Are We Relying Too Much on Technology?
By DiwiSunday, April 8th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
In today’s world, technology is essential. Everywhere you go, gadgets are there, and we find it difficult to get around without our cell phones, iPods, digital cameras, and electronic organizers. The Internet has taken over print sources of information, making many written documents obsolete. Looking at all of this technology in every aspect of life, I wonder, is it all really necessary?
I do not mean to suggest that we return to the days before electricity or before the Internet. I am not intending this to be a transcendentalist tirade where we throw away all of our gadgets and move to Walden Pond. I know how much technology can improve the quality of life. But is are we approaching a point when technology has improved too much, where we as humans do not have to do anything ourselves anymore? I have an image in my mind from The Jetsons, where robots do everything in their world. Certainly a cartoon is not an accurate depiction of the future, but is this the general trend of technology?
I look at new developments such as a digital grocery list or bringing the Internet to the Amazon, and I say to myself, “Why?” Is it really that necessary not to have to pick up a pen to write down a list of things to buy, or to disturb the pristine habitat of the Amazon? Do we really need an MP3 player/cell phone/camera/digital organizer? How about knowing the exact location of every person running a marathon? Do we really need to have another life in a virtual world? Are any of these really improving our lives that significantly? Could we survive without them?
Perhaps I am scared that every aspect of the world is becoming associated with technology. We are inextricably tied to the electronics which run our lives, and we feel naked without these technological ties.
However, I look at other development projects such as improving emergency cell phone location and the Transportation Department dictating that all cars must have electronic stability control, and I see that technology is still being developed to save lives. There is still a vast potential for how technology can improve the quality of lives, but so many new developments are just luxuries.
Perhaps I am just skeptical of these new developments, or I am content with writing down my grocery list. Or perhaps staring at my computer for so many hours while working on my thesis has affected my sanity. Regardless, I still look at new developments and often fail to see the point. I love technology and couldn’t survive without most of it, but I think we must often ask “why?” to ensure that it does not take over our lives. Technology should improve, not dominate life.
April 8th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
There is a very simple solution to most of your concerns.
If you fear that technology could dominate your life, you can always choose not to use it, while allowing other people - those whose lives are, in their own estimation, improved by gagdets that you may find bizarre and unnecessary - the freedom to use them.
I, for instance, have never wanted a cellphone, partly out of fear that being constantly accessible could become annoying and that I would feel guilty for turning it off. At the same time, I do not lament or mind other people using their phones. (I may get one next year for job interviews and stuff. Oh well.)
(As for disturbing the pristine habitat of the Amazonian rainforest, I suspect that the local inhabitants would vigorously disagree with you. Although, admittedly, that is not the main thrust of your post.)
April 9th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Although, on a very personal level, I think I understand and sympathize with your concerns. Sometimes it is, indeed, difficult to see what all the new gagdets are good for.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I agree with Marek in that for many of the new gagdets, while they are useful or interesting, are not strictly necessary. Does it really improve the quality of our lifestyle to have a smaller cell phone? Probably not though I’m sure there are those who would disagree.
But for every piece of technology that comes out, there is an argument both for and against it. Take a car for example. (My definition of techonogy is not restricted to only computer science related gadgets.) It was an innovation which greatly reduced travel time. But with it comes a whole heap of disadvantages and undesirable side-effects. At the same time, I don’t think many of us can imagine life without the automobile.
I think with more and more technology, we (as in the general public) also start depending on it too much. While there is a choice that you can sometimes make, some of the time, you are forced to adapt just to be on the same page as everyone else.