One of the nowadays controversies is technology advances. We can’t imagine our lives without a mobile phone or a washing machine. However, what about the pace of technology development, isn’t is scary? If we consider how much time it was required to create the first computer, we’ll understand that today scientists don’t need to spend years to achieve tremendous success. Over the last two decades, we have been witnessing the creation of remote-controlled contraceptive chips, GPS-enabled devices, fuel-efficient hybrid cars – technology indeed has developed at a rate faster than ever.
Innovations are a huge advantage for humanity, but on the other hand, it can pose a threat to its consumers. Let’s analyze two sides of the same coin.
To start with, humans can benefit from technology in all spheres of their lives. Education, for instance. Schools are using computers to access information easily which gives students an opportunity to learn about global issues and think about possible solutions.
If studying becomes boring, computers can make students alive and what is more, make them curious about classes. Computers are used everywhere, therefore in order to get a job students must have required computer skills and know how to operate the PC. Plus, internet opened the door to online education. Students can apply and study in any university that has an online program being thousands of miles away from campus in a condition they have an internet connection. Let’s take a look at health industry. Thanks to advances in technology research process have become easier and are for the most part more efficient than previously. Modern equipment in hospitals helps doctors to cure diseases that seemed to be untreatable before. Cognitive analytics and computing lead to more accurate and faster data transfers, which means improved patient care. Nuclear medicine allows doctors to make an accurate diagnosis with the help of diagnostics. The improvement of instruments and more advanced technology have allowed surgeons to perform procedures in minimally invasive ways that just wasn’t possible a few years ago. Mobile apps in healthcare look like pretty simple innovation. However, everyone who whats to be healthy and keep fit can basically download a mobile application and monitor their health and weight. One more advantage is better communication. Smartphones and social networking give a possibility to people to keep in touch with their family and friends no matter where they are by having a video call or short chat. Convenient housing and favorable lifestyle is also a merit of scientific know-how. Vacuum cleaners, washing machines, TV’s – most of the equipment that we have in our houses today are automated. The brand new challenge for scientists is the creation of artificial intelligence and smart home devices. People can buy robots to clean the house or to make their lives easier by having hands-free speaker Amazon Echo or Siri App. Hands-free speakers can play music, make calls, send and receive messages, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, and more. They are controlled by the human voice.
Altogether, scientist implemented almost all of the dreams of humanity in terms of convenience.
Now, let’s have a look at the drawbacks of such an immense leap of scientific development. People can say a massive thank you to the technologies they have in schools and universities, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, along with its benefits, they encounter some shortcomings. While having access to information, students can cheat on exams and be easily distracted in the classroom by playing games, browsing social networks and doing whatever is possible. One of the biggest concerns about using smartphones, tablets or computers at school is access to the different kinds of forbidden content. Additionally, students are stuck to the screens. They literally spend almost the whole life in the front of their gadgets. It is not only damaging their health it also brings social anxieties when it comes to person to person interaction. Another issue is cyber bullying. When children or students have a possibility to contact with anonymous accounts, it can lead to cyber bullying which has bad consequences. Students can also start suffering from loneliness by isolating themselves in their virtual worlds. One more disadvantage is a dependency. People get addicted to each piece of technology they have and feel helpless if the computer or any other device breaks. Indeed, technological progress helped business owners to reduce their expenditures on a workforce. Here, the bad side is job losses. There is less value in human workers, as machines can do the work faster and more efficient. According to scientific research, such jobs as agricultural workers, mail carriers, flight attendants, fast-food cooks, tax examiners and reporters can disappear in the next 25 years. And what about powerful weapons created by scientists? People can’t even imagine how many populations died in the last 70 years because of endless wars. Taking into consideration all of the disadvantages mentioned, it is obvious that almost behind each plus, a huge minus is hidden.
All things considered, we live in a world of great progress. Furthermore, we enjoy the advantages and comfort innovations bring. However, the question is, whether people are ready to sacrifice their kid’s security in schools, free job vacancies for unemployed that have left or the lives of those who suffer due to the war. As for me, scientists have to pay more attention on how to reduce the damage technology already left and then strive to develop new technology.
References:
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology –
- Top 20 disappearing Jobs –
- The Impact of Technology on Healthcare –