Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology and Its Progress

Technology is the pulse of modern life. Everything around us is surrounded by technology, whether at home, street, work or school with thousands of technological inventions. Technology is a Greek word of origin, consisting of two parts, the first section: Techno, which means craft, skill or art. The second section: Logy, which means science or study (Technology, 2016). Thus, the word technology refers to the science of performance and application. The concept of technology is a common and commonly used word, defined as a comprehensive process of scientific knowledge systematically in all areas to achieve the practical aspects of society. Although the common concept of technology as many people think is the use of modern computers and devices, technology has its vast possibilities and complex inventions that help the humanity in many ways while it also has some bad effect on our lives.

One of the advantage technology has brought is the increase in productivity. Looking at rice yields around the globe, we can see a constant increase in yield as years are passing by. This is applicable for the rest of the crops as well. As China and India being one of the largest rice producers, from research we can see that productivity has improved over time due to innovations like more use of fertilizers, improved seeds and pesticides. Researchers using modern technology considered the different combinations of nutrients necessary for plant growth and the best components for bug repellents while giving the least side effects when consumed. Along with the types of machinery to save a great deal of time and effort to harvest these crops, this has helped in reducing global food shortage over the years as well. And the facilitation of mobility, through the use of modern means of transport such as the emergence of electric trains, aircraft and advanced shipping systems, save time and effort to countries and peoples in any line of works.

Another advantage is the vast development in the medical industry. The benefits of technology and scientific revolution has helped to combat diseases of all kinds through the development of antibiotics, the so-called biomedical technology, as well as the contribution of medical devices in radiography to the diagnosis of diseases and access to amazing results. When we look at our world 50 to 60 years back, we see death rates higher. People dying from diseases due to the lack of different types of equipment and medicines. Especially underdeveloped countries faced difficulties to meet the demand for facilities and health care. As years went by, along with mechanical improvements, more flexible drugs have been found and issued. These types of technological machinery and equipments have also facilitated complex and accurate surgeries, laparoscopic surgery, catheterization and pharmaceutical technology, which have contributed mainly to the treatment of intractable conditions and facilitate the work of doctors, nurses and pharmacists. With more and more hospitals and practices using medical technology like mobile devices on the job, physicians can now have access to any type of information they need – from drug information, research and studies, patient history or records, and more – within mere seconds. Physicians can now constantly conduct researches and test new procedures to help prevent, diagnose and cure diseases. Today we can check our heart rate and body fat using phone apps.

Advantages due to technology also includes the development of the education field. Over the years, innovations or inventions like the computer, internet and smart boards have made a great impact on education. Improved technology can enhance pedagogy relationships between students and teachers. When teachers are exposed to such technology, this makes them grow into roles of advisors and coaches and thus better teachers. Students can not only rely on teachers but access websites, online tutorials and more for assistance. Facilitate scientific research and access to information as quickly and cost-effectively as the Internet provides an accessible source for everyone to get the information you want. Technology has improved so vastly today we can get degrees and diplomas through online courses.

Along with technology came better and faster communication. There was a time when the most common method of communication was writing letters to one another. When we look at the process of writing and sending letters, it took days or sometimes months to receive. However, today we have better transport facilities like cars, motorcycles and faster trains improving the postal service hence, letters to be sent swiftly. After the invention of the wired telephone by Alexander graham bell, communication became easier. Later came the invention of the mobile phone in 1973 and the invention of the smartphone in the year 2000 which shook the world. While mobile phones allowed you to call and message anyone anywhere anytime, smartphones surpassed this by providing us video call and video conferences. Modern technology has blessed us with advanced communication technology tools. These can include e-fax machines, electronic mail, mobile phones, video conferencing, instant text messaging applications, social networking applications (Ramey, 2012). These gadgets also help to provide better service to the security service by introducing modern technology in the police, army and internal security, which maintains the national security of the state by monitoring suspects and thefts, maintaining internal security and peace for the state and society. In emergency situations, dial a three-digit number and emergency is at your doorstep within minutes. Surely technology has given a plenty of advantages in communication to this world.

Technology brings disadvantages along with its advantages. One of such disadvantage is the decrease in human labor in the world. Of course, technology brings innovations for faster and greater productivity. But this comes with an opportunity cost making people less suitable for the job. In factories before, people were used to making nearly everything. Products were mainly man-made goods. Introduction of new technology changed the whole process leading to many issues. The contention that automation and digital technologies are partly responsible for today’s lack of jobs has obviously touched a raw nerve for many worried about their own employment. For example, someone who creates a computer program to automate tax preparation might earn millions or billions of dollars while eliminating the need for countless accountants (Rotman, 2013). This also includes robots and advanced automation being sold to industries and its expansion during the last 20 years.

Along with medical improvement, technology has also brought in new diseases and increased risk of known diseases. One of such disease is texting finger syndrome. As one might have guessed from the name itself, this syndrome is caused by excessive texting overloading muscles and tendons attached to the thumb. Digital eye syndrome is also a case related to technology. Our eyes might not be suitable to ultra brightness yet too much bright screens, tend to blink less and move less in front of such computing, which dries out eyes and causes other major problems. With laziness comes another disease to the human body known as obesity. Ordering food instead of going out and playing online games with friends instead of an outdoor hangout has a huge negative impact on the human body. This leads to less body workout and movements resulting more fats. Accumulation of these extra calories overtime increases body weight and increase the risk of other diseases such as coronary diseases. We can even see that as years go by, people are gaining more weight and is diagnosed more for diseases which comes along with it.

People being lazier is also a disadvantage which came along with technology. Technology has become a source of entertainment for us without leaving the sofa. From the comfort of my own apartment, while watching the fight on ‘Pay per View’, I can pause mid-match to double check that my favorite songs on ‘iTunes’ have been downloaded or my playlists on ‘Spotify’ synced to my smartphone. I switch inputs on my television to my ‘PS3’ which has a ‘Blu-Ray DVD of Avatar’ in to watch one of my favorite clips. I then slip on my ‘XBOX 360’ headset to flip inputs again and finish up party chatting with my friends list, as they’ve been waiting for me to play a session of ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ with them. After a quick round, I flip back to ‘Pay per View’, resume the fight, and tweet out what’s happening on screen like a sports announcer, amusing myself with the flood of replies. That’s TV, movies, video games, hanging out with friends, and getting my music updated all without ever having to get up from my couch (MACALE, 2011). Nowadays, deliveries and ordering your necessary items like groceries or pizzas are only a call away with the help of phone applications. Students rely on calculators and phones for math problems and this kibosh the brain when the mind confronts tough situations. All this may seem advantageous and it is but it comes with a huge price where the people becoming extremely lazy.

Technology also has brought us various advanced weapons which can be a good accomplishment. Nuclear weapons itself might be good to prevent wars and encourage negotiation when conflicts occur. However, misuse of its powers against other countries results in long-term destruction such as mutation and diseases. If we look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing in 1945, we can see that to this day, after effects of radiation occurring in people living in that area. Nuclear weapons industry itself produces low radiation wastes which harm the environment surround industry and also the people. This is one of the ginormous nightmare and a huge threat that might result doomsday on earth or extinction of life in it due to advancement of technology.