Technology
has grown and changed so rapidly in the last century. From the birth of air travel
to the evolution of the cell phone, technological advancement affects everyone
in different degrees. Some people accept new technology, while some find it to
be unnecessary and frightening. The way that people react to this can be looked
at from a generational perspective, as well as individually. To some, technology
is involved in everything they do. In the modern workplace, most things are
done electronically. Business meetings have been replaced with video chats and
emails, presentations are given using Powerpoint slide shows, and mostly all financial
transactions are made electronically. We are able to learn more than we ever could
have before, at a much easier and faster rate. As time goes on, technology will
change, and so will the opinions surrounding it.
New
discoveries are made every day, and some are more significant than others. In
recent years, the cell phone has been upgraded, changed and modernized in
amazing ways. The cell phone is the most prominent invention of the past twenty
years. The twentieth century brought a multitude of technological advancements,
a lot of which are still used today. Upon asking my mother what the most notable
invention of her time was, I was told it was the advancement of the personal
computer. She described the amazement she experienced when they were first
introduced to her. This notable invention was one that she welcomed; it gave a
new level of ease to doing research, and a less stressful experience in word
processing that a typewriter could not give. The same feeling of amazement was shared
by my grandmother and my neighbor, who both gave the same answer of the
television. Like the personal computer and the cell phone, the modern television
has gone through a lot of changes. My grandmother felt as though the invention
of the TV is one of the most brilliant developments the world has ever seen.
The standard for notable advancements shifts between generations, and something
that is significant to someone older may not faze someone of a younger generation.
Every
year, Apple holds a conference in California to explain and reveal their latest
developments in PC and mobile technology. This event is witnessed by many, and acknowledged
by all. People will set up camp outside of a store, sleep there overnight and
wait endlessly for the store to open if it means that they are the first in line
to get the shiniest new model of a cell phone they already own. In a world
where everything is fast-paced, it can be easy to get caught up in technology
and shut out everything else. Could this be dangerous? Are we as a society
becoming too negatively dependent on our own technology? Some, like my mother
and grandmother, don’t think so. However, there are those who think that we need
to be more cautious with the use of our personal technology. When inquired
about the negative impact that technology might have, my neighbor shared his
opinion.
“It isn’t the electronics that are
bad, I think it just depends on how you use it. Computers are really useful and
great, and you can find literally anything you want on the internet. Technology
in schools and places of work is a fine thing. Using it to learn new things, talk
with people that are far away, find information and even playing some video
games is all positive. But once you start to depend on it as a main source of
your life, then it turns negative. When you put your entire life on your
iPhone, you’re in trouble, because when you’re looking down at your phone all
the time, you’re missing out on everything that your little piece of plastic
can’t give you. Technology is wonderful and is definitely something that should
be utilized, and any potential negative impact will only come from personal
overuse, not the devices themselves.”
Use
of electronic devices and technologies varies from person to person. Older
generations are significantly less involved with progressing technologies than
younger ones. Young people tend to be more open to try new things, and have the
ability to adapt to different situations with ease. Generally, using technology
of any kind requires some skill and background knowledge. When someone has been
around and used technology for a substantial amount of time, it becomes easier
for them to learn about new advancements and can adapt to any differences at a
quicker rate than someone who has not. When
asked about the frequency of her technology usage, my grandmother expressed the
amount of difficulty she encounters when attempting to use a laptop or cell
phone. “When I was growing up, I would have never even dreamed about having any
of the electronic stuff that everyone has now. I only use the laptop when I need
to email a friend, or look at international news. I have a flip phone for
calling people. I only have one or two friends that are familiar with
everything. People that are older like me don’t bother with new electronics. It
is all far too complicated and hard to learn for me. New technology doesn’t
play a big part in my life, but I would use it if I knew how it all worked.”
Similarly, my slightly younger neighbor
said that he only uses his computer for work related tasks, and while he makes
calls on his cell and has the ability to use text messaging, he doesn’t care
for the other features. On the other side of things, my tech-savvy mother
reported that she uses her Macbook, iPhone, and iPad as frequently as any
teenager would. Involved in social networking and managing a business online,
she developed skills necessary to understanding and working with advanced
technology. This shows that people of any age can learn how to utilize all available
resources connected to computers and other machines.
Technology
is constantly changing, and we are uncovering new information at a rate we once
would’ve never thought possible. An extensive amount of our daily activities
are connected with or powered by technologies old and new. While some are more
accepting of it than others, we are all affected by it in some way. Commonly
used modern devices like cell phones would’ve seemed strange and scarcely seen
in times as recent as 25 years ago. With advancements being made every day, we are
seeing a steady shift of technology and human life becoming synonymous. The
future of technology is in our hands, and through science, the possibilities
are endless.
