03/15/2010 (10:54 am)
Filed under: nappedeptrole.com edit
What are thr good yet bad effects of technology?That is a very good question. It opens a lot of doors for follow up
questions.
Offhand, I can think of a couple of different directions to be
pursued:
Impact of technology on the environment
Impact of technology on society/politics
Impact of technology on health
Environment: arguably, one of the more hotly debated issues, and one
that likely has the most reference materiel. The Industrial Revolution
kicked off about 100 years worth of environmental negligence. The
increased use of fossil fuels increased pollution and will likely have
some far reaching effects. In addition, new checmicals were
manufactured that were toxic and improperly used or disposed of
causing further problems. Once we realized as a society that we were
causing harm, legislation and treaties were signed to stop or regulate
the extent to which we are polluting. Based upon those guidelines, new
technology is developed to both meet the existing demands as well as
satisfy the need to protect the environment. I would say that
technology initially was bad for the environment, but has since
redeemed itself (or is in the process of redeeming itself, depending
on your viewpoint).
Society/Politics: New advances in technology have in a sense made the
world smaller. We can visit and exchange goods with anyone around the
world within a day or two. Communication with anyone in the world is
nearly instantaneous. If you think about it, just a hundred years ago,
it took weeks, if not months, to cross the oceans. Now we can do it in
a couple of hours.
The result is that different cultures have unprecedented access to new
ideas. Without technology, could we have a McDonald's in Moscow? Or a
Taco Bell in Tokyo? This can be a mixed blessing as while we have
opened ourselves up to the world, from an anthropological standpoint,
all the different cultures are merging into one.
Health: I don't think that anyone would disagree to much of an extent
that technology has had the greatest impact on our health. We have
continuously extended our life span due to better medicines and
procedures. With mapping out the human genome, we can possibly prevent
diseases before they begin.
Overall, I believe that technology has had a more beneficial effect
than a negative one. It certainly hasn't been totally beneficial, but
the overall quality of life that we enjoy today is better in most
respects than it has been in the past.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong :-)Some colleges offer entire courses on this subject -- so there's a lot
more material out there than can be contained in a fairly concise
answer. Is there a way that you could narrow down the question?
Are you interested in technology at a particular time and place, such
as currently in the United States, or England during the Industrial
Revolution?
Are you most interested in a specific kind of technology? In other
words, would you accept an answer relating to one technology, such as
the computer or the microwave oven?
Do you just want a compilation of the best web pages (or books) on
this topic, or do you need an essay? If you need an essay, how long
should it be (keeping in mind the price that you have offered to pay
for it)?#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
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