In today’s era, technology dominates our daily lives. Looking over history, it is undeniable that technology has made a great impact on society. Whether it is healthcare, communication, or education, technology has made it, so we are living in the future. However, it is important to note that technology comes with some substantial drawbacks, but they are nothing compared to how our society has improved thanks to technology. Here are just a few of the many areas in which technological improvements have changed the way we live.
Connection and communication
Technology has given us the ability to talk to someone across the world in seconds. This was not even imaginable a few decades ago, and today we expect nothing less. Social media and the internet have bridged geographical and cultural connections. You can talk to your friend in Korea, buy some chocolates from Sweden and get your specific grocery list delivered to your house all while sitting on the toilet (if you are interested in that). Want to talk to someone but don’t know the language? You have the ability to speak any language at your fingertips. Technology has allowed us to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, enriching our lives as we know them.
Healthcare
Thanks to today’s technology, we have medical devices and medicines that the world has never seen before. It has never been easier to find diagnoses and treatments in hospitals and at home. Did you break your leg? No worries; the hospital will take care of you faster than ever before. Sick at home? You can head to your local pharmacy and have an almost overwhelming number of medicine choices because of our technical breakthroughs. Accuracy, speed, accessibility and healthcare are at the best they have ever been, technologically speaking, at least.
Education
Online colleges did not even exist until the 1990s; ever since then, distance learning has continued to grow and expand in so many directions. Students can access high-quality education and content from anywhere in the world, which was an amazing tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. The internet has also given us the ability to learn about any topic at any time, giving us a more personalized way of learning. This enables people to progress at their own pace and focus on what interests them—everything from why the sky is blue to how to make cupcakes without an oven.
In the grand scheme of things, technology has indeed improved and transformed society for the better. It has connected long-lost friends, saved lives and expanded our educational opportunities. There are people who say the world has become a slave to technology, but that is inaccurate. Are you a slave to the hammer when you refuse to push the nail in with your hand? No, it is a tool—a tool that we use to better our lives. Now, technology has its drawbacks, but they are nothing when compared to what it has offered us. To harness the benefits of technology, society must find a balance. We must continue to adapt and innovate technology in ways that maximize its positive impact on the world. The evolution of technology is constantly expanding, and I can only imagine what it has to offer us.
Presley Zimmerman can be reached at [email protected]