Is technology good for our lives?
The use of technology in the last fifty years has caused the world as a whole to undergo a dramatic change in terms of the impact it has had on people, businesses and societies. Technology and human life cannot be separated; our society has a cyclical codependence on technology. We use technology, depend on technology and our needs and demands for its innovation continue rising each day.
Without a doubt, technology has improved the world’s ease of life. From being able to access massive amounts of information from a web browser to simply experiencing an enriched personal lifestyle, technology continues to benefit us, day in and day out. The use of computers, laptops, and smartphones has made the kind of communication possible that had been considered impossible in the last century. People are now able to actually share their experiences with their friends and relatives across the world in a matter of seconds which is a lot more convenient than writing a letter and waiting several days for a reply.
Technology has been revolutionary for healthcare; many people alive today would not be, were it not for technology. It has been significantly useful in the advanced study of medicine, diagnosis and treatments. Day to day life of people with a physical disability or a chronic health issue has been made much more satisfying and fulfilling. And the future potential is vast. Digital devices allow health centers to provide better services while wearable health devices that closely monitor a patient could help diagnose faster and allow those with fatal illnesses to live well for longer.
However, technology is a double edged sword. While it has made our daily life much more convenient, it has also made it stressful, isolated and expensive. The downside to human dependence on modern technology is an introduction of new issues by reducing face to face social interaction and damaging communities. Technology has opened new and strong avenues for criminals; the rise in cybercrime with hacking of personal information and violation of databases has led to serious harm to individuals and businesses in severe cases.
Technology is neither good nor bad, it is how we use it that matters. If we fully manage to face the new challenges of technology in order to streamline the benefits and use it as a force for good, the impact on us in the future could be phenomenal.