Techno Confusion

Advanced technology can sometimes cause communications side effects.
December 5, 2005

JESSICA GREGER, SouthsideHigh School

Can you imagine life without modern technology? No computers, cell phones, iPods or DVDs? Americans are becoming more dependent each day on technology they couldn't have even imagined a few years ago. These new inventions are shaping our society and affecting us in positive and negative ways.

Most children are growing up with easy access to computers, DVDs, iPods and cell phones. While this undoubtedly helps kids grow intellectually and provides a wealth of information, one drawback is the effect on socialization among youths. The popularity of instant messaging, for instance, has enabled teens to communicate and share lots of information, often with people they hardly know, and sometimes with people they don't know at all. Picking up the phone or actually talking face-to-face with friends is becoming a rare occurrence.

Is this a good thing? Future generations will know how to copy and paste, but will they be able to ask someone out to dinner or use common courtesies? Watts Wacker, a business CEO for FirstMatter, explains the effect Internet has on relationships, "People used to have only a few deep relationships in their lifetimes. Now people have a great many deep relationships that last nanoseconds." With half the population in America now owning a computer, according to PC Magazine, this is something to consider.

Jimmy Guterman, an employee at PC Magazine, says technology "has gone from merely changing the way we get through the day to defining our way of life." We are now accustomed to poor mobile phone reception, computer crashes and the frustrating loss of work.

Technology allows us to multi-task like never before, but also prevents us from being able to quietly sit down and think for ourselves. It enables us to accomplish things faster and easier, but we find ourselves consumed with virus scans and the problems software can cause.

Another evil is providing distractions and making us reset our priorities without thinking. For instance, family might come second to phone calls, e-mail or other electronic devices. Then people become impatient.

You might partake in fewer activities with other people, resorting to online interactions. Not to mention the annoying cell phone calls that disrupt everyone during performances or meetings.

Of course, technology does provide access to many places of the world and overcomes geographic barriers as well as handicaps, but, on the other hand, society is starting to lack in communication skills. It is simple to send a quick e-mail to a friend describing an important event, but could we actually meet him in person and talk about it?

Technology also affects school and education. In the 21st century, it is almost expected that students have a laptop for college. This can be a negative, by adding to already stressed budgets.

In public schools, it is hard to get by without a computer, or at least access to one. Teachers request that reports be researched and papers be typed. Databases and online encyclopedias are replacing books and other hard documents of information. Some schools, however, can't afford to provide computers and the latest software because they are still trying to find funds for staplers and paper.

It has been said that education is a factor that can balance our futures and determine what we become. If so, students with access to computers and technology have an edge over those who do not. This unfair advantage causes others to be left behind, having a limited base of knowledge.

Technology also tends to hinder discovery, causing laziness. People tend to stop inquiring and finding answers for themselves, like great minds were forced to do before such technology.

So, before you reach for your cell phone or run to get the newest, life-changing invention, think about what you're doing. Remember technology has benefits and drawbacks. Every day we become more dependent on its conveniences as well as its annoyances.

Perhaps the solution is to know where to draw the line. No doubt technology is invading our lives whether we want it to or not, and it all has side effects. Looking back 20 years, we have come a long way. The next 20 are sure to be just as electrifying.