New technological ideas

currently we are faced with a period of time that heavily revolves around technology. Now we live in a society that is very over dependent and relies heavily on technology to complete its tasks. Since technology has come into our lives we feel that now we could never live without it. This shows the high degree of expectations and faith in technology that is apparent everywhere around us. Technology was once considered a luxury, now it is a necessity. There are two methods of coping with technological change: accept it and implement it or oppose it and try to stop its progress. There are many positive reasons why our society should accept and implement technology. Technology has advanced our societies health care with the discovery of new treatments to certain diseases (Daniels 2002). This improvements seen in Chemotherapy which acts as treatment for cancer. Not only is the medical world improving through technology the communication systems world wide are upgrading. Important information can be sent around the world by a press of a button. The Internet has totally revolutionized the modern world. With the invention of the Internet we are internationally connected to people all over the world. More importantly we should take into consideration the negative effects that technology can have. These negatives give us reasons why we should oppose this abundance of technological change. It introduces a change that temporarily disables a society. Technological determinism is a theory that suggests that change is not necessarily initiated by the individual, but by technology (Bain 2002, 122). Technology has greatly effected and altered our society. There are many negative aspects of technology such as over dependence, discrimination towards older generations and the exploitation of privacy. Over dependence on technology is detrimental to society and contributes to the negative aspect of technology. Furthermore we are doomed to be dependent on technology as long as that technology is allowed to shape our world. It seems that since the spawning of technology more and more fundamental values and ethics are being blurred and lost. It seems that the since the dawn of the Internet people have been use to instant gratification. People are now impatient with the speed of Internet, when years ago we were happy just to use it ( Bain 2002, 115). Today, there are a wide variety of Internet sources because there is such a high demand for it. Society relies very heavily on machines, that when they do not do what we want them to do we experience intense anxiety ( Bell 2003). Although technology is suppose to make the way of life easier, many times it just makes it more difficult. Transportation has vastly changed due to technology and when someone’s care does not start or it stalls, it causes chaos. Obviously, there are many other options than just driving, but people are so dependent on their own vehicle that when it doesn’t work they feel as though walking isn’t an alternative anymore. Technology has caused society’s youth to become overwhelmed with all the available technologies (Gogven 2001). Now, children are beginning to own cell phones at very young ages, which poses the question why do they feel the need for one. Technology is overpowering and has the ability to control. Today’s youth are depending more and more on new video games to be invented so they will have something to do in the summer. Many children isolate themselves for hours on end playing computer and video games, which leads them to be very inactive, unhealthy and antisocial (Burke 2002). Compared to even just ten years ago it is unbelievable how much more technology exists in children’s lives today. Summers in 1990’s for a typical child would consist of running through sprinklers, bike riding or playing hide and go seek with other children in the neighborhood. Technology has caused laziness in all generations because people overuse it for unnecessary things (Halsey 1998, 376). With the overuse of many different inventions no longer do we hand write letters, hand was dishes or hand wash clothes, but rather we leave those chores to be accomplished by technology. Canadians are embracing new technology ideas without considering the consequences; the Internet allows children to have access to pornographic sites (Whyte 1999, 81). People must realize the technology is more beneficial to our society when it is used in moderation. Discrimination towards older generations adds fuel to the fire to the disadvantages of technology. Right now we are experiencing future shock, which is the dizzying discrimination brought on by premature arrival of the future (Olson 2002, 282). In the past technology was not as prominent as it is in today’s lifestyle. It has become evident that in today’s workforce a lot of the time, preference goes in the younger generations. Even those willing to learn and adapt to these new changes are not usually hired. Ultimately this is unfair, and older generations are not getting the same opportunities as they should be getting. There have been numerous cases when businesses have laid off their older and more experienced employees and replaced them with younger aged people who are more familiar with the changes made by technology (Gogven 2001). Older generations have developed a stereotype, and many assume they are incompetent when it comes to technology. Just because they did not grow up in a generation where lives were based around technology, does not mean they are unaware how to manipulate and use technology to their