Essay about the Effect of Technology on Modern Society

Technology and technological devices are constantly changing and evolving. This wavering progress causes constant changes in our everyday lives. Things that were once mere fantasies of the coming have become staples of today. Imagining life without electricity, transportation, smartphones, and social media is a nightmare for most of us.

Society can be defined as a community, a nation, or a broad group of people having common traditions, and collectively having the same overall ideas. The ‘human society’ and technology are co-evolving, in surprising ways.

As we spearhead into the digital age, technology is booming at such a rapid pace we cannot even wear out our devices before the newer, more up-to-date models arrive. It is affecting the growth of the economy, our culture, and our living standards. Most of what man has developed is to lead a more comfortable and luxurious life. People have stopped using their brains for simple tasks because they have the technology to serve them. This has created a void in the society. The rich are becoming richer, and the poor – poorer. A February 2018 New World Wealth report claimed that India is the second-most ‘unequal’ country in the world, with millionaires controlling 54% of the wealth. India’s average national income is $1,800 (about Rs 132,300) a year. However, 80% of Indians earn less than the average. Only 6% of Indians earn more than Rs 240,000 a year. To get into the top 1% bracket, one needs to make just over $20,000 (Rs 1,469,600) a year. And this top 1% is generating 73% of the wealth.

Social isolation is increasing, people spend more time playing video games, are more interested in learning how to use modern technology than learning life skills, use social media, and neglect their real life. Technology has replaced our traditional ways of interacting. If a user can easily interact with friends online, they feel no need to go out to make new friends, which at a later stage can lead to loneliness.

“All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness”, said Mark Kennedy. This quote is now more relevant than ever, as in this age of modern technology we as people are becoming lazier by the minute. Modern technology and automation have replaced humans for their jobs. In the manufacturing sector of business, the packaging is solely done by machines, increasing the production rate, efficiency, and quality of the product. Unskilled laborers are losing their jobs to these machines, much similar to the Industrial Revolution that happened a few centuries ago.

Modern technology has been the main aid in the increasing of endless wars. It supports the manufacturing of modern war weapons, so when these weapons get into the hands of criminals, they will use them for selfish reasons. In addition, these weapons often severely damage the natural Earth, making some areas uninhabitable. People have been able to develop new and more destructive forms of heavy-impact weaponry because of this bane to humankind and Earth alike.

Since India’s rise to independent fame, it has undergone constant evolution as far as technology is concerned. From not being able to produce simple objects to now creating nuclear-powered missiles and torpedo-shooting submarines (fun fact – India has the 4th fastest supercomputer in the world). Commendable steps have been taken in the space department too, from launching India’s first satellite in 1975 named Aryabhatta, to now generating revenue by sponsoring other countries to launch their first.

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Today’s industries are on the lookout for newer and more efficient technology to have an edge over their competitors. Many pieces of research from many reputed firms show that whenever companies cut back on technology investments aiming to shore up profits, the result is the opposite, as profits sink significantly, and, as a side effect, GDP (gross domestic product, a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced in a period of time, often annually) also falls dramatically, then a chain reaction starts with the fall of labor productivity after a few years. The drop in technology intensity results from a decline in technology. The loss in technology intensity impacts the loss of the world GDP, clearly proving that more companies need to invest in newer forms of technology to maintain stability in the world’s economy.

The transformative impact of technology on the modern global workplace is noticeable. Face-to-face meetings have often given way to video conferences, mailrooms to email inboxes, and typewriters and carbon paper to computer-generated writing. Technology has also allowed a substantial portion of work – and the workforce – to move beyond the confines of a traditional office. It is common for employees to perform some of their work in cafes or shops, at home, or even while on vacation. This technological revolution brings with it many obvious benefits. Colleagues can easily communicate across the globe while reducing expenses, environmental damage, and manual effort. Productivity has undoubtedly increased with the help of search engines. Online maps, global positioning systems, and real-time translation services help us navigate unfamiliar places and communicate with locals. GPS navigational systems have revolutionized traveling.

In his essay ‘The Technology of Medicine’, Lewis Thomas describes the three levels of technology in the medical world: ‘nontechnology’, ‘halfway technology’, and ‘effective technology’. ‘Nontechnology’ has become the therapeutic part of technology that helps patients through the emotional and mental effects that a disease can have on them. ‘Halfway technology’ is the name given to procedures such as transplants, etc. And ‘effective technology’ is the day-to-day technology used in the medicinal field. Without technology, humans could not possibly know as much as we do about fatal diseases such as AIDS and cancer. Although we have not yet invented a cure for either disease, we have developed many drugs and other sources of treatment that could help hold the patient longer. In the case of cancer, many people have even been able to overcome the disease through treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Stephen Jay Gould focuses on one of these terrifying diseases in his essay ‘The Terrifying Normalcy of AIDS’. Gould states that in the past doctors recognized how limited their knowledge of AIDS was, scaring the population that everyone could be susceptible to AIDS, but by using technology along with the help of the human brain, we will, prospectively, find a cure for these life-threatening diseases.

Technology has also provided families with the boon of life. Kids, every day, are born prematurely, meaning they can’t breathe on their own, so they need to be set on breathing tubes that provide an alternative way to breathe. If not for this gift, many young couples wouldn’t have had the chance to experience this feeling of euphoria and the joy that comes with the tiny being.

The importance of the ‘World Wide Web’ is massive as it is the source of any and all information. You can be anywhere and get the latest news, you can even buy or sell stocks and shares from your bedroom.

Communication is essential to growth. We cannot progress without communication. Modern technology has blessed us with advanced communication technology tools. These include e-fax, electronic mail, mobile phones, video conferencing, instant text messaging applications, social networking, etc. All these modern communication technology tools have simplified the way humans and businesses communicate.

Technological advancements in transportation have allowed people to travel long distances in the span of a few hours. It has also improved the lifestyle of people. Entertainment and music systems are very common in many households. It has also highly impacted the educational sector of modern society. Where e-books have taken over hardcopies and starboards are far more efficient in conveying information than whiteboards.

In conclusion, technology does have its negative impacts but they are far inferior to its positive ones. It can legitimately save lives, it has also become a part of the household, so even if people consider it harmful, they can’t do anything about it. But yes, technology has evolved modern human society. For the better? We don’t know.