In these past years technology has been such a huge part of society. Everyone has computers nowadays. It's interesting to see how much they can be a part of our lives. Smartphones are starting to break out in our age group as well, which we could consider small computers in our pockets. We're so attached to them too, constantly texting or checking Facebook. Not only this sort of technology but any sort of business is in constant need of some sort of technology. From a law firm requiring computers for documents to an auto shop needing computers for maintenance and analytics of engines.
With the requirement for all this technology, requirements for current day tasks grow larger, thus better and faster technology is created. In the PCWorld article below, they outline the changes and advances in upcoming technology. Since the article was posted in 2008, about two years ago now, we can see that a good amount of their list was definitely true. Especially the cell phone section - "Where you at? Ask your phone, not your friend" is typically is a true statement now a days (Null). So many people can use theirs cell phone to triangulate where you are and often the "ask for directions" saying is dead. The author of the article hit some good sections of future technology advancements which, two years later, are now true. Typically PCWorld, them being such a large part in technology, knows what they're talking about when they have been dealing with technology for many years now.
Since the technology is changing rapidly it means that there are easier ways to do things. With the already bigger companies utilizing the past technology, it's sometimes harder for them to "get with the times" as some would say since they can't easily switch to the new technology typically. Making use of all these technology advances are now the start-up companies.The New York Times article puts it best - "Yet advances in technology keep changing the context, and thus opening doors to new ways of doing things. The lean start-up model is a set of management practices adapted to today’s Web and Internet technologies." (Lohr) Start-up's now take advantage of the newer technologies and are able to advance further, more quickly than past start-ups. Take a look at Facebook and Twitter. The boom of these two companies were able to take advantage of the newer technology combining mobile technology with modern computer's with internet access. Since society of today uses both of these technologies it was able to boom since it was such a useful thing to be a part of. The New York Times article talks about how the start-ups can actually teach the bigger companies something because of using these newer technologies.
The changes in technology make you question the future of our world. Will smaller companies eventually be the premise and bulk of our society? How much will be automated in our future world? Will such technologies be part of our human rights to have access to such things? In some countries, access to broadband internet is actually a right. Who knows what will be in store for our future world. With the technology advances speeding up so rapidly and the requirements of everyday tasks, it seems that we can't live without it.
I believe this to be so true. Technology has advanced so rapidly in the past dozen years, to the point where its rare that someone doesn't have a computer in their home. I noticed to said that in some places there is a "right" to broadband, this is just ridiculous. I feel sorry for our grandparents and the elderly today because times have so rapidly changed that its hard for them to adjust to such technology. I know my grandparents have a hard time working the internet, but my 9 year old cousin can log on and has his own Facebook account. Its just so sad to see that eventually, everyone will be relying on this technology and wont have a choice.
ReplyDeleteOur society is built around technology, without technology our current society would simply fall apart. Such reliance on technology could ultimately decrease our productivity in certain tasks. It is apparent that some of the ramifications of technology are not all positive.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a great thing for technology to have come so far in so little time. I remember when my mother got her first Nokia cell phone and how basic it was. Now everyone in my family has a Blackberry, and, I can only speak for myself, feels detached when it isn't within arms reach. If you think about how only a few years ago it was uncommon for a cell phone to have a camera, and now you can take a picture, upload it to Twitter, and send off a message with the picture, just imagine what we will be able to do with cell phones in the future.
ReplyDeleteWe greatly depend on technology. Honestly who even knows how to use a road map anymore? We count on technology for everything. Our homework, our communication, even our sense of direction. If we were stuck on an island without any technology or service we would all die. After all there would be no way to "google" how to get home.
ReplyDeleteWith technology advancing so rapidly I agree with Will's point of view. Everyone has become so attached that if it were to disappear the economy would crumble. But Ben does make a countering view that does show how the technology does help us out a significant amount.
