In this discussion, we shall concern ourselves on how has technology impacted society. In many ways, technology has greatly expanded human potential. As people became ever more productive, they could work conveniently. More leisure time may mean more engagement with something worthwhile.
About 60,000 years ago, humans emerged from Africa and rapidly spread across the world. The first humans had occupied every terrestrial habitat.
This unparalleled feat of adaptation was accomplished by rapidly adapting to an enormous range of various environments.
The prehistoric development of technology, made possible by the progress of the rational faculty, paved the way for:
- the employment of stone tools,
- the creation of weapons for hunting and defense,
- the use of fire for heat, light, and cooking,
- the use of clothing and shelter for thermoregulation, and
- the innovation of fishing materials as means for coastal livelihood.
In most cases, technological adaptation is particular to local environments because the issues that require to be solved vary by place.
As early as the bronze age, the development of metalworks, the invention of simple machines, the early development of mathematics, engineering, architecture and medicine reflect on the early progress of society.
They were able to conquer challenges that were too complicated, as a result of the rapid creation of a diverse set of tools and disciplines motivated by cultural evolution.
How has technology impacted society?
Technology opened the door for innovation. Early scientists, out of curiosity and sheer will, were determined to express their creativity and ambition through inventing things that are not yet even in existence, as they uncover the laws of science.
The next innovators utilized their abilities to create mechanisms that were of great help to people. The industrial revolution made it easier for the invention of the first home appliances to happen.
Power technologies like electricity and steam energy played a huge part in letting the industrial revolution flourish. By that time, big dreams for the future were also unleashed, that it came to a point where one dreams of a fully automated home.
Then, the birth of Information Technology occurred through the invention of the first computers, and the development of natural language programming.
Technology has profoundly changed our lives. It has made us healthier, wealthier, and more productive. It has made us more mobile, more efficient, more independent, more instant, and, yes, more connected.
Positive Impact of Technology on Society
As we live in a capitalist society, which most of us do, a lot of the new breakthroughs in technology are made by businesses to either improve their services, or the ability to market their products.
Thanks to technology, business strategies have greatly improved. Marketing was made easier, more effective and more cost-efficient, as compared before when companies would run ads on the radio or TV.
Now, with greater efficiency and lower marketing costs, they were able to utilize different social media networks, making marketing uncomplicated, especially for small businesses and startups.
Technological advances are also evident in the field of education. The existence of different learning management systems and online conferencing modalities made remote learning possible and accessible.
Also, the abundance of information through research journals, academic papers, online libraries, and various search engines provides us with the ability to research any topics, with convenience and comfort.
Technology also makes the everyday life bearable. Improvements in transportation makes it possible to travel from a place to another, yet much safer. Even electric, self-driving cars that were staples of science fiction before are now a reality.
The Internet of things makes household devices connected to a single network, allowing remote control via smartphones. Interconnectivity, therefore, is now the prevalence.
Impact of Technology on Human Life
Healthcare has also changed dramatically owing to technological breakthrough, as a byproduct of modernization, from drugs and treatments to diagnostic imaging devices and nuclear medicine.
Technology continues to improve the quality of human life through constant and consistent scientific discoveries in medical care, from clinical research to robotics.
Medical research has become widespread that an array of treatments and managements for even the most incurable diseases, such as cancers, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis are now possible.
Robotics was a field that allowed technology to progress much further. It encompasses fields from Artificial Intelligence, industrial robotics, to space explorations.
Robots are able to work in dangerous environments, eliminating hazardous jobs for humans. It can handle toxic substances, repetitive tasks, and heavy lifting. Technology also has made patient care safer and more reliable.
Frontline medical professionals are able to use tablets, instead of manual charts in recording real-time patient data, and automatically updating the patient’s medical records.
Remote medical practice, through Telemedicine, is also possible, thanks to technology. As we face this pandemic, the use of telehealth services plays a significant role in managing the exponentially increasing COVID positive rates.
Likewise, the existence of automatic remote monitoring devices and wearable technologies help manage and supervise treatments given via remote medicine.
What technology has had the greatest impact on society?
