asset. Technology is an asset to humanities either directly or indirectly. In some situations, technology and humanities co-exist. Additionally, technology has not worked to the detriment of artistic expression. However, in some cases the correlation between technology and artistic expressions are negative. Generally, technology is valuable in the humanities in various ways.
/>
Humanities cover a wide range of disciplines, which include art, music, theology, history, literature and other disciplines in social science. Therefore, technology is valuable in these disciplines, especially in carrying out research. Technology is valuable in the collection of data in the field. Humanities in most cases deal with proving the existence of human activities in the ancient time. For example, history uses technology in detecting the presence of fossils. In the past, the entire process was carried out manually (Arroyo, 2002).
Technology has transformed the music industry; its importance is seen through the recording of various sounds. Sounds and music from different cultures are recorded using technologically advanced sound recorders and video cameras (Soumyen, 2010). Technology is valuable, because the information recorded can be used for reference purpose in the future. Humanities has therefore, benefited from the inventions and innovations taking place in the technological arena.
Perhaps, the current use of digital technology has influenced humanities. The education systems related to humanities appreciate the imaginative and ideological complexities that have been made possible by technology. Some imaginative and ideological concepts in humanities could not have any meaning, if it were not for technology (Arroyo, 2002). Furthermore, technology has helped in electronically integrating discrete information on humanities. Hence, scholars in the humanities disciplines can address efficiently, and effectively many unanswered on organizations and cultural change. In this case, the broad study of human nature can be comprehended.
In educations, humanities as also enjoyed a great boost from technology, especially in terms of research. In institutions offering humanities disciplines, technology has become part of the study. Students, taking humanities course, use the internet to research information regarding their studies (Soumyen, 2010). The introduction of digital humanities in the world is an indication of how technology is valuable. Digital humanities, refer to an area of teaching, creation, and research concerned with the connection of disciplines in the humanities and technological computing. In this case, contents related to ancient disciplines of humanities, are analyzed and digitized. The technological tools used in this field include digital publishing, information retrieval, data visualization, as well as data mining analysis and computation.
Technology has tremendously helped in disciples of humanities in justify and testing theories. The artifacts, collected and used in disciplines related to humanities have been dated, through the use of technology. In the past, dating human activities was so difficult, but with the coming of technology, its complexities have been reduced (Soumyen, 2010). As far as storage of information, ancient methods in humanities have proved to be a success. Humanities scholars go for original documentation of facts. Technology is not held at high esteem. The only support they receive from technology, is using digital libraries, and digitalizing artifacts that are far (Arroyo, 2002).
Technology hindered artistic expressions; this is because it has taken away the of people to express themselves artistically. Most of the artistic expressions have been technologist. Hence, the world we live is not presented in its natural form. In the past, the art was used to express beliefs and values in society, but with the coming of technology, artistic expression has been modernized (Soumyen, 2010).
In fact, technology has provided a network in which ideas and concepts on humanities can be shared. Apart from the importance of technology in the humanities, it has also caused more harm. Technology has changed the nature in which disciplines in the humanities collect information and facts. Despite the introduction of technology, individual imaginations and creativity has remained constant. Humanities and technology correlate, hence the two should work together.
References
Arroyo, M. (2002). The Humanities in the Age of Technology. London: Wiley.
Soumyen, B. (2010). The Humanities in Architectural Design: A Contemporary and Historical.
New York: Routledge.
