The Advantages of Technology

Internet and Mobile Technology Has Improved

Home- and Work-Life
Thanks to the internet and mobile technologies, we can communicate with
anyone in the world and form relationships with people who are some
distance away, rather than being limited to people within our physical vicinity.
This has some great positives for both home-life and work-life. In regards to
work-life, employees are able to communicate with co-workers from
anywhere, which allows more employees to work from home.

Automation Has Improved Manufacturing Practices

The increased automation of manufacturing and many other jobs, thanks to
computers, means greater efficiency, fewer people doing boring, repetitive
jobs, and an increase in flexibility regarding work times. Many jobs can now
be done remotely, thanks to the internet, with many workers increasingly
being able to work from home at times of their choosing. This freedom cuts
down on carbon emissions due to the lack of commuters and makes for a
happier employee.

There Is a Greater Wealth of Information Available

The wealth of information that is now available is astonishing. In theory, at
least, having access to the internet means having access to almost all of the
world’s knowledge. Increasingly, we don’t even need to sit at a desk to access
the information either, as mobile devices become more and more powerful.
With this wealth of information, we are able to make learning more
accessible and affordable, therefore creating a more educated society.

The Entertainment Industry Has Grown

The entertainment industry has experienced a revolution. Consumers now
have an incredible choice of movies, shows, games, music, and other
entertainment available 24/7. The music and film industries have been
democratized as artists are no longer reliant on companies to fund and
promote them, as they can do it all themselves. It is easier to bring
entertainment to all thanks to subscription costs and plans that are far more
reasonable than buying tickets for a live show.
 It has become appallingly obvious that our
technology has exceeded our humanity.

— Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

Technology Is Self-Sufficient
Technology can now be used to advance itself. Science is benefiting
massively from the lightning speeds that computers can perform calculations
and investigate complex questions that would take humans many lifetimes to
answer. Medical breakthroughs and chemical and astronomical discoveries
have all been made due to computers. This frees up time and allows people
to enjoy their freedom.

Technology Is a Time-Saver
Modern technology saves us lots of time, whether it’s our computer regulated
cars driving us to work, washing machines to do our laundry, or automated
banking to allow us to pay by credit card, use internet banking, or get cash out
from the ATM. This extra time allows our society's biggest brains to continue
developing more advanced technology.

Devices and Machines Function More Efficiently

Computer regulation and automation mean that many devices and machines
now function much more efficiently and use less power, either because they
are working at the most efficient rate, or they automatically switch themselves
off when not in use. Without needing to constantly repair machines, we only
need to focus on improving pre-existing technology, which costs far less.
There are also environmental benefits due to the efficiency of these
machines. As green energy becomes more popular, technology adapts by
running on solar panels and wind turbines.
The '@' symbol has become synonymous with email in the modern world. As
well as being a convenient way to send letters and photos, however, emails
can also contribute to a sense of 'information overload' for many people,
especially in the workplace.
Canva
The number one benefit of information technology
is that it empowers people to do what they want to
do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be
productive. It lets people learn things they didn't
think they could learn before, and so in a sense it
is all about potential.

— Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft

Now let's look at several disadvantages of technology and how they affect us.
Image by Jae Rue from Pixabay

The Disadvantages of Technology

There Is a Lack of Human Relations
Human relations are diminished in the virtual world. As online social
networking increasingly replaces real face-to-face and physical contact,
alienation can increase, as well as problems such as cyber-bullying, online
stalking, and cybercrime, which are related to the anonymity of the internet.
Humans are social animals, so a lack of physical contact could lead to
depression and anxiety. If we become detached from real-world
communications, it will be difficult to be a functioning member of society and
interact with others in a professional setting.

Humans Are Valued Less

Human beings are less and less valued in the workplace as their roles are
replaced by computers. Outsourcing has meant bigger profits for companies,
but a decline in wages and conditions and more unemployment for ordinary
workers, especially in Western nations. Multinational corporations are
increasingly impossible to control by individual nation-states. It is estimated
that 20 million jobs will be replaced by robots by 2030. This means that we
must use our innovativeness to create new jobs for those whose skills can be
automated.

Technology is such a broad kind of term, it really

applies to so many things, from the electric light to
running cars on oil. All of these different things can
be called technology. I have kind of a love-hate
relationship with it, as I expect most people do.
With the computer, I spend so many hours sitting
in front of a computer.

— Jeff Bridges, American actor

Privacy Issues Have Increased
Issues of privacy have only increased as it becomes difficult to control
personal information in the digital and internet world. Financial details can be
hacked into, candid photos or videos posted on the web, slurs, and
accusations made against people's characters, and personal identities can be
stolen. With password managers, although they make it so you don't need to
memorize anything, it is really easy for someone who steals a computer and
gain instant access to private accounts. And with site cookies, your
information may not be encrypted, and thus be accessed by anyone.

Intellectual Property Theft and Piracy Makes It

Difficult for Creatives to Make Money
Intellectual property theft and piracy have made it more and more difficult for
creative people to make any money from their output. Media can be
digitalized and then distributed across the internet very easily, and the
process seems impossible to control. Ultimately, it will lead to a decline in
artistic and creative quality, as people no longer have the time and funds to
pursue projects. It can be difficult and time-consuming to track down every
thief or pirate, and there are often legal hurdles in the way.
The technological revolution has completely changed how we communicate
with each other. Texting and video conversations are now commonplace.
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash

Society Has Grown Dependent

Modern societies are increasingly dependent on technology. So much so, that
many core services such as hospitals, power grids, airports, rail and road
transport systems, and military defenses can now be knocked out by cyber
attack or a catastrophic failure. Humans would be almost helpless if the
technology was taken away overnight. We have stopped making things with
our own hands and learning how to live off the land.

There Is an Overwhelming Amount of Information

We are increasingly becoming overwhelmed by the information overload that
modern technology brings, as we are bombarded by irrelevant emails, sales
telephone calls, text messages, internet advertising, etc. Rather than saving
us time, new technology means that we are expected to process more and
more information and work even more intensively. Feeling pressured to
constantly be up to date can be exhausting and enact a mental toll.

Technology Causes Environmental Problems

Technology brings all sorts of environmental problems. As well as machines
and devices often being made from toxic or non-biodegradable materials,
most technologies need a power source, which can often mean an increase in
the consumption of electricity and fossil fuels. Aside from power, some
technology produces materials that are toxic. Although farming technology
allows for cheaper and more diverse food options, the technology that makes
it all—such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers—can be detrimental to
humans and the environment.

Technology Can Be Dehumanizing

Technology has a general dehumanizing effect. Aside from the workplace, the
military is increasingly becoming more technological. An example is pilotless
drone aircraft, which can attack and kill people with the controller thousands
of miles away. This causes a disconnect, which is particularly dangerous
when it comes to human lives.
 Technology is supposed to make our lives easier,
allowing us to do things more quickly and
efficiently. But too often it seems to make things
harder, leaving us with fifty-button remote controls,
digital cameras with hundreds of mysterious
features and book-length manuals, and cars with
dashboard systems worthy of the space shuttle.

— James Surowiecki, American journalist

Technology: A Double-Edged
Sword
The technological revolution will only continue—and we must learn how to
adapt to all of this new technology. There are advantages and disadvantages
to every advancement made, so it is impossible to deem technology a good or
bad thing. The only thing we can do is try to utilize our newfound knowledge
and resources to improve our world, rather than destroy it.