Modern Technology is not the Solution

The issue of technology being part of modern life is a controversial one. Some feel that the contribution of technology has made life a more convenient place. Others believe it has negatively impacted modern life. Social interaction problems, privacy issues, deterioration of real life experience, and abuse of technology are just few of the many problems that technology has granted upon our society. The following essay argues that modern technology has a negative impact on society and more importantly that life was a more convenient place to live in when technology was simpler.

First of all, I feel that when technology is used in excess, it acts as a barrier to social interaction. It isolates one person from the other , eliminating our fundamental need for human contact. Technology has removed from most of us the need to spend time in contact with the physical. With the Internet, the entire world is merely a click away. Many people spend most of the time on the Internet and neglect time with friends and family. Computer, internet, television and other communication

technology are all becoming a necessity for daily life, thus making our life more vulnerable for observation.

As technology developed trough the past years, it has bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interception to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge. Technological advancements put this privacy at risk. For example, Echelon is a digital surveillance concept developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) to intercept and process international communications. London's CCTV cameras is another example, allowing the government to observe people thus violating their privacy rights. With today's facial recognitions softwares, our daily life can be easily monitored.

Technology deteriorates the meaning of real experiences. An example is how our heating and air-conditioning systems make the seasons something to observe through the windows but not felt through personal experience. Television also serves the same function. It has replaced many natural experiences. People are even changing their sleeping habits in order to

watch television.

It should be noted that some individuals, or even countries, for the immediate self-interest, abuse science and technology. Modern technology is no longer a pure neutral, it is the political, economic, military, social and other factors tightly together. Technology can be misused by scientists to create unfortunate destructive forces. Many weapons used in wars are based upon modern technology. Armament is a clear violation to world peace and should be immediately stopped. Additionally, in the increasing polluted environment, air is polluted with vehicle smoke and water is contaminated by waste from factories and houses. This contributes negatively to the ozone layer and to global warming. People should be more willing to sacrifice something today so that future generations live in a healthy environment tomorrow. People that tend to appreciate modern technology argue that machinery has increased productivity. Instead, it has greatly lowered humans physical ability in terms of skills and it has increased unemployment. Now days, we are moving towards a society that is tied to a media constructed universe through

new communication technologies. While technology may have made the world a global place, it has also contributed to one culture dominating a weaker one. For example, it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world act, dress and behave. Culture being an integral part of human life, this can have a negative impact on society.

Looking at the world around us today, the telephone, the television set, the computer and its Internet access surrounds us in every part of our lives. Although modern technology may give us conveniences, the problems raised should be given more importance. We have seen how changes of lifestyle, loss of identity and violation of privacy have negatively impacted society. If we are to let this go on, humans will eventually loose their supremacy over technology. Both the individual and society must not depend on this ever-changing technology. Conveniences always carries costs, this one may be worth paying, but it is too high.