Technology and Its Impact on Society Essay Example

affects various aspects such as governance, entertainment, human relationships, and even our perspectives on morality, the mind, matter, and humanity itself. Technology development has guided human history. Examples of progress include mobile communications systems and semiconductor devices that have reduced the size of vacuum tubes and allowed gigabytes of data to fit into a pocket. Furthermore, supercomputers have become faster and more intelligent.

The progress is accompanied by a decrease in time, effort, and cost for producing various items such as microchips, advanced automobiles, sophisticated devices, and mega structures along with simplified design and development. Moreover, these advancements stimulate economic growth as the efficient application of technology decreases production costs and overhead expenses, resulting in savings for the economy and contributing to national development. Technology is indeed a peculiar phenomenon.

C. P. Snow once said that technology brings both great gifts and betrayal. As technology advances, it repeatedly changes the nature of every situation. The age of automation is now transforming into an era where individuals are responsible for accomplishing tasks themselves. Without the necessary technology, many individuals would face difficulties in managing their health. Furthermore, technology plays a crucial role in saving countless innocent lives. Additionally, advanced technology enhances industries by increasing efficiency and, most importantly, ensuring safety for the environment. Consequently, the speed of progress in technology is immense and unpredictable.

Advancement in Technology: A Darker Side
Problems and potentials often go hand in hand; problems can be turned into opportunities. Every element of the universe exhibits two faces - one is constructive and the other is destructive. Technological advancements have shown substantial growth in various fields, such as communication systems, astronomy, semiconductor devices,

automobiles, and electronic devices of daily life. Society has become increasingly reliant on technology, with advancements in bio-electronic devices, building systems, and overall safety.

Technology has had a profound impact on our lives, prioritizing convenience over thoughtful decision-making. Our reliance on instant gratification has made us intolerant of even the slightest delay in webpage loading time, while expecting immediate responses to emails and assuming constant accessibility via cell phones. The pervasiveness of technology has led us to prefer online messaging and chat, even when physically close in the same city. However, it is crucial to recognize that face-to-face interactions hold an irreplaceable value that cannot be substituted by online communication.

According to businessman Fuller, humanity is acquiring technology for inappropriate reasons even though they already have the necessary tools. The society we live in is clearly experiencing significant stress as reported by approximately one-third of individuals worldwide who experienced stress almost every day in 1986. During this period, 60% of people claimed to feel "great stress" weekly, and these numbers have been consistently rising over time. By 1994, around 20% of individuals globally stated that they lived with daily "great stress." It is essential to acknowledge two undeniable truths: humans are inherently social beings who depend on communication for exchanging information and nurturing emotional and mental well-being.

Weapon engineering has both positive and negative effects. It promotes progress and innovation, leading to competition among countries in developing new warfare techniques and equipment. However, this emphasis on military development detracts resources from addressing social disparities such as dire conditions and famine. This raises the question of whether modern technology should prioritize tackling these issues rather than

investing in weaponry.

By 2030, approximately 24% of the global population is projected to be aged 65 years or older. In some countries, this proportion could reach as high as 30%. However, in nations like Germany and Canada, the ratio may be as low as 5:1 or even 1. Just like the well-known saying in political circles that "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," a similar notion can be applied to the influence derived from science and technology. The idea of "powerful humanity" has frequently witnessed deliberate misuse of scientific and technological advancements.

Although there are inherent side-effects to these gifts, their intentional misuse and abuse outweigh the negative effects, which could have been reduced or minimized. The misuse of science and technology is primarily caused by human greed, selfishness, lack of planning, and narrow-mindedness. While Sydney J. Harris emphasizes the dangers of Artificial Intelligence imitating human thinking, others argue that science has the potential to annihilate humanity.

Robots are being developed with the ability to imitate humans and potentially dominate the world. The initial batch of these robots will possess a genetically replicated human brain, which enables them to feel emotions like humans do and even reproduce robotic offspring. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that these advancements are solely attributed to technology. Society's increasing reliance on technology has led to a decline in physical activity as people now favor the convenience of cars over bicycles, buses, or other modes of public transportation.

The environment is being neglected and the harmful effects of smoking on the atmosphere, like Ozone depletion and global warming, are not being considered. Moreover, there is an increasing reliance

on calculators even for basic calculations that could be done manually. Furthermore, technology has become a source of pride and symbolizes status due to greed. Among all these advancements, the Internet stands out as a significant technological accomplishment that mirrors our present human condition.

The Internet is a globally accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data between them. It allows us to reduce the world in certain aspects. One machine can do the work of fifty regular individuals, but no machine can replace the exceptional abilities of an individual like Albert Hubbard. This raises the question: do machines replace people in the workplace? Machines do not create jobs; instead, they eliminate the need for human labor. Unlike humans, machines are free from making mistakes, getting tired or becoming irritable. People can be inconsistent and unreliable whereas machines are not.

Machines have superior thinking and acting abilities in comparison to humans. Nevertheless, humans have limitations in terms of endurance and concentration. However, this does not mean that mechanized systems will always depend on human assistance. The advancements in artificial intelligence and mechanical miniaturization have overcome these limitations. In the present world, where there are stock markets, financial infrastructure, global news organizations, powerful militaries, strong governments, and big corporations; maintaining instant communication is indispensable.

The Internet enables the interconnection and globalization of humanity in the modern era, facilitating the sharing of information. In the field of human medicine and health sciences, technological advancements have been vital. This field focuses on maintaining, studying, diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and injury to promote human health. Presently, modern medicine operates within a well-established healthcare infrastructure.

The medical field

has made significant advancements, leading to the creation of various treatments, drugs, medicines, and solutions that have greatly extended human life. The average lifespan continues to increase due to the impact of medicine. It is evident that our technology has surpassed our capacity as humans, even in areas like the peaceful use of nuclear energy where concerns regarding accidents, nuclear radiation damage, and safe disposal of radioactive wastes arise.

Albert Einstein Nuclear Technology plays a crucial role in modern society, with significant applications in nuclear weapons, nuclear medicine, and nuclear power. Among these, nuclear weapons are undoubtedly the most controversial. In agriculture, advancements have been gradually made in fields like animal husbandry, where techniques have shifted from selection and crossing to artificial insemination and embryo transplant technologies. While these advancements have not raised concerns, genetic engineering poses risks as it involves crossing species boundaries. Biological systems can rapidly develop and progress through multiplications and mutations, making risk assessment more difficult compared to physical engineering systems. Biology also involves complex system interactions such as ecology, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring using powerful biotechnology techniques.

According to Stephen Hawking, as advanced monkeys on a small planet orbiting an average star, we possess the special capacity to grasp the immense expanse of the Universe. In essence, it is essential to acknowledge that technological progress, similar to any other type of advancement, yields both advantageous and disadvantageous consequences. It has the potential for both malicious purposes and self-defense. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to determine how technology should be used responsibly.

When utilized wisely, technological advancements can propel progress in different fields. Nonetheless, they also possess

the capability to inflict harm. Technology holds the ability to reshape humanity's ethical values, and it is incumbent upon the present generation to exercise vigilance and avoid repeated catastrophic incidents. As we near the next millennium, the rate of technological advancements will persistently hasten.