Technology – A Blessing or a Curse

From day to day, our world has been changing gradually from one condition to another. New and innovative ideas emerge in the human mind that gives birth to a revolution in every field. The constant and quick flow of ideas leads to improvement in the existing technology. The result is the invention of new ways of faster communication, better means of transportation, good health care, and better medical treatment, etc.

People are always trying to find something new that will improve our lives dramatically. Some of the creations that have really changed our lives are the computer, telephone, internet, television, cell phone, microwave oven, etc. In the current times, people cannot imagine their life without technology. Various technologies are helping people to live life with more luxury. The technology sector is changing day by day by developing new products.

Technology is an absolute need we cannot escape from. It plays a very vital role in several aspects of our lives. In other words, it answers most of the problems of mankind. The basic aim of technology is to make life comfortable by making it easier.

Wikipedia defines technology as the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organisation in order to solve a problem or serve some purpose. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers its definition as “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area” and “a capability given by the practical application of knowledge”. Basically, technology implies the methods or techniques that help us do our work easily and efficiently,

The basic advantage of technology is that one can save time and money and make life easier. The tasks that consume a full long day can just be done in few hours without that mental and physical labour. Similarly technology has proven helpful in saving money. Cost-effective machines have been introduced which can work on their own at a very fast speed. If we have advanced technology, life is much easier as robots and machines would take over the daily life chores. For example, chores like serving the breakfast, preparing the lawn, cleaning the room, etc. can be handled by robots. There are new, developed, vehicles that will transport people anywhere rapidly so that one would not spend all those boring, long hours in a train to get to another place.

Another reason is that, unlike human beings, robots and machines do not make mistakes when programmed correctly. They always accomplish tasks perfectly. So one need not worry about making a blunder and courting trouble with technological machines people get help in every sector. Access to technology improves education. The internet creates opportunities for remote communities to exchange knowledge, culture and information. It increases communication between cultures and within families E-mail and instant messaging have promoted communication between cultures. It enables global intercourse and exchange of opinions in a non-threatening environment, Internet phone services like Skype allow cheap and instant interaction even when a person is travelling, Mobile phones serve a similar purpose.

Medical treatment has been giving exceptional results with the help of technology. Most of the hospitals use modern techniques as the assistance for the operation and for curing ailments. Doctors use new machines to produce medicines which effectively cure people and prolong life expectancy around the world.

People often denounce technology by calling it the downfall of man. Some say that it is to be blamed for the growing evil in this world. Internet has become the breeding ground for criminals. Cell phones cause accidents. Powerful weapons made with the help of technological advances are out to destroy the man who manufactured them.

The booming industrialization causes pollution. For example, the smoke coming out of the vehicles affects the air and the environment. Ozone layer is getting depleted by the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The result is the increase in the number of cancer patients.

The advent of machines has also led to various complications. If on the one hand, they do our work in lesser time, on the other, they are expensive, difficult to use and complex to manage. The use of computers has led to a large scale unemployment.

Modern technology is blamed for growing materialism in man as also for growing loneliness. The replacement of machines for man has led to the end of day to day intercourse and social interaction among men. Moreover, the sameness of lifestyle has been another seamy feature of technological lifestyle. The variety, vivacity and charm of life is lost.

The hard reality is that before we bash technology we should remember that technology has become a part of life. Day in and day out, we watch the television, surf internet, use a credit card, drive a car and so on. Thus, the blame lies not with technology but with the man who uses or misuses it.