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ReplyDeleteTechnology has become inseparable from our daily existence on this planet. Whether that is a good thing or not is a matter of perspective for each individual, but it does not change the fact that it has become an integrated part of our society. We have become a world obsessed with the new and the cutting edge and we will pay through the nose to get it. This obsession in technology has led to some great achievements over the past few years and will inevitably lead to many more down the road, however for every positive breakthrough that technology allows us we must also consider the negative. For example the breakthroughs that allowed us to produce nuclear energy, which can arguably be cleaner and more efficient to produce than other means of generating energy, stemmed from the research conducted to make the atomic bomb. The real danger of technology in this poster's opinion is not in the medium itself but rather to what intent it is applied. This ultimately means that our society's addiction to technology is a glaring weakness for someone to use against if that have the motive and opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI know for me without technology say a smart phone I would have to change a lot of what I do. To do lists, calendars etc. It is totally do able but having everything accessible in one place is great. Features like Gmail sync for you contacts email and calendar makes having technology very time efficient, and it helps me so I don't forget things.
ReplyDeleteI remember a Calvin and Hobbes comic that commented on the pace of technology, especially nowadays. The father says after complaining about a work project he has to do in a week. "How are we supposed to get anything done!? These machines don't make our lives less stressed! They give us more stressed because everyone wants something now!"
ReplyDeleteOf course Calvin comes along with the punchline and a microwavable tray "Five minutes!? Who's got that time!?"
Summarized, I'm basically talking about how you're right in the sense that technology and growing at a frightening rate. It's only a matter of time before society rules change to fit the technology.
Facebook overwhelms me....Twitter I haven't gotten there yet..and by the time I do, I hope it's old news...Myspace I was there once...but that has come and gone....What is next, is the question...Deeper, why does something 'else' need to follow...Why are we always seeking something bigger, better and faster. With this mentality...we loose the time in which we are currently living. I hope one day to break free from these bonds of our society of technology.
ReplyDeleteWhile technology is benficial to many people, I think how attached people get to it is scary. I read an article a while back saying that people who constantly have their phones with them can experience ghost vibrations, where they get the sensation and even feel their phone vibrating when it hasn't. The article also said that people who waste too much time on their phones or online are being referred to technology rehab. While I love my laptop and can't leave the house without my phone, it's scary to think that people get to attached to technology that they lose the ability and social skills to connect with the outside world.
ReplyDeleteTechnology seems to be slowly swallowing society. Honestly, I try to stay away from Smartphones. The idea of ALWAYS having a computer on you, to check Facebook/YouTube/Twitter, baffles me. I know you have a Smartphone, Ryan, so it's nothing against you. It's just the thought of how most people today are always hungering for that incessant connectivity to, sometimes, upwards of 100 friends on Facebook, or people followed on Twitter. It's not like I'm not on Facebook the entire duration of when I'm on the computer, but I do like to step away from that stuff. During the Summer when I'm stuck inside and I'm staring and Facebook and Tweetdeck all day I'm like "GUUUUHHH". I love the connectivity, but I don't need it ALWAYS. Some people do. And some people are very disconnected from the world around them. I know you're not. And I know that most people only have these things for when they're bored. But, I'm seeing 12-year-olds with $300 phones, just DROWNED in Facebook/Twitter/texting, walking around with their families, but they're not really there. We're all guilty of being lost in technology, but I'm hoping it doesn't continue to envelope us.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really caught my attention was when we talked about cyber-terrorism in my networking class last year. It is a very frightening concept. If a hacker i.e. another countries government, were to break into the network that controls the nations power and we were not able to regain control, what would happen? no matter the level of security employed on a system it can always be broken into. I foresee all of our technology becoming a major problem at some point.
ReplyDelete~ Paul
One thing that really caught my attention was when we talked about cyber-terrorism in my networking class last year. It is a very frightening concept. If a hacker i.e. another countries government, were to break into the network that controls the nations power and we were not able to regain control, what would happen? no matter the level of security employed on a system it can always be broken into. I foresee all of our technology becoming a major problem at some point.
ReplyDelete~ Paul