It has widely been argued that the world is transforming to the better. Technological innovations have been the common citations to these. The evolving world has been accompanied by a lot of transformations. People have preoccupied themselves in technologies that they cannot handle simple tasks. Technology has enabled the world to make significant steps in the development. However, technology has led to harm to some parts of the society; as a result, there is the great need to evaluate if people have over relied to the technology. This paper discusses whether over relying on the technology is a positive development in the world.
Humans cannot do without indispensable technology. For instance, society can feel the use of computers in every sector (Berkley, 1990). For example, it is now agreeable everywhere in the world that education is as important as any basic need. Computers are applied in the storage and organization of information. In the business realm; computers have presented new opportunities by facilitating communication and online transactions (Stokes, 2007). Furthermore, vital services are now automated, requiring computer knowledge. Nevertheless, computer technology has some disadvantages: in ancient the society relied on the files but with computers the people are lazy to keep information ; thus in case of the failure of the system organizations end up either losing or taking a long time to retrieve the information.
It is crucial and worth noting that the use of the internet has reduced the entire world to a global village (Carr, 2010). In reporting over the internet, distances do not matter anymore. The Internet has phased out the need for transport in reporting. This way, the use of the internet has phased out costs associated with reporting over the large distance. Moreover, the use of internet in reporting has overcome border barriers. It is now impossible for a country to limit its citizens in accessing certain information. This implies that an online report would be accessed by anyone with the capability of using the internet. In particular, reporting over the internet could play a crucial role in political revolutions. Whereas nations have the capability of controlling and restricting local media from passing across certain reports, this is not possible for internet reports. Arguably, internet media reports played a crucial role in sensitizing, mobilizing and organizing the Egyptian political revolutions. Social media websites enabled protesters to organize protests, disseminate information and communicate their grievances.
However, in disseminating information, coverage becomes a key aspect to consider when analyzing the effectiveness of internet reporting. Thus, the crucial question would be: Do internet reports reach all the populations? Arguably, the use of internet in reporting is currently only suitable for developed countries; and not for developing countries (Rehmeyer, 2007). This is because developing countries lag behind in the development of internet infrastructure. Needless to state, the popularity of internet uses is limited, especially in the ageing population. Moreover, illiteracy is still existent in some developing societies. Reporting through the internet would be a means marginalizing the illiterate and the ageing. In this regard, the use of internet for reporting purposes may not be a positive development, at least, not for now. Even so, relieving is the fact that the use of the internet is continuously gaining popularity. It is also arguable that internet access is subject to restrictions. There are countries that limit their citizens from accessing the internet. This follows fears that the internet could be an avenue for other parts of the world to pass negative influence to the society. This is evident in some Middle East nations such as Iran as in areas that insurgency groups dominate (Segal, 1995). Crown it all, there have been no agreeable, standard procedures for regulation of internet reports.
Additionally, over-reliance on the technology has been orchestrated by automation of services, whose consequences on physical fitness are undesirable (Carr, 2010). Indeed, this is indisputable because automated services have reaped off people the physical exercise duties, making them vulnerable to health complications. For example, in the past, people would use staircases to reach top of buildings. However, computer automation has seen people prefer to use escalators, which they only need to press buttons. In the past, people would stand, walk and tune television channels. However, with remote control, this can be done without any movement. In the past, people would look for what they needed physically. However, with the evolution of various technologies such as phones, people make orders and communicate even when at their homes. Even in driving, where one would apply some muscles in engaging the gears, computers have taken over and limit drivers to the steering and braking. The consequences of these are as dire as early onset of aging conditions and obesity, among other health complications.
Over reliance on technology has worked against the intended benefits. There are various examples of how over-reliance is happening and disadvantaging the society. First, as far as academics are concerned, the impact of reliance on computer technologies would never have been anticipated. When people concentrate on taking in information from digital devices, they do it at the expense of effective learning that could promote creativity and innovativeness. Learners may face challenges whilst learning and recalling newly-acquired knowledge, and gaining new ways of thinking. This affects their studies negatively.
Arguably, researcher’s ability to carry out research is demeaned by over reliance on digital information. This is what has led to the human brain being clogged with information without involvement of any deep research. Slowly by slowly, human are losing their sense of creativity since information is available just on a single computer button click. In the endeavor to combat the impact of digital info overload, people can shut their computer in a WAN network and restore the site next time they are surfing the internet. Various researches have revealed that students who learn from online resource score poorly as compared to those who undergo the traditional form of education (Carr, 2010). The information stored in the internet is capable of transforming the reading and thinking culture of human kind. I side with this view and that it is what has led to lack of deep thinking as research has been made easy. Individuals have, therefore, lost concentration in reading and cannot afford a few minutes to read articles to reconstruct new information. People are always going for already synthesized information that is readily available.
In conclusion, we should appreciate technology, but should not allow the same technology to outdo natural knowledge. Over relying on the technology corrupts our morals, affects our health, as we do not find it necessary to exercise our bodies.
References
Berkely, E. (1990). Giant Brains or Machines that think. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Carr, N.( 2010). Is Google Making Us Stupid? Fields of Reading, Motives for Writing. 9th Eds. Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2010. P533-P541.Print
Rehmeyer. J. (2007). Mapping a medusa: The Internet spreads its tentacles, Science News, Vol. 171(25):387–388.
Segal, B. (1995). A Short History of Internet Protocols at CERN. Retrieved on 21st January, 2012 from http://www.cern.ch/ben/TCPHIST.html.
Stokes, J. (2007). Inside The Machine: Introduction to Computer. San Francisco: No Starch press. ISBN:9781593271046
