Executive summary
The essay addresses technology and its effects on our lives and the society. The role of technology in our lives has been interpreted with different intensity and varying perspectives by people. Some say without technology human lives would be impossible, a percentage of people assert that technology is a luxury and not a basic need. Other opinions refuse the significance of technology in our lives, while some believe that technology does play a minor role as far as the life of human beings is concerned. What is not clear to many is why technology, the most conspicuous fortune changer and the most sought after stuff in the world receives mixed reactions from the same people who would not go a day without technology? Can this confusion be attributed to human ignorance or deliberate ambiguity? That is what the paper is concentrating on and opens every fact to ascertain whether technology brings us any good or destruction.
Is technology a relief or a disaster? In order to reach a reasonable conclusion, the use of Rogerian argument in trying to establish this query is suitable since it evaluates all the aspects and reaches a reasonable conclusion. The advantage and disadvantages regarding technology will be evaluated and reaching a conclusion that states if indeed technology has been of any relevance to the world. The end result will be established based on the extent at which it has proved to be efficient and advantageous.
According to Rogerian, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages of technology. Despite the advantages and disadvantage of technology, people have become too much reliant on it. This is despite the possibilities that they could at some point be disappointed for being too much reliant of technology. This is evident through the argument that is put across stating that Wal-mart has three days worth of food for its entire staff. This statement clearly shows how reliant people are on technology (Carr 45). It is evident that large amounts of food like that need to be put under refrigeration so that they may not expire. However, there is no consideration of what may happen if there would be a power failure. If there would be no electricity at wal-mart, it is likely that the food would go bad. This clearly indicates how reliant people have become on technology that they fail to evaluate certain possibilities.
Technology has however had a major impact on the business industry. This is through the invention of the computer which has made work more efficient and convenient. This is through the invention of the computers that devices such as tablets and mobile phones have been developed that are used to make communication easier between employees. An increase in business venture has been witnessed following the introduction of these devices (Bowker 173). There has also been an increased productivity and efficiency in work settings following the introduction of technologically advanced devices.
It would be appropriate to state that technology has greatly influenced communication. This is through the convenience that the technology has brought in communication; it is now easy to communicate with people from while anywhere. The invention of teleconferencing through channels like Skype has also improved communication in business settings. This is because business people no longer require traveling long distances in order to have face to face dialogue with their business partners. Scholars have also been enabled to hold online seminars, also known as webinars to conduct educational programs and address issues that may be affecting them (Betz 74). It is through technology that these beneficial activities can take place on the comfort of a seat. There are numerous benefits of using these sites, their efficiency in terms of saving time, reduction on the operational budget, cutting down on the travelling distance and general speeding up of the activities is of great advantage (Kazmeyer).
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There are numerous merits of It in the health care system, this being that the state-of-the-art clinics have contributed to a lot of success in the health care programs. Research on fatal diseases and also treatment on disorders have also been made possible through technological advancements. Mortality rate of expectant mothers and that of the newborn babies have been reduced to manageable levels due to technological advancement. This clearly states that without technological advancement in health care there would be an increase in the number of deaths for vulnerable people. Pregnant women can detect any complication on their unborn babies even before birth through advanced equipment available in health care facilities. Caesarian section has also been made safe through the use of effective and reliable equipment. Medicines are also prepared through technological equipment.
Despite the advantages that technology has had on people, it has also negatively affected numerous individuals around the world. This is due to the dependency that people have acquired where people have become too reliant on technology. Most people are unable to cope without the comfort that has been brought by access to the internet, the use of mobile phones and computers. It is due to this comfort that most people may not be in a position to carry out with their activities comfortably without the use of technological devices. All individuals should be informed of the implications that are associated with overdependence on technology (Inoue 68). It has been established that under the effects of commercial marketing, a growing number of consumers, including juveniles, have become diagnosed as internet addicts. Technology has become a source of mental and physical illness instead of a tool that gives people efficiency.
The technology industry has become massive over a short period of time. It is composed of various industries with the gaming industry being among the most addictive. There has been an increase in gaming companies in recent years; this is due to the influence it has had on the community (Stamatellos 105). The gaming industry has considerably become a gigantic money making industry. This is despite other disadvantages which include games that are violent, abusive and contain drug-related content. Despite this merits, these games have continued to gain easy access to the young consumers.
An article published by Rebecca A. Clay on the website American psychology Association “Video game Design and Development” shows that a great number of physiologists are starting to work in the game industry. Their role is to use their techniques to create towards a goal or virtual currency, as a way of engaging consumers. Through this there is a maximization of the addiction (Rebecca, par.1-6). The same technique is also applied in online social networks where people now talk less to each other in person. With the support of online search engines, people are now hesitant in reading material that requires in-depth reading. With the amusement from the online video sharing platforms, people nowadays refuse to catch up with any news from the newspapers.
