The influence of modern technology on Society Essay Example

The influence of modern technology on Society Essay 1. Introduction While engineering is frequently described as the most of import influence upon society ( ref ) , it remains a topic which deserves further survey. This state of affairs is by and large accepted, with politicians, sociologists, industrialists and educationists likewise recognizing that engineering lies at the very bosom of society ( Chandler, 1996 ) . The critical function that engineering dramas in the development of society, exciting non merely the economic system but society’s socio-cultural values, instead than being simply a tool of society, nevertheless, is referred to as ‘technological determinism’ ( Underwood, 2009 ) . It is this facet of how engineering drives modern society that this essay addresses. We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of modern technology on Society specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of modern technology on Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of modern technology on Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Social advancement has come to be equated with proficient advancement, peculiarly since the Industrial Revolution ( Beniger, 1989 ) . This advancement has non ever been acknowledged at the clip it was happening ; so, as Beniger farther notes, ‘human society seems instead to germinate mostly through alterations so gradual as to be all but unperceivable, at least compared to the generational rhythms of the persons through whose lives they unfold’ ( 1989, p. 2 ) . Possibly because of this ‘historical myopia’ , the value of the alteration may non be evaluated until the alterations has already passed ( Beniger, 1989, p. 2 ) . Critics such as Henry David Thoreau, for case, suggested that betterments in society’s proficient agencies are no warrant of improved terminals, and that they may alternatively take to a mechanistic and fatalistic mentality, situating that we do non sit upon the railway ; it rides upon us ( 1845, p. 308 ) . Therefore, engineering its elf becomes an overruling preoccupation, for it neer stops still. Technological promotion seems of import at the clip to different ages in different societies, psychologically if non practically ; in a assortment of modern societies, for illustration, immature people soon feel a heightened empathy with the digital age ( Bennett and Maton, 2010 ) . However, non all sectors of the community will be straight involved with, portion an apprehension, or even see the relevancy, of the latest technological innovations. However, as de Tocqueville ( 1990, p. twenty-two ) noted in 1840, ‘this societal revolution, which I believe to be irresistible†¦ is already accomplished or about to be so’ , and therefore acknowledgment of it is acknowledgment of the past every bit much as the present. The current revolution in engineering, known diversely as the ‘Information Age’ or ‘Age of Technology’ , likewise is grim: the older individual who is loath to utilize a computing machine has a life shaped by others’ usage of computing machines and may even accept a basic Mobile telephone, one time considered a glamorous accoutrement ( Coeckelbergh, 2012 ) . As globalization becomes an progressively important factor in countries’ economic success, technological competency is going an indispensable tool for lasting and booming non merely in society, but in its component parts, such as employment, instruction, agribusiness, and industry. 2. Advantages and disadvantages of modern technological advancement The younger coevals today, like many old coevalss, seeks to alter the universe and do it a better and more comfy topographic point in which to populate ( Griswold, 2012 ) . They want to be subscribers to peace, economic reforms, the betterment of public services and many other facets of the society. For them, the best manner to lend to these alterations is through modern engineering. ( Weiser and Brown, 1997 ) . This does non needfully intend that young person wants to do a immense alteration on the position of the universe where they grew up, or that they merely want to divide off from the norms of society. Alternatively, they believe that the progresss in communicating, through technological agencies, will ease societal alteration as no old coevals has had the chance to larn so much, so genuinely, from one another ( Griswold, 2012 ) . The ability for real-time conversations, forums, information exchange, visual image of other civilizations, and greater societal equality across the universe has developed more in the last 20-25 old ages than at any other clip in history. This has allowed commentary on state of affairss as they develop, instead than strictly through the position of written media. For illustration, the function of societal media during the ‘Arab Spring’ , non merely through Twitter but Facebook and other societal media platforms, provided contextualisation for the media studies at a clip when media bias is progressively critically examined ( Khondker, 2011 ) . Therefore, this coevals is able to corroborate journalists’ reading of an event, even in movie, with those who are take parting on both sides of the event, every bit good as insouciant perceivers. This is alone in history. The grade to which unchained entree to sentiment, counter-opinion, coverage, and propaganda will truly reshape the universe is yet to be determined. The Habermasian reading of the development of the populace sphere holds some analogies, as the democratization of critical analysis unfolded in fin-de-siecle Viennese java houses ( Habermas, 1989 ) . Harmonizing to di Maggioet Al.