The Evolution Of Technology

Introduction

Technology dominates our lives presently and has always been awe-inspiring with each new advancement in it. People are dependent on it, and it exists in all shapes and sizes, dominating the life of an average person in every possible way. Aimed towards bringing comfort to a person’s life and serving in a way that simplifies tasks on a daily basis. To properly develop an understanding of man’s first step out of the dark ages towards embracing the technological status presently, it is imperative to comprehend the phases and evolutionary steps technology has gone through over the years. Technology remains one of the tools that have defied all impossibilities humankind conceived. Breaking all boundaries as it continues to progress and with the addition of each new advancement. Technology has proven to a trustworthy ally of humans, providing meaningful ways to inquire into the nature of natural disasters and providing alternatives in avoiding these disasters. Seemingly, in accordance with the previously mentioned point, the worth of technology can be seen to be that of a saviour for humankind. Although critics around the world have raised objections towards the use of technology in the life of a person, basing their argument towards the various aspects of technology that have introduced less effort and more laziness in an average person’s life, cutting down the effort that people previously used to make. However, the benefits of technology outