- Student Blog
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”—Albert Einstein
From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, technology touches every aspect of our lives. With the tap of a button, we can have groceries delivered to our doorstep or hold long-distance video conference calls, all from the comforts of our homes. What may have seemed unthinkable two decades ago is now a reality. New and emerging innovation in the fields of medicine, communication, and transportation is changing the ways we interact not just with the world but with each other.
In a laboratory in South Korea, researchers are now developing a technology that can track glucose levels from tears, potentially allowing people with diabetes a way to more efficiently manage their condition. A patch smaller than a postage stamp can now measure blood pressure from arteries deep inside of the human body, transmitting data to a laptop. These innovations are only just a few examples of the developments made in the healthcare industry over the past few years. Thanks to the explosion of new technology, the healthcare industry has seen tremendous progress over the last few decades with new medicine, research, and tools allowing healthcare workers to better treat and recognize conditions.
Fifty years ago, the education system and classrooms looked profoundly different than it does today. Although some may say not much has changed, the use of laptops and digital tools rather than textbooks and handouts has changed the way many students receive their education. Assignments can now be submitted and graded digitally, with lectures can be held online. Information, books, and online resources can be found with the touch of a few buttons. With the many advances in technology today, the boundaries of a classroom can even be extended. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of students worldwide were able to continue their education through the help of technology. Although a screen will never replace face-to-face interaction within a classroom, technology was able to ensure that learning could progress.
“Mr. Watson, come here; I want to see you,” were not just the first words spoken over the telephone, but the start of a new capability in communication. Since the development of the first telephone in 1876, communication has come a long way. The days of telegraphs are long gone. Even landline telephones are slowly becoming obsolete. With the rise of social networking sites, technology has drastically affected the way we are able to communicate with others. The onset of emails, text messaging, video-calling, group chats, and phone calls have allowed information to be relayed more quickly and efficiently with little to no limit. We are able to reach a wider audience and connect with someone from anywhere in the world. Wearable technology and the ability to send a text or even make a phone call through a smartwatch have already made their way into the market with virtual reality gradually making strides to push the boundaries of communication even further. Communication is always changing and continuing to evolve, each innovation only becoming faster and more convenient.
Climate change and environmental destruction are two of the biggest and most prevalent problems in our world today. With each passing year, the ecological crisis that our planet is facing due to human activity is steadily growing more disastrous and prevalent. From a growing number of extreme hurricanes, heat waves, and floods per year, there is no denying that we have already seen the effects of climate change. It will take years, even decades to make an impact on these problems, and we will all have to change the way we live in order to reform this problem. Fortunately, we have already taken many steps toward countering this through the use of technology. Sensors on satellites can now locate large-scale emitters of carbon dioxide at a precise level. Renewable resources have grown more widespread over the past few years. Electric cars have remained a great alternative to gas-powered cars, thus contributing to the fight against fossil fuels. Technology holds the key to combat climate change and solving many environmental challenges we are facing today.
Although technology has brought many positive changes to our society, there remain many downsides and risks.
Since the development of the first computer decades ago, the concept of online privacy has remained a topic of controversy. With the rise of tech companies and information technology in the 21st century also come drawbacks. How secure and how much control we have over our personal information has been widely questioned. We often see this topic highlighted on the daily news, with many tech giants facing backlash over the past few years due to concerns over personal information. Most famously, was the Facebook trial held in 2018, in which Mark Zuckerberg testified for violations of users' privacy. Although it is nearing three years since the trial occurred, it has ignited a wave of concern over online privacy and corporate responsibility.
As a result of using technology and integrating it into our everyday lives, our health can often be undermined. There are many mental and physical effects that arise from spending too long on the screens. Vision strain and promotion of bad posture are two of the most common physical effects. Sleep deprivation and insomnia are also widely known to be influenced by light from screens. Evidence has suggested that blue light blocks the hormone melatonin, which can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Far from the physical effects, technology can also affect our mental state and self-esteem. Since the development of social networking sites, the topic of social media has remained controversial and widely debated. Although there are many positive upsides to social media, it can be detrimental at the same time. The culture of comparison that has been bred by social media sites is proven to be harmful.
Although social media was meant to bring people together, it is ironically driving people apart. In the digital age, many of us now often rely on social media platforms to communicate. Despite the many upsides brought by digital communication, it is important to remember that a screen will never replace face-to-face communication. Body language and vocal clues are important when communicating with someone, which is missed through digital communication. The ease of sending a quick text or email has taken away interest from in-person contact and a relevant conversation. Language skills and how we may be expressing ourselves have also been affected, with the use of acronyms or short-cuts now common in order to send a message as fast as possible. As we grow used to the convenience of short sentences with little grammar, this can leave concern for the future of language and the written word.
In a world where technology is integrated into almost every aspect of our life, we are constantly online and glued to a screen. From education to online shopping to work, we often rely heavily on digital devices for everyday aspects of our life. Even the simplest tasks are now made easier by technology. Unfortunately, this has encouraged complete dependency and overuse. People are spending more time than ever on digital devices. According to an article from The Washington Post, “Studies from the nonprofit group Common Sense Media show that U.S. teens average approximately nine hours per day with digital media, tweens spend six hours, and even our youngest—ages zero to 8—are spending 2-½ hours daily in front of a screen.” Many often wonder if our society is too dependent on technology. It is not uncommon to walk into a bus or subway and see everyone staring at their phone rather than talking to each other. With technology proven to be addictive, this has paved the way to a growing problem of media addiction. It is easy to fall down the rabbit hole of scrolling through social media and become absorbed with the digital world. However, this has left the potential for technology use to pose many consequences in our society today.
Over the past decade, we have moved faster than we have imagined, and this has brought a set of challenges to our society. In a world where technology is so deeply entwined in our lives, it is also important to set a limit to our use. Despite the many contributions and advancements that have been made in the 21st century, there is also something that we miss and is taken away.