( 2001 ) extensive societal effects , both optimistic and pessimistic, have been claimed for many communications engineerings before our current computer-based age of information engineering. The alleged I.T. revolution ( which tends to be presented as the ‘final’ communications revolution ) can be seen as holding been preceded by the ‘writing revolution’ and ‘the print revolution’ , and merely the latest stage of an ‘electronics revolution’ which began with telegraphy and telephone. Winston ( 1998 ) criticises technological determinism and alternatively develops his theory of cultural determinism. In this theory, Winston considers non how engineering shapes society, but instead that the development of engineering, which is non inactive, is mediated and manipulated by society. Therefore, as a consequence of these tactics, the ‘radical potential’ of a specific engineering is stifled ; socie ty therefore merely accepts that which it believes itself to be in a place to accept ( Winston, 1998 ) . Systems and machines like computing machines, nomadic phones and runing systems, which merely involve one chink on the computing machine, replace the things which used to takes hours or even yearss. Almost every place has a computing machine and telephone, and persons within those places frequently each have a nomadic phone ( Bennett and Maton, 2010 ) . For some people, the application of engineering is the lone technique for them to develop forbearance, as even the boring concern of waiting can be ameliorated by maintaining busy with a nomadic phone, particularly for young person. One of the most of import advantages of modern engineering is globalization, which has allowed the universe to experience ‘closer’ , and permitted the universe s economic system to go a individual, mutualist system ( Barrell and Fic, 2014 ) . This means that people can non merely portion information rapidly and expeditiously, but can besides convey down barriers of lingual and geographic boundaries. Zhong ( 2007 ) observes that, in today s stock markets, fiscal substructure, planetary intelligence administrations, powerful armed forcess, strong authoritiess and large corporations, instantaneous communicating is an plus society can non afford to lose. The cyberspace allows interconnectedness and promotes globalization and information sharing. The decrease in the cost of instantaneous communicating over the last 20 old ages have well expanded its possible, by doing it accessible to developing every bit good as developed economic systems. However, modern engineering does non convey advantages but some disadvantages every bit good. The similarity of life styles, whereby communicating channels homogeneousness, can hold hurtful effects ( Griswold, 2012 ) . Before the rise of movie, telecasting, and the cyberspace, people had different civilizations and traditions that were reflected in the manner they wear apparels or design edifices. Now, in a signifier of crawling conformance, people tend to construct the same theoretical accounts of house and wear the same manners. The new, modern engineering is first-class in many ways, but its philosophical, physiological, and psychological effects remain unknown in a period when technological interaction and unrecorded communicating through computing machine usage, cyberspace confab, nomadic phones, and SMS texts are portion of the mundane life of -teenagers and the young person of today. This non merely includes issues such as the argument on whether nomadic telephones increase the likeliness of encephalon tumors, but the behavioral responses of kids to ‘instant’ satisfaction, or whether nomadic phone dependence will go a important disablement ( di Maggioet al. ,2001 ) . These are issues which remain unsolved ; their declaration will non be immediate. 3. The vision of adolescents in this twenty-four hours and age With the growing of engineerings as the cyberspace and computing machines, adolescents and immature people are going more disjointed from society ( Griswold, 2012 ) . Isolation is one signifier of this job. The Nipponese phenomenon ofhikikomori,whereby immature people ( normally, males, and more progressively, grownups ) sequester themselves, utilizing merely engineering to maintain in touch with society, is believed to impact about two million people worldwide ( Longo, 2010 ) . Social interaction consequences in degrees of emphasis and hurt to the grade that persons can non get by, and seek safety alternatively in an environment which they feel is to the full within their control. Additionally, instruction is being transformed by engineering. Stimulating pupils is non a affair of doing a great address or a dominant lesson any longer ; pedagogues need to be brought down to a adolescent s degree of understanding ( Weiser and Brown, 1997 ) . The demand and wants of modern young person are really different from those of their parents, as can be seen inhikikomori( Longo, 2010 ) . The most inspiring tool for