ACADEMIA FORŢELOR TERESTRE „NICOLAE BĂLCESCU”

LIMBA ENGLEZĂ
ESSAY

„Technology - with all its promise and potential - has gotten so far
beyond human control that its threatening the future of humankind.”
 „Technology - with all its promise and potential - has gotten so far beyond human
control that its threatening the future of humankind.”

Kim J. Vicente
Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods and processes
used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives,
such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the knowledge of techniques,
processes or it can be embedded in machines, computers, devices and factories,
which can be operated by individuals without detailed knowledge of the workings
of such things.
The human species' use of technology began with the conversion of natural
resources into simple tools. The prehistoric discovery of how to control fire and the
later Neolithic Revolution increased the available sources of food and the invention
of the wheel helped humans to travel in and control their environment.
Developments in historic times, including the printing press, the telephone, and
the Internet, have lessened physical barriers to communication and allowed
humans to interact freely on a global scale.
We are living in an Information Age where technology and knowledge bases are advancing at an
explosive rate. According to Schilling, at an average, the magnitude human knowledge is now doubling every
13 months at the current rate. The over-whelming effects of this knowledge are all around us as cutting edge
technology is rendered obsolete in the blink of an eye due to further advancements. It would be illogical to
believe that we should abandon technology, because in many cases, it will be the difference for a better
tomorrow.
The everyday lives of people have changed a great deal due to the advent of
technology. They have become easier, faster, more comfortable and dynamic. But,
at the same time, our lives have become lethargic, preposterous and anti-social just
like the computers that have become a part and parcel of our lives. The technology
has enriched our lives and enlightened our minds, but in pursuit of its cozy
comforts, people tend to be over-reliant on it, so much that they can’t even imagine
living without it. This pointless obsession and abuse of technology in our lives has
left us vulnerable and weak. No doubt, the advancements brought us
unprecedented physical, medical and other benefits, but this over-reliance will
prove costly for the survival of the human race.
As a result of the pursuit of better quality of life, some dependence on
technology is unavoidable because we would all like to have clean running water,
healthy diet, and protection from terrible diseases, provision of power and different
electronic tools for our businesses as well as other material comforts and amenities
in our lives. Technology especially in the face of rapidly increasing population
helps us in utilizing the Earth’s resources more efficiently. It is due to technology
that human race is surviving the unprecedented population expansion and without
it, the human race would have died out long ago in a global hunger Armageddon.
I think that technology has benefits and disadvantages too.
Firstly, one person would not move from house. He can order something to
eat by telephone. He can also buy clothes by Internet. This kind of service is used
delivery system, so he doesn’t need to move from his house. This is one of benefits
of technology called transportation. If we don’t have a telephone, it’s too
inconvenient. We can’t talk to people who live a long distance from our house,
even in the same town. If we don’t have a TV or radio, we can’t get exact
information about the world. If we don’t have a car, we can’t go too far.
Secondly technology in the world is very important, because everything such
as all personal data, banking, records, and drivers licenses are in the computers. If
they stop, we can't do anything. This is not good for us.
The ability for people to surround themselves with the familiar by using
their iPod is appealing because it rarely provides the listener with something
unexpected or unknown. However, it can be argued that this is a bad thing. By
constantly being cut off from personal interactions and new experiences because of
a technological device, a generation with substandard social abilities is being
groomed. If we do not have to face reality by experiencing new things, making
personal relationships, and problem solving, then we will never be able to function
as adults.
Therefore, we are sometimes depending on technology too much.
Technology is a negative influence on us because it separates individuals
from reality. The iPod is one example; by putting in your earbuds and immersing
yourself in music while in public, you are disconnecting yourself from the real
world. For some people, the main appeal of the iPod is that it preoccupies you so
that you do not have to deal with the uncontrollable factors of everyday life.
Technology hinders personal communication, which negatively impacts our
age-group. Although “our culture heralds the Internet as a technological wonder,
there are suggestions that Internet use has a negative influence on individuals and
their social skills. Data shows that those who use the Internet frequently spend over
100 minutes less time with friends and family than non-Internet users.
The Internet actually detracts from the communication abilities of society,
especially the young. When our communication skills are gradually lessened, we
begin spending less time talking to families, experiencing more daily stress, and
feeling more lonely and depressed. In our formative teen years, lack of personal
communication due to excessive Internet usage can have an overall negative effect
on mental and physical health. Communication skills are critical for everyone, yet
use of the Internet is undermining this development.
 But on the other hand there are negative effects of technology lingering in
our lives. By neglecting basic human and mammalian instincts like socializing,
family life and physical exertion, we have become artificial and hollow. Although
we are reaping benefits, we are losing the little of the precious humanity left in our
lives due to over-indulgence.
I believe the advancement of technology has negatively impacted our social
interactions because it detaches us from what is happening around us, obstructs
communication, and spreads the concept of instant gratification. Society must be
able to utilize technology while not allowing it to impede social interactions,
particularly for those who are easily influenced during our formative years. Our
world must learn to embrace technology without allowing it to negatively impact
the creation of functional adults in society.
In conclusion, technology has affected our lives deeply. We simply cannot
imagine living without it. It has increased our lifespan and quality of living. It has
brought us closer to each other in certain ways and drifted away in others. Without
it, our lives would have been simpler, harder, poorer, isolated, unimaginative,
disconnected and dangerous.