Impact of technology in the present-day society
The influence and impact of technology remain key aspects of present-day society. Following the significant changes that have made across the globe in regards to technology, the community has benefited immensely from the advancements in this area of life. It is crucial to consider the influence of technology in society, and in so doing, it becomes apparent that human beings have become reliant on technology. From entertainment, medicine, commerce, and even fashion, technology has become a central conduit that connects the world. The argument of a global village is realized in the appreciation of the role of technology in society. The reliance on technology can be considered in different ways depending on the personal perspective and attitude towards technology.
The impact of technology is an essential aspect of society that requires an in-depth understanding. The common definition of technology considers the centrality of mental and physical effort in the attainment of some form of value (Graham et al. 45). There is also a need to consider the tools and machines that are used in addressing issues in the world (Cortada 80). Therefore, technology already takes center stage in the day to day life of the human being. The issue of reliance is an essential source of discourse, especially in the evaluation of the role that technology plays in our lives.
The discussion of technology and the question of reliance must, therefore, interrogate the role of technology and how it has impacted society. One of the areas where technology has made a significant impact in the field of communication. The advent of technology has majorly enhanced communication in diverse ways (Cortada 87). One of the means through which technology has facilitated communication is the development of smartphones and other communication gadgets. Research indicates that the apparent differences in the different communication tools highlight the importance of technology in enhancing human communication. It is easier and more efficient to communicate at different levels regardless of the distance between the communicating parties (Bhayat 50). Technology has led to the development of powerful machines that facilitate communication even in space (Cortada 84). The development of different communication tools is a crucial contribution that technology has made.
Additionally, technology has also led to the development of communication platforms. The idea of a global village has been necessitated by the development of the internet, which offers a myriad of communication platforms. One of the main aspects of the internet has been the social media which has enhanced communication across the world (Cortada 77). The communication that occurs on social media is useful both for a formal and informal setting. The immediate correspondence that social media provides ensures that individuals can stay in touch at all times. The social media have been essential tools that have facilitated the efficiency and speed of communication across the world (Klososky 60). Thanks to technology, it is faster and more efficient to communicate over the different platforms compared to the tedious era of letters and telegrams. Technology has become a way of life for most members of society.
Technology has also shaped education across the world. In the traditional pre-technology era, education was only accessed in the learning institutions and other physical locations (Bulman et al. 240). The increased spread of the internet has revolutionized the way education is presented across the globe. For instance, online classes have emerged as alternatives for the typical classroom interaction (Bulman et al. 240). Students can access lessons and interact with their lecturers on different online platforms. The idea of remote learning has been facilitated by the growing appreciation of the internet and the immense power that it has had in education. A key element is the amount of information that is also available online. Bulman et al. (249) note that the internet has increased the amount of knowledge that is easily accessible to interested individuals. The downside could be the danger of unverified information. However, there are different strategies for verifying information from the internet, including the reliance on approved sites and sources (Bulman et al. 253). The internet has reinvented the approaches to education across the world.
The health of society has also benefited from the internet. From a personal level to the societal perspective, health has been defined through the development of technology and the internet. A key area has been the diagnosis of disease among the communities. Technology has led to the development of vital machines that facilitate quick and efficient diagnosis of patients using the minimal time (Klososky 70). Some of these machines have also enhanced the level of organ transplants that are possible in the present society. For example, kidneys, hearts, lungs, and intestines are among the organs that have been transplanted successfully (Bulman et al. 250). Access to health information is also a fundamental relevance of the internet as a resource. It is possible to get a lot of relevant health information on the internet using different search engines (Cortada 120). These platforms have been integral in boosting the awareness of the members of the society and also playing a pivotal role in defining social health-seeking behaviors.
The internet has also led to significant inventions that have shaped society in different ways. One of the significant developments has been the electronic money transfer platform.
Different applications have been developed for transferring money from one person to the other. From PayPal to skrill, to Payoneer, these platforms have not only increased the speed of transfer, but also the security of the funds that are being passed between individuals (Lule 56). Access to finances has also been enabled by the internet, where banks have also adopted the different internet-enabled platforms for transferring money from the bank account to the phone (Bhayat 90). It is even possible to make online purchases using mobile money from this platform. In some instances, the money is transferred directly from the bank to the seller (Klososky 101). The importance of the internet in the movement of funds remains a crucial security measure that has assisted and enhanced the safety of money both for the individual and the banking institutions as well.
The internet revolution has led to the existence of cultural globalization that is not only important but also timely. The reliance on the internet eradicates the physical borders that limit human interactions (Lule 71). It is more hectic and expensive to move across different borders. The internet provides the medium through which cultural exchange occurs, and as such, a globalization of all cultures has been established through the internet. Research indicates that different cultures have been integrated courtesy of the internet and even in the entertainment arena where films have adopted different cultures as part of their demonstrations (Bhayat 112). For instance, the movie Black Panther bore significant aspects of various African subcultures in its representation of the diverse communities in the fictional Wakanda kingdom (Coogler). The level of cultural flows across society has been immense, and these developments have been achieved through the internet.
The reliance on the internet has led to the emergence of artificial intelligence as a significant aspect of human life. The concept of artificial intelligence relies on the advancement of technology in the development of machines and robots that ape the human mind and behavior (Graham et al. 151). The robots are considered as faster, cheaper, and more efficient compared to human beings because they are programmable (Klososky 190). The significance is also established in the medical field, where artificial intelligence has facilitated intrusive surgeries and procedures. These are indications of the importance of technology and the internet as a whole.
The idea of reliance on the internet also presents different downsides, which could cast doubts on the independence of the human mind from the internet. A fundamental notion is a time that most people spend on the internet. Research indicates that about 56% of the global population uses the internet daily (Cortada 145). This is an indication of the increased dependence on the internet. It is evident that there is a sense of reliance on the internet, and this highlights the centrality of the internet in human life. While the internet has been an essential addition to human existence, it is also integral to evaluate the downsides to the excessive use and reliance on the internet and technology.
One of the dangers is the quality of human life. While the internet and technology have facilitated the development of vital machines and information on health, the quality of human health has gone down due to the internet (Graham et al. 88). The danger lies in the overuse of the different available technologies. For instance, there are various machines for housework, electric equipment, and other supportive pieces of equipment (Bhayat 94). The reliance on these instruments has led to minimal physical involvement hence the different lifestyle diseases that are rampant in the society. Technology has also led to the creation of various forms of entertainment, such as video games that have replaced actual playtime for children (Lule 128). The increased cases of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases reflect limited physical activity and poor health choices advanced by reliance on technology.
The internet has also limited the space for critical thinking among the members of society. The internet has availed a lot of information that many people rely on in addressing their needs. These have somehow replaced the critical thinking that should influence the choices made in life (Bulman et al. 87). There are fewer original inventions as people rely on the internet to modify available equipment and services. The ability to think critically has been lost as people can find different solutions with a click of a button (Lule 117). The danger of such overreliance is the potential misdirection that one can get through the wrong information.
In retrospect, the internet is a critical element that has defined human life in different ways.
While the idea of overreliance communicates a negative perspective of the internet, it is also essential to explore the underlying cause of this overreliance. Research indicates that a significant number of people rely on the internet and technology, even for their daily upkeep. Having explored the different gains made from technology and the internet, this argument must emphasize the centrality of the internet as a vital tool for human existence. Despite the reliance on the internet, the human being still maintains significant independence. The internet is a tool that human nature uses to achieve given goals, and as such, the human remains in control.