teens and their life style is the cyberspace, nomadic engineerings, and computing machines ( Griswold, 2012. Adolescents and immature people besides have changed in comparing with teens in the yesteryear, taking into history eating wonts, an active manner of life, passing free clip, and the importance of music and manner. The affordability of many of these factors has changed well since, for illustration, the post-war coevals ( Bennett and Maton, 2010 ) . The most of import alteration, nevertheless, is that they are a engineering coevals. For teens in today s universe, nomadic phones, cyberspace, music, films, telecasting and picture games are really of import. Most adolescents prefer watching telecasting and playing computing machine games to reading books. They dislike reading because watching telecasting or playing on-line role-playing games is easier and they do non hold to utilize their ain imaginativeness ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . Computer games have the capacity to supply learning chances but they are besides harmful to wellness ( Longo, 2010 ) . Teenagers prefer to pass free clip in forepart of a computing machine instead than to walk, play football, go to a swimming pool, or merely merely run into a friend in the park and have a confab. The long term effects of these alterations are non likely to be apparent for at least three more coevalss. Harmonizing to di Maggioet Al.( 2001 ) , the cyberspace expands day-to-day and reaches more and more people globally. As a society, betterments in literacy may lift due to the growing of the cyberspace. The immature coevals can non conceive of their day’s prep without the support of the one of most of import modern technological developments, the cyberspace. The cyberspace is really utile and an of import tool for surveies, as there they are able to see the latest studies and articles, discovery and practise exercisings which are relevant to their surveies, every bit good as submit assignments and other work. Further, a adolescent s societal life becomes inextricably linked to societal networking, particularly through unrecorded confab and Facebook. They would instead state that this is the easiest manner to pass on with each other, every bit good as larning new things and holding merriment ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . Many things can be done through the cyberspace. Young people can download music and other files and play on-line games with their existent or practical friends. In this manner, hence, the cyberspace influences the adolescent position to the universe and its hereafter. It besides gives them an chance to interact with other teens and discuss relevant issues. One of import facet of teens utilizing cyberspace is their freedom to post unfavorable judgment of authorities leaders. Young persons have limited abilities to pass on meaningfully with authorities as they can non vote ; the cyberspace permits them to give their beliefs about what is incorrect and what is right from their point of position, ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . On societal web sites young persons can hold dealingss and communicating with their friends or merely person who is far off from their places and around the universe, chew the fating on the worldwide web, e-mailing or merely playing games. This has been extended well with the coming of smart phones ( Bennett and Maton, 2010 ) . Using the cyberspace adolescents can travel shopping with their friends utilizing the same web site, usage mikes or cameras to movie themselves, about in the same manner as they would travel out together for existent shopping. Therefore, the populace sphere – through recreational confab every bit good as more complex interactions – is extended in the mode kindred to that described by Habermas ( 1989 ) . However, this alteration to ‘life online’ agencies that, necessarily, many existent universe jobs manifest themselves in the cyberspace, and so hold a farther existent universe effect. This can be seen in the phenomenon of cyber intimidation. Cyber strong-arming marks the gender, physical attraction and friendly relationships of kids and adolescents ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . Victims do non cognize what to make or where to turn. Cyber toughs harass victims anonymously. The psychological harm is hideous because the victim s ain equals have turned on them and there is nowhere for them to travel, with teenage self-destructions and attempted self-destructions reported in the yesteryear ( Griswold, 2013 ) . A ‘dis-connect’ from human reactions could lend to cyber intimidation. Peoples learn to pass on largely through text messages or online, and do non larn of import facets of human interaction, such as noticing and accepting non-verbal signals ( Griswold, 2013 ) . Without these signals and features it is easy to be misunderstood and for the victim to be dehumanised ( di Maggioet al. ,2001 ) . This is besides true of online dating ( Winston, 1998 ) . Peoples are usually cognizant of what person is stating or non stating, through gesticulations and voice tones. Without these cues, it is hard to appreciate how the other individual is experiencing and whether there is genuinely a connexion. Young person can get down to experience as if who they are is non