IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON

RECREATIONAL LIFE AND

ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
Utilizing technology for recreation and adventure activities partly involves identifying with particular
groups who share similar interests and can easily fit into such activities. Availability of vehicles for
example in the early 1930s made it possible for people from various walks of life to meet and fulfil
desired undertakings be it going to concerts, partying or any other recreational activity.
From these meetings, the activities started to gain popularity in the 50’s especially among the youth
as the ideas for recreation gained significance and led to a progression of these thoughts into actual
activities. It is these same people that would come up with innovations and platforms that would turn
imagination into reality.
 THE REVOLUTION

• Teaming up with major stakeholders saw the induction of technology to these

ideas and technology took over as the major influence of implementation of
these ideas. The early 80s played host to a wide range of inventions and as time
lapsed, more and more outdoor activities became safer, easier and more fun.
• In the early 90’s the internet was faced out to the public and this industrial
revolution gave birth to a technological boom that stretched up to the early 21st
century. Developments and Improvements in the industry facilitated changes in
recreational life and adventure activities as we experience them today.
 HOW DO TECHNOLOGY INFLUENCED
RECREATION AND THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE?

• The invention, Innovation, improvement revolution, and change; all these terms come to mind when
identifying the technological impacts, achievements, and progress. Looking at the big picture, almost
all aspects and activities of our day-to-day lives are influenced by technology. Whether it is work
related or recreation activities, we cannot ignore the impact of technology on life and adventure
activities.
• As the world evolves, so does the human need for adventure and interesting recreational activities.
Why? To take the edge off the seriousness that is life and the basic human nature of pursuit of
prosperity and success.
• It is basic human instinct to go out and have fun just to feel good and fill the void brought about by
work challenges, family situations, stress related complication and the dire need to stand out from
other fellow humans.
 COMMUNICATION IS KEY

• With the advent of the fast internet, almost everything once thought impossible
now seems as easy as spreading butter on a slice of bread. Social media has
made the world a global village; fast internet has changed our viewership
experience; 3D technology has kept the cinema business alive; new inventions
like modern train stations and convenient transportation like Uber has greatly
contributed to improvement of our outdoor activities and last but not least we
cannot ignore the role technology has played in making our streets safer and
more comfortable to walk on.
• Communication in a wide spectrum is one of the most influential ways of
influencing our daily outdoor activities. The smartphone age has done its fair
share of ensuring convenience when choosing recreational activities to take part
in.
• Popular messaging apps like Whatsapp, Messenger, and BBM just to name a
few, have replaced the conventional SMS we were used to a few years ago. That
means you can connect with anyone and share any digital information through a
mobile device no matter the geographical difference. Group texting has made it
possible for people with similar interests to meet and enjoy outdoor activities.
• A few years ago communication was either by word of mouth, phone calls,
faxes, posters or audio-visual broadcasts example radios and TV. Simply put, for
one to get the word around, it took time, money, a lot of effort and patience of
which more often than not would not yield desired results.
• Nowadays almost all information passes through the internet. It is like this giant
capsule that acts as the source and go-to option when in need of capturing a wide
audience. Amazingly, the limits as to what the internet can do are seen far
beyond reach. Visual communication platforms like Skype now sound like
ancient technology taken for granted by the upcoming generation.
 SEAMLESS OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES
• Technology has transformed outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, skiing, surfing, and
camping. Communication companies through revolutionary technology have broadened
connection services to remote areas that play host to these outdoor activities. Need to navigate
unfamiliar mountains easily and safely? Use Google Maps.
• Need to communicate as a large group? Use 36-mile radios. In the case of an emergency, just use
Personal Locator Beacons (PRBs) or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).
Seamless technology at your disposal increases the potential of you to have safe, convenient and
fulfilling outdoor experiences.
• As the amount of leisure time increases, so does the need for effortless, convenient and limitless
recreation activities. Recognition of the importance of leisure activities gave rise to the leisure
society in the mid 90’s.
• The recognition of importance of leisure activities became the hallmark for the development of
socio-economic benchmarks that would enable the industrialized population to be more active.
Technology became a platform for the derivation of these recreational activities and the need to
fill this vacuum inspired the dawn of the technological revolution as we see it today.
 TECHNOLOGY AND EXTREME SPORTS
• Investing your valuable time in recreation for societal growth needs to be justified
and backed up by technology. Inventions that make this possible such as all-terrain
vehicles, vehicles that make it easier to navigate the waterfront such as aqua
vehicles and fly-boarders play a part in influencing the choice of outdoor activities.
• These new inventions make it easier to sell the idea of taking 
advantage of technology when taking part in outdoor activities. Extreme sports
such as archery, off-road driving, hunting, scuba diving, bungee jumping,
parachuting and other forms of dangerous but adventurous activities are now safer
and more accommodating. Adrenaline junkies have technology to thank as their
only limit is their own imagination.
 CONCLUSION

• The impact technology is a blade that cuts both ways. Mitigating the negative
influences of new technology is as important as embracing the good side of it.
One way of ensuring technology improves socio-economic development with
regards to technology and recreation is stopping the negative effects way before
they arise; nipping it in the bud so to say.
• This involves coming up with ways of making sure the young generation
specifically children grow up experiencing better ways of spending their free
time away from cell phones, the TV, and video games. That is the best way we
can get the best out of the impacts of technology to recreational life and
adventure activities.