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DEC 10 (21)
Dependence on advanced technology
Introduction Every day, millions of people turn on their cell phones, log on to their social networking sites, and spend hours out of the day texting, messaging, and blogging. In this way, technology draws in unsuspecting users, destroying what makes them human. Modern mans dependence on technology, paired with the rise of technology, is a detriment to humanity as a whole. Dependence on advanced technology affects both children and adults because it leads to a variety of social and environmental impacts. Besides that, it will also have negative effects on the economy, due to the fact that technology is being used to access private information to make more and more money. Action is therefore urgently required. This report will identify the impacts of the problem of dependence on advanced technology, analyse the causes, and suggest possible solutions. Impacts The impact of dependence on advanced technology involves social issues in terms of mental disorder, lack of communication skills and social unrest. Firstly, mental disorder usually happens among victims after accidents related to advanced technology, especially nuclear reactor accidents. Havenaar et al.1997states that long-term mental health effects may have occurred after a dramatic increase in thyroid cancer among exposed children being demonstrated after the Chernobyl disaster. It is also shown in another survey that Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster might remind people of the nuclear bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, especially for grandchildren whose parents suffered from the bombs (McCartney in Palgi et al., 2012). This reminder may consequently lead to psychological problems. Secondly, the addiction of virtual world including television, smart phone, computers and the internet may lead to isolation from the real world among teenagers, making them unable to communicate properly in the future. Lastly, the development of industrial robots and other automation equipment used in everyday
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business like shopping and banking has decreased the number of employees required in todays economy. The rise of unemployment rate caused by this may lead to social unrest. As well as these social impacts, dependence on advanced technology can also lead to severe environmental outcomes, including health problems and unbalance of ecosystem. This means that the overuse of natural resources and the increase amounts of waste, especially e-waste have damaged health of citizens and nature. In Guiyu, the worlds largest e-waste recycling site, the air, river and soil are heavily polluted (Wong et al. 2007a; Wang and Guo 2006; Wong et al. 2007b, c; Leung et al. 2008 in Li et al. 2011) and the level of cadmium (Cd) of pregnant women and their neonates (infants) is significantly higher than standard (Li et al. 2011). Besides social and environmental impacts of dependence on advanced technology, there are also economic impacts. The most important economic impact is loss of wealth. It is suggested that we provide more and more private information nowadays when we use communication websites like Facebook and QQ or play games like Angry Birds. Many Chinese people have experienced being defrauded after the QQ accounts of their friends or relatives are stolen by others. In addition, more and more companies put their database in digital devices, which provides a potential of being invaded. These two kinds of loss of information could both lead to loss of wealth, which are harmful for economical sustainability. Causes The causes of dependence on advanced technology are inter-related and focused in a social context. They can be summed up under four headings: quick advancement of technology of the time, distance relationships, merger of computing and home entertainment, and loneliness and social difficulties. Technology is rapidly becoming smaller and faster. There is rapid development of new tools and existing ones are incessantly being updated to enhance them further (Hogan and Quan-Haase, 2010). In recent years, due to the speed at which technology is advancing, it is affecting everyone, and it has become almost a necessary for people to have computers, cell
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DEC 10 (21)
phones, internet, etc. There are several reasons for this necessity, but the most important ones are: communication, entertainment and business. In addition, because of the large number of people using technological devices, companies are investing more and more in these products and as a consequence, superseded devices are being recycled by poorer countries which are having more access to technology. It is a cycle, the faster technology advances, more people become dependent on it. At the same time, because of globalization, relationships between people from different cities, different states, or even different countries are pretty common. With the increase of availability and convenience, technology is being used to maintain these relationships. Cell phone capabilities are changing and becoming more advanced due to wireless communications, and therefore making a phone call has become much easier due to wireless devices (Browne, 2010). The establishment of relationships is a people's need or desire to stay connected with others, which can be considered a cause of the dependence. According to Browne (2010), users of networking sites enjoy the ability to stay in touch with their family and friends. Another area that has helped to make technology addicts is the combination of computing and home entertainment. For some children which grow with technology, the games, movies and internet, become a central part of their lives and many have trouble finding other things to do. The new video games, progressive scan sets, high definition screens and countless other kinds of technologies, gives an incredible experience for activities without leaving the TV room. According to Silverberg (2007), Korea ranks number one for playing internet games, listening to online music and watching movies via the internet. Lee Yun-hee, a counsellor at a Korean camp that provides outdoor group activities for Internet addicts, remarked, It is most important to provide them experience of a lifestyle without the Internet. Young Koreans dont know what this is like. (Silverberg, 2007) Finally, an aspect pretty common between children, but which also affects adults, is loneliness and social difficulties. This cause is mainly related to internet addiction, in which some people use the internet, with the computer or the cell phone, to interact with other
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people and share information and emotions. The reason for this dependence on these technological devices with internet access is that they cannot make friends, cannot fulfil their desire of social communication, so they go online. According to Farber et al. (2012) Sometimes teenagers prefer to use cell phone, e-mail and internet to communicate rather than use face-to-face talking. However, this eventually leads to lack of real-life communication skills as we mention above. Possible solutions Possible solutions for both the dependence on advanced technology and its impacts, should occupy a very important place in the priorities of everyone. These solutions can be divided into three main aspects: social, environmental and economic. As mentioned before, mental disorder, loss of communication skills and social unrest are three main impacts that occur among todays society. To mitigate these impacts, actions could be taken by both the public and governments. For people with mental disorder, a viable solution may be suggested for them to go see a doctor, and at the same time, governments should invest money in the construction of new museums showing details about nuclear accidents. With this victims would commemorate their hometown and express their homesickness in an approach which may be more psycologically healthy. In addition, for communications problems, it is suggested to identify the hours spent by children and to limit the time for them using computer (Grumbaker, 2012). This would in a certain way force them to do something else, instead of spending hours in front of the screens. Grumbaker (2012) also mentions that more communication may be required between children and parents. Also related to the society, there is the social unrest caused by unemployment. Two possible solutions for this problem could be the aid from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help unemployed people to get a stable work, and the development of organic agriculture which could provide more occupation opportunities. The negative environmental impacts which are health problems and unbalance of ecosystem could be addressed with governments and companies taken on their responsibilities, being
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the agents for a sustainable development. Firstly, governments could provide better health care and protection facilities. Secondly, manufactories could improve the design of products to make them more environmentally friendly. Lastly, professional process of recycling is recommended to replace family-run recycling workshop. Finally, the dependence on advanced technology leads to various impacts on global economy; therefore solutions for this problem are very important. Internet threats can cause loss of wealth, which has been a huge problem for both the population and several companies. Those with technological power have the know-how to get more power; those without it dont (Shinn R. 1981). One possible way to solve this issue would be for everyone who uses the internet to improve the internet security, anti-virus software, electrical key and security certificate in their devices. It could reduce threats from internet successfully, hence, keep economic orderly development. Conclusion The causes of dependence on advanced technology are many and anchored in deep social changes including fast development of technology, globalization and change in the approach of entertainment and communication. Reversing the trend will require the joint efforts of governments, companies, NGOs and families. However, the problem must be addressed because the current trend towards the increase in dependence on advanced technology is unsustainable, socially, environmentally and economically.
Andr Kevin and Tony References
DEC 10 (21)
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