Electrical energy is the lifeblood of modern society. It is a high grade of energy which underpins an array of products and services which stimulate economic productivity and enhance the quality of life.
The development of electricity generating technologies allow the production, storage, control and transmission of electricity. The technological consumption of humans is heavily dependent on energy.
Access to electricity led to the invention of automated devices in the workplace and at home which save time and labor. People’s livelihoods are no longer dependent on daylight activities.
It supports the operation of machines and computers used in a wide variety of purposes. Electricity is an absolute necessity in medical facilities, and in monitoring national security.
The development of electricity generating technologies provide a number of alternatives to power sources, which are environment friendly and easily accessible. Engaging in renewable energy provides a more secure energy supply.
Energy access and use are also strongly correlated with economic development. It creates new businesses and career opportunities. Low supply can cause sharp contractions in mining, manufacturing and service industries.
Electricity plays a huge role even in self-leisure. It provides safe energy sources to households which allows activity long after dark, allowing us to utilize devices for entertainment.
What are the positive and negative effects of technology on society?
Society has made plenty of extraordinary innovations in transportation, energy, communication, agriculture, and medicine since the last decades. Modern technology has provided us with numerous labor-saving devices.
Automobiles, phones, home appliances, and personal computers are efficient in minimizing time usage. Mobile phones with headsets allow people to communicate with others anywhere across the globe.
Similarly, modern technology has gradually provided us with unprecedented control over the world around us. Food production has dramatically increased through advances in agriculture.
Progress in medicine made limb reattachments, the use of lasers, and even transplants possible.
Elaborate water supply systems, composed of hundreds of canals, tunnels, and pipelines, along with water reservoirs and stations, enable massive metropolitan areas to grow in inhospitable places.
Yet, despite our technological advancement, social problems and personal difficulties seem more prevalent than ever. Most people still complain about the lack of time for themselves.
Schedules overflow with business appointments, work commitments and plans. Part of this problem is that in our modern society, work follows people home. To manage, more people cut back on their sleep as they attempt to juggle work, family, and responsibilities at home.
In the same vein, modern technology had a devastating negative impact on the environment. It contributed to global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer, deforestation, extensive exposure of plant and animal life to toxic chemicals, exhaustion of resources, and widespread pollution of the air and water.
Any expert worries that in the next generations, the earth’s resources will be too depleted to sustain an adequate quality of life. To most people, these crises call for technological answers, but they are also behavioral problems in that they are fueled by overconsumption and waste.
Does technology improve our lives?
Indeed, technology improves our day-to-day life. It has enabled new levels of convenience at home, in the workplace, and nearly everywhere else. Everyday tasks are now easier to complete, and the access to information is in real-time through advancements from the Internet of things.
Shopping, bank transactions, and scheduling government appointments with a click of a finger. Technology is also a useful tool in personal development.
There are numerous applications designed for self-improvement, ranging from productivity technology, stress management, to physical fitness. It is also able to monitor activity and progress during workouts.
Travelling far destinations by land has become generally safer, through automotive innovations. Technology gives us a space to express ourselves through social media.
Social media helps maintain relationships by being able to reach family and friends who live afar. Technology is also a great avenue for social solidarity. Engagements through social media promote solidarity through an emergent group consciousness.
Technology holds a big role in civic engagements. A big number of social media users are becoming more socially and culturally sensitive, in response to virtual movements calling on individuals’ ability to empathize and respect other viewpoints.
Final Thoughts
It is fortunate that we are living in this generation, where lots of improvements from the days past have emerged. Things that were not possible or accessible before are now at the tip of our fingers.
Nonetheless, while we have these tremendous advantages, it is equally incumbent upon us to be more responsible in handling these great opportunities. We must not sacrifice humanity only for the sake of convenience.
Upon observation, technology has changed the way we think. It is alarming though that it has made us more impatient, more materialistic, and quicker to judge.
It has made us more cynical, more skeptical, more suspicious. It has made us less likely to trust each other. It has made us less willing to cooperate.
Overall, technology is a great help to mankind and an advantage in the way we live right now. Yet, again, we must not lose sight of our innate human perspective that is inside us, lest we are no different from robots which are mere products of technology. It must be the other way around.