advantage. Although, what some people are forgetting is that not all grandparents are clue less when it comes to the Internet, DVD players and cell phones. Many own these new innovations and use them just as often as those more familiar with these items. Older generations are referred to as ” Luddies”, which are people who are opposed to new technological ideas (Olson 2002, 67). In order for technology to expand and succeed everyone must use and promote its products, otherwise we will find ourselves living in the past (Bell 2003). When the community does not have the same view points it very easily can cause chaos. This is because the elderly are beginning to feel a sense of discrimination towards them. Which is causing animosity within society. More importantly many feel alienated when they are unaware how to use new technological inventions (Mumford 1994, 465). These devices are suppose to make life easier, but really they are causing stress, and anxiety. Exploiting peoples privacy has become a controversial issue that contributes to the negative side of technology. It has become very evident that the overuse of video cameras in our society is causing paranoia, the idea of using video cameras has vastly spread around the world, especially in North America. Now these cameras can be found in schools, convenience stores, clothing stores, banks, food franchisees and in the workforce. The though of being video taped while at school, raises the question of ones privacy (Bell 2003). More importantly one does not have the option of being video taped while changing in a fitting room in a department store is pondered by many individuals as they undress. This does, and should cause paranoia to all individuals who are opposed to the idea of their privacy being exploited. New technological advancements in the news has allowed information to be spread worldwide instantaneously. For example, O. J. Simpson; s life was interrogated when he was on trial for murder. The general public found out every detail of his past because of the news, his right of privacy was denied without his consent. The current warfare events between Iraq and the United Stares is being broadcast world wide. The idea of this fifty years ago would have seemed impossible and technology has proved that to be incorrect (Bell, 2003). Airlines around the world are now considering that extensive background checks on passengers become required. After September eleventh, 2002, security has become more intense. These background checks would allow airline companies to check the passengers previous records. If they find one, this person may not be able to travel. The use of the telephone once was private communication, now due to technology that right has been taken away. The invention of caller ID has given us the knowledge of who is calling before the phone has even been picked up. Even without the callers consent, their name, telephone number and most times home address will appear on the caller ID screen an too most people this is considered a lock of privacy. The increase in Internet hackers has caused people to question their security while using their own computer. There have been a number of causes when these hackers have obtained personal information like credit card numbers and home addresses (Bell 2003). That is very valuable information which one should not be able to acquire. The use of technology should only be used for necessary things, and by eliminating the others it will benefit out society positively. With all of these negative effects we are able to realize the many different impacts technology can have. Although technology has had positive effects on our society, the negative drawbacks like over dependence, discrimination towards older generations and exploitation of privacy are all still very important factors that must be considered when embracing new technological ideas. In the future we should consider these negative effects before introducing new innovations. Technology has a high potential to improve society, and we are aware of this, but its important to understand when and where we should use it. A scientist had used genetics to create seedless watermelons, and this is an example of how technology cane be used for irrelevant things. Through the progress of technology we should remember what is important and needs to be changed. It is imperative that science should continue striving to create a cure for cancer and other life threatening diseases. No one really knows what the future has in store for us, but it has become evident that technology will still continue to strive and evolve over time. Technology has the power to over throw our society if we don’t use it in moderation. Personally, I have begun to feel overwhelmed with all the different alternatives we currently have available to us. Technology has definitely improved my lifestyle, but has also caused many drawbacks, as I find myself becoming more and more reliant. ” Eager dreamers impatiently strive to toss out our history, embracing a new future on the where the worries of yesterday shall be no more than faded memories. Alarmist, other hand, are overwhelmed by a sense of depression and futility as they imagine a fearsome Brave New World crashing down upon them, destroying all they have known” (Bell 2003) We must remember that those who sprint towards and those who cringe from technology are equally wrong; the future of technology does not mean the end of history as we have known it. However we have to keep in mind that this is only the beginning to many technological advancements.