recognised, that they are reviled or that cipher wants them, when for illustration the text message or electronic mail was merely non received. Young people have created and developed a communicating civilization that incorporates many particular characteristics, such as a rise in the usage of text-based communicating channels ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . Teenagers intersecting and selective usage of communicating channels has been shaped by multimedia communicating ( Weiser and Brown, 1997 ) . Therefore, their public domain utilises a wider scope of platforms than antecedently ; however, it is still simply an extension of the populace sphere, merely as telecasting and newspapers were ( Habermas, 1989 ) . Regardless of their signifier, the media landscapes created by adolescents serve to joint their personal infinite, every bit good as enabling their presentation of ego and specifying their relationships to others ) . This can be seen in immature people s relationship to the nomadic phone and other signifiers of synergistic engineering, which is consistent with their general ingestion manners. An habit-forming usage of the phone has been related to trendy and unprompted ingestion manners prevalent among females ( Davies and Eynon, 2013 ) . Technology enthusiasm and trend-consciousness was linked to unprompted ingestion and difficult values more prevailing among males ( di Maggioet al. ,2001 ) . In contrast, a economical Mobile phone usage was non related to gender but to environmentalism and thrifty ingestion in general. The traditional gender division in nomadic phone usage manners that could be observed is interesting in the visible radiation of speculations that genders are going more likewise in their usage of new engineering. The increasing tendency towards ‘instant gratification’ that has been fed by high rates of recognition over the last 30 old ages is exacerbated by a n restlessness facilitated by devices such as smart phones ( Griswold, 2012 ) . The net consequence of several of several coevalss for whom this is true has non yet been realised. 4. Decision Technology is one of a figure of interceding factors in human behavior and societal alteration, which both Acts of the Apostless on and is acted upon by other phenomena. Bing critical of technological determinism is non to dismiss the importance of the fact that the proficient characteristics of different communicating engineerings facilitate different sorts of usage, though the possible applications of engineerings are non needfully realised. Enthusiasm for technological progress typically involves technological determinism. As Potter and Sarre ( 1974, p. 485 ) , cautiousness that, in reaction to the alterations taking topographic points amongst today’s youth, there is obviously an unmistakable tone of moral disapproval directed against cultural interval – that is, oppositions to structural and normative versions occasioned by invention . This is non new. Every coevals expresses concern for the gait and nature of alteration, and inquiries whether alteration is driving society or society desires the alterations wrought. In the interim, the technological revolution will enable people’s lives to be easier, in ways such as societal interaction, instruction, fabrication, and so on. Withdrawing from the grade to which engineering has shaped society will be really hard, and probably to take to large-scale economic pandemonium ( Barrell and Fic, 2013 ) . The rise in costs, for illustration, through slower communications or manual fabrication methods, would ensue in an overwhelming, if impermanent drain on the economic system ; nevertheless, given the lessening in fossil fuel handiness, this may be a hereafter that society needs to see. Worlds are extremely adaptable, as the integrating of alteration antecedently has demonstrated. There may be a societal cost in this, as Thoreau ( 1854 ) speculated, but this flexibleness has permitted societies of many different signifiers to boom for millenary. The autonomy for people discuss alteration, as Habermas ( 1989 ) has described, has expanded in the last t hree hundred old ages. However, minds such as Thoreau and Habermas are prepared to oppugn non merely technological advancement but alteration in its most simple signifier. This is what will continue humanity from suicidal alteration. Many people may experience that adolescents are inadvertently ‘walking into’ suicidal alteration through their eager credence of engineering in every facet of their lives ( di Maggioet al. ,2001 ) . Whilst this may be a legitimate concern, it should besides be borne in head that adolescents are non simply being controlled by devices but are utilizing devices to ease alteration – through societal media. This was evident during the ‘Arab Spring’ ( Khondker, 2011 ) , and was widely welcomed. Enthusiasm for technological progress typically involves technological determinism. As Potter and Sarre ( 1974, p. 485 ) , cautiousness that, in reaction to the alterations taking topographic points amongst today’s young person, ‘there is obviously an unmistakable tone of moral disapproval directed against cultural interval – that is, oppositions to structural and normative versions occasioned by invention . This is non new. 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