Is the internet and today’s technology causing over-reliance and will today’s “novelty” technology become tomorrow’s “necessary” tools?
From Internet: Knowledge and Community
Contents |
Question
In today’s society technology is rapidly advancing, advancing so fast that they can make drastic changes to our society in a blink of an eye. Let’s take the evolution of the phone as an example, from something that was just communication, to mobility, and from mobility to multi-functional features.(Japan will provide a good example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_mobile_phone_culture)
Today it’s unlikely to find someone without a cell phone or a computer, especially if they have a job that requires them. We often use technology to a point of fault, where we can rely on them too much. People prefer consulting the internet for information then looking through a book, and there are doubts if society can function if our technology failed us. So how will current and future technology become of us?
Terms
Examples of novel technology
- credit cards
- features on cell phones
- Kindle
- Segways
Examples of radically new technology
- Writing
- Pottery
- Mathematics
Arguments
An example of a novelty gadget that very well could become required in college careers are eReaders such as Kindle. The functionality and ease of use of an eReader compared to a large stack of books has been displacing physical books. One of the top selling points of an eReader is that it is often a one-time cost; You purchase the gadget, and the books are free. Not to mention that the physical space required is less than that of most single books. A research project from a classmate of mine last quarter in Techniques of Sustainability Analysis taught by Robert Cole tracked the costs of production and shipping of books-vs-kindle and found that the Kindle's production is much less harmful to the environment than the creation of new books, and transportation of Kindles is far less costly and uses much less oil than the equivalent books used over a four year period. With all these positive reasons to purchase a Kindle, three questions concern me. What assurance is there that the book I want will be available for download on any given eReader? What is preventing companies from suddenly charging exorbitant prices to download a copy of a book - or worse, letting you 'rent' a book (much like some computer game companies let you pay a lower price but you can only play the computer game for a limited time)? And what oversight is there to eReader companies to make sure that a book I download is an exact word-for-word copy of the original text and nobody has deigned to edit the electronic document?
As technology and the Internet continue to advance, an increasing number of people will become dependent on all that they have to offer. While there is no arguing that some of these advancements have improved the quality of life for people, especially in terms of the scientific and medical fields; they have led to deterioration of some human skills. With the expansion of internet technology has come a seemingly never-ending stream of entertainment media. This has created a society that feels the need to be entertained 24/7. This impatience will only increase as technology advances, causing the standards at which people feel content to rise. However, with the advancement of the Internet, and technology in general, will come increasing numbers of people who will try to resist these changes. What are some current moves people are making to go “back to basics?”
Do we live in a society that really feels it must be entertained 24/7, or is that the perception that entertainment industries insists is true? Each person's reality is individually different though heavily influenced by outside sources. These outsiders, be they friends or family, government, media or others, have varying motives. It is in the entertainment industry's best interest to foster a sense of a deep need to be constantly entertained and engaged, thus increasing demand for their products and services. The truth about whether or not our society has reached this junction is unknown, with some individuals fitting the mold and others rejecting the notion. The sophistication of technology may not have a direct tie to increasing demand for entertainment.
