Technology is prevalent in almost every aspect of our lives.
I can vaguely remember the days when cell phones, ipods, and GPSs did not
exist, however I can always remember having some sort of technology in
my life. We all remember the days before the Ipod. I used to spend much of my
afternoons listening to cassette tapes in my Barbie tape recorder (with the
attached microphone and recording capabilities of course for those spontaneous
moments of goofy, musical inspiration). And I can clearly remember the day my
mother was given the “dinosaur phone”, her first cell phone. How about when
having a map for a road trip was the navigation tool? The innovation and
industry of technology will be defining this current generation. Whether this
title will shed good light or bad light on our generation can only be
determined in the future. However, for now, I am grateful for this laptop that
makes writing this reflection so easy and practical, my phone by my side that
is keeping me up to date on what is going on in the world while I am writing,
and the TV that will play my favorite shows that I intend to watch with my
friends after finishing this assignment.
I think it
is safe to say that most Americans, except for the members of an Amish
community, utilize some sort of technology on an everyday basis. There
are oppositions to the constant use of technology by many, especially the
elderly members of society who are having to adapt and be educated on how to
function in this technology-shaped society. I can understand their fear of
dehumanization since technology is being used more to converse rather than the
typical face-to-face way. Never before have we had to wonder if a relationship
was legitimate or fake due to how the relationship began and is being
maintained. For example, people are meeting over the internet or through
texting and forming relationships that are completely fake, where both parties
are creating an image for themselves and developing an expectation for the
other member of the online/texting relationship. However, newer technology is
overcoming this issue. The newest applications for Smartphones, such as
Facetime, Voxer, and Skype, are allowing users to contact their friends and
have conversations with them face-to-face. Also, Snapchat is a new application
that allows users to take pictures of their faces or their environment to
accompany their texts to avoid confusion, misconceptions and misunderstandings
that often result from text messaging.
Most of the
issues that people have to technology should be redirected to the abusers of
technology, not the users. Technology itself can do no harm to a society. The
humans who use technology and abuse it should be the ones reprimanded. Most
people who have problems with the mass technological surge are not aware of its
usefulness. My grandparents are technologically illiterate. They tried to avoid
technology at all costs because they found it to be confusing and frustrating
when they could not control it or repair it when it malfunctioned. However,
once they were taught how to use their technology, they loved it and understood
what “all the fuss was about”.
Personally,
I can not imagine a world without technology. Technology is a gift that is
allowing the world to discover more about the earth and how to make the world a
more efficient and desirable place. Sometimes, technology can be a distraction
from real life, however I have learned to use my self-control and remember
which world I was created to be a part of. I am always open to try new
technology and find it fascinating when it makes everyday monotonous chores
turn into effortless tasks. So what do I think about technology? Technology is
great.
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