Think for a minute about the objects and items that you “can’t live without.” Your list probably includes several electronic items: a cell phone, a computer, a car, an iPod, or maybe even more advanced gadgets such as a GPS system or a flat screen Plasma HDTV. Technological advances have made our lives easier in many ways. Pretend, for instance, that you want to buy a gift for your brother’s birthday. You could get into your car and go all the way to a store, and hope they have what you’re looking for; or, you can sit in front of a computer and have access to a practically infinite number of vendors and gifts, without leaving the warm embrace of your bedroom. Now that’s easy! But do these technological advances always make things easier? Recall the last time you needed to call Customer Service for anything. Did a person answer the phone, ready to assist you? Or did you reach the first step of a very long and coldly impersonal phone tree? That said, it is clear to see that technology has become woven into the fabric of everyday life. However, the question remains - Is this reliance on technology more advantageous or detrimental to society? And what does the future hold?
Let’s consider a day in the life of an average family living in our grandparents’ generation. The mom and dad woke up at the crack of dawn, Dad heading to work, and Mom getting the kids ready for school. There were very few automobiles on the road so chances are, Dad walked to work. Mom, a homemaker, cooks breakfast for the kids in huge iron skillets, and sends them on their way to school; they walk on dirt roads. Mom spends all day cleaning and doing laundry on a washboard, while Dad is probably in a coal mine somewhere. The children get out of school and come home to milk and cookies, and when they finish their homework, they might be lucky enough to listen to their favorite program on the radio. Dad gets home from work and dinner awaits him on the dining room table. After dinner, Mom washes the dishes and then the whole family huddles around the radio and listens to some family programs until bedtime.
One can’t help but notice the overwhelming simplicity in the preceding narrative. There were no cell phones, washing machines, televisions, or iPods. Let’s compare this to a day in the life of today’s average high school student. Johnny wakes up, aided by his alarm clock. He showers and before leaving, he microwaves a Hot Pocket to eat on the way to school. He hops in his buddy’s car and off they go to school. Before first period starts, he’s already sent about 10 text messages and used a third of his iPod’s battery. After school, Johnny gets a ride home from school and “parks it” in front of the TV for hours, meanwhile sending his crush a smiley face via his new camera-having, media-playing, video-capturing, internet-surfing cellular device. When Johnny’s mom demands it, he cuts off MTV and begins to type his book critique on his 17″ MacBook Pro.
The life of Johnny seems much easier, right? True, there are many advantages to living in a technologically advanced time. In this day and age, many things that were once left to human labor are now done either partly or entirely with machines, like automobile assembly and math calculations, to name a couple. I’d be the first to admit that my TI-83 graphing calculator is more adept at calculating square roots that I am. These things are accomplished by programmed computers are more accurate, more precise, and are less susceptible to human error due to fatigue or lack of proficiency. Also, it is sometimes easier to interact with computers than it is to interact with another person to complete the same task. Consider the self-checkout lanes in many supermarkets. If you’re only buying a few items, you can save some time by allowing this automated casher to ring up your groceries rather than some pimple-faced teenager who’s prone to making any number of mistakes. Perhaps the most convenient benefit of a computer driven life is the fact that we don’t have to think as much. Back in the day, if you were about to embark on a road trip, you’d have to get a map and plot your route. Beginning a few years ago, you could use Mapquest or Google Maps to get detailed instructions. Currently, even that is one of the more laborious ways to get the job done. Many cars now are equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system that gives you turn-by-turn directions at the push of a button. Road trips have been revolutionized! Technological advancement is also very beneficial from the business point of view. If you’re producing a product you can hire a bunch of people, train them, pay them, and deal with a plethora of other personnel issues. Alternatively, you can buy a machine or network of machines, program them, and let them work. The latter is significantly more cost-effective and is applied to several industries including the automobile, food, and consumer electronics industries. Taking these reasons into consideration, it would seem as though everything is better with technology, but maybe not.
Dependence on Technology
I. Thesis
II. Past/Present
III. Advantages
a. Less human error, objective and consistent
b. Things are easier
1. Self-checkout
c. We don’t have to think
1. GPS
d. Tech is cheaper and more efficient than human labor
Mass production: autos, computers, food
IV. Disadvantages
a. Loss of ‘personal touch’
1. Phone Trees/Cust. Service
b. We don’t have to think/move
1. Childhood/Adult obesity
c. Tech is cheaper and more efficient than human labor
1. Mass produced, nutrient-devoid foods
V. Future?
