Technology is often times associated with futuristic, or scientific progress, but that is a misnomer. Technology can be new, but effectively, technology is any construct that is used utilized by its creator. The refining process creates more efficient and sophisticated technology, but the unifying theme between the wheel, the sword and the home computer, is that each was created by its user.
Technology does not always make life easier, or better, or simpler. Tools are examples of technology, but not all tools are created. Technology has an impact and influence on its user.
Social change and technology are connected. On occasion, changes in society reflect a societal momentum that drives new technology. More common however, are instances where new technology influence, or change society’s capabilities, ways of life, and direction. Like technology, the changes in society are not always able to be easily qualified as positive, or negative, just simply a consequence.
The home computer has contributed literal and pejoratively great communication capabilities. People can now communicate with the entire world virtually instantly. Also, a person can create and work from, expanding opportunities that were once delegated to a public sphere.
There have been many negative consequences of home computers. Personal and private security has become more tenuous as people have potential access to others’ personal information. Also, there has been a marked decline in the quality and meaningfulness of communication due to the lack of forethought that is now possible.
Cell phones have since become an expectation in the 21st Century. Significantly more than simply a phone, cell phones represent the change in perspective of communication. Now, people have the expectation to be able to reach anyone, at any time, and with the increase in technology that cell phones have demonstrated, the complexity and thoroughness of communication has increased as well. People can now have mobile chronicling of every aspect of life.
Cell phones however, demonstrate a false safety net. Too many interpersonal skills, and survival skills have atrophied as a direct result of the fallacious belief that cell phones are panacea to peril. Instead of being able to identify danger, or cope with emergencies and utilize cell phones as a tool, having a cell phone to call for help is oft times the extent of planning that occurs.
The invention and prevalence of the Internet reveals character. People who live in the Western world and have access to relatively free, and uncensored information, have experienced a tremendous ebb and flow of positivity. Countless people who have experienced the Internet as a tool for betterment have been met by a similar number who see the Internet as a way to create needless mayhem. The ability for both the good and bad of intentions to collude and collaborate has been a challenge for society to cope with (Ortega).
The equilibrium model suggests that to best evaluate the macro-level society, the individual is the best increment (Hechter & Horne). The individual will base his, or her decisions on their personal preferences and belief structure and then society, which is a collection of individuals, will be reactionary to the changes of preferences and beliefs of the individual. For example, social leaders have largely succumb to the expectation of the general public’s use of social media and have begun using similar forums to release statements, foregoing more traditional outlets.
The problem with the equilibrium model is the assumption that the individual makes decisions freely, and that each one has equal access to technology. The presence of technological momentum and advertisement have created and sustained a concerted effort to place the individual’s decision making under duress and coerce decisions that would not normally be made. The result is that the individual is reacting to how another wants society to function (West).
The conflict between those who profit from the micro-level decisions of the individual and those who cannot contribute to the decision-making, is growing in the world. With a distinct profit generated by group X as the result of the habits of group Y, those who suffer from cultural lag in group Z do not have the input or power to have access to meaningful social change (Hechter & Horne). What is happening is that group X has nominal control over the majority through determining how each person can exercise his, or her will (Hechter & Horne).
Healthcare is a direct manifestation of the lack of symbolic interaction and functionalism. Not only are certain groups able to seek healthcare, but the quality varies greatly and the knowledge of healthcare practices is based on a trust to authority which has greatly redacted information to the public. People in group Y operate off of what is told to them from group X, and group Z receives the medical dregs.
The existence and dominance of certain diseases and the effectiveness of treatment and cures is wildly unequal to give the individual credit for an unhurried decision. Obesity and preventable diseases and auto-immune disorders effect groups Y and Z in extraordinary disproportionate numbers than in group X and yet new technology is not being rushed to alleviate the situation (Hechter & Horne). Instead, new technology is being presented by group X that manages poor health and environment without truly solving the problem.
The role of medicine and healthcare amalgamated with economics and technology. Truly new technology would focus on curing disease and preventing others, but economically that is short-sighted. New medical technology is focused on prolonging life, but through the management of disease, thus providing the most profitable economic solution.
21st Century technology have been augmentations to technology of the prior century. There has been refinement to cell phones, communication and transportation, but the prevalence and speed of new technology has not met the speed of the 20th Century. New creations are significantly more expensive to create and the smaller inventors do not have the capital to spread new ideas as quickly (Hechter & Horne).
Once consequence of technological momentum is a reluctance to develop truly new technology. The idea that technology is intended to perpetually create greater efficiency, or ease, is a romantic concept. The truth is that technologies are connected and often times dependent on one another. Transportation for example, cannot be altered independently. If personal automobiles change too significantly, fuels, repairs, manufacturing, workforce are all altered in addition (West).
All technology presents a Faustian dilemma to both the individual and society; great things can be gained, and great risk and failure can be manifest at the same time (Ortega). Mindless and reactionary faith in new technology is unwise without evaluation of what is gained and lost. More often than not, the changes in perspective and expectations that technology creates cannot be undone and leave unwanted residue that was not predicted.
Work Cited
Hechter, Michael. Theories of Social Order: A Reader. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford Social Sciences, 2003. Print.
Ortega, Manuel. Computers and Education in the 21st Century. New York: Kluwer Academic, 2002. Print.
West, Cornel. Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight against Imperialism. New York: Penguin, 2004. Print.