It is a fact that people are becoming lazy due to the comfort that technology is providing. This is evident from the article “How stupid is Google making us”, by Nicholas Carr from the Atlantic, he observed that people who are addicted to Google are being referred to as the “Digital Natives”. This means that they are the new type of people who grew up in a full technological covered environment. Such individuals rely their thoughts on short term memories instead of the expected long-term memory. Increased levels of obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes are on the increase due to technology simply because people are less involved in physical exercises (Barron, Ann E, and Ann 92). Despite these negatives effects, young consumers are tolerating these commercial activities to keep on influencing them physically and mentally (Hersh, Marion , and Michael 253). It is easy to notice how technology passively influences people’s daily livelihood and how their brains functions.
The negative impacts of technology are felt in different communities around the world. “In America, about 1 in 3 adults (33.8 percent) are obese, Mexico (30 percent), New Zealand (26.5 percent), Australia (24.6 percent), and Canada (24.4 percent). More than two-thirds of the American population is either overweight or obese, this makes them exposed to risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, arthritis and several types of cancers”. .”(Maggie, par, 13) Reports from “Spending on Technology Equals More Obesity, Study Shows." an article which published on NBS news by Maggie Fox, and her observation also shows that, “For every 10 percent rise in what a country spends on information and communications technology, there’s a 1 percent increase in obesity rates.” (Maggie, par, 2) Before technology became used in people’s daily living, many exercises were unavoidable, yet those days are over, and are replaced by modern comforts. Despite the comfort and efficiency from modern technology, the health status of mankind has been affected that recovery may be impossible. Individuals who suffer from illness because of the addiction of comfort are being killed by technological advances.
As mentioned before, "Call of Duty" is one of the most popular, profitable and violent game on the market, video games like such are seducing hundreds and thousands of player every year. Due to the fast growing of technology, virtual experience only become more realistic than ever. Violent video games and media exposure has now become the biggest issue that society have to deal with, for it effect teenagers mental health, and turn them into potential serial killers.
Besides electronic games, the online social network has become a perfect platform for practicing cyber bullying, racism, and sexual harassment. According to Cyber bullying, Cases: Ryan Halligan (December 18, 1989 – October 7, 2003) Ryan was a fourth grader boy who had speech, language and motor skills development difficulties. His academic and physical struggles caused him to become the regular target of bullying; this was made possible through the platform that social networks had provided for people to interact. After a series of unbearable harassment and insulting, he decided to hang himself in the family bathroom. Tragedies like Ryan’s scenario are just a drop in the ocean; there are piles of similar cases happening within the society that people are living in every day. If the society continues to omit this phenomenon, it would contaminate ethics and morality at the present and transmit the same to the forthcoming generations, which is the last thing people are prepared to do. This clearly highlights the negative effects that technology has had in peoples’ lives.
I believe that very few people would dispute my argument that technology has brought unforgiving problems to man, some of which are left to God to solve. The slogan that “life without technology is useless” does not hold water. Technology has subjected the human race to constant fear; modern warfare, emergence of new diseases like Ebola, traffic-based deaths, terrorism, obesity, and heart attack are just a handful of problems caused by technology (Shelly, Gary , and Misty 84). What are nuclear weapons for, why has terrorism and extremism spread like wildfire in recent years? The negatives of technology overwhelm the positives. Social networks have also had an influence on peoples’ lives, though it has been proved to be also harmful. Thousands of teenagers get recruited into radicalized groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIL on Facebook and Twitter. Nowadays bullying and sexual abuse takes place online, and this is an overwhelming fact.
Cancer for instance, is a disease whose origin is not clear. Modern preservation techniques such as irradiation contain some radioactive substances that when taken into the system of the human body, health complications are inevitable. Chemicals are added in foodstuffs including drinking water, and these preservatives have devastating effects on the human body (Shelly, Gary , and Misty 52). These are also merits that have been associated with technology from the perspective that food additives which may not be healthy are continuously manufactured.
In summary, technology has done people more harm than good, and it is high time people use technology wisely. The merits of technology are on the rise in America, Canada, and Australia and other ‘Westernized countries.” Children do not want to go and play, they simply want to participate in indoors games which have been associated with numerous disadvantages. Having reviewed numerous article that talk about technology and its impacts, it is clear that people have become too reliant the comfort that comes along with technology. This has made people neglect their responsibilities since there is little physical participation in activities that may not require the use of technology. There is sufficient proof in this paper to emphasise on a change of lifestyle which is inevitable to help in reducing the challenges associated with technology.
Works Cited
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PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2004. This articles discusses the advantages of technology
Quillen, Ian, and Katie Ash. "Digital Tools Seen As Good And Bad, Surveys Suggest." Education Week 32.11 (2012): 17. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. Many teachers believe the Internet and digital tools overall have positively affected how students do research, but at the same time have hurt their attention spans, concludes a survey from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project that examined the impact of digital media on students' research habits
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Shelly, Gary B, Misty Vermaat, Jeffrey J. Quasney, Susan L. Sebok, and Steven M. Freund. Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World. Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.
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Were it not for technology, many dreams would have been shuttered.
With regard to the improvement and sustenance of quality health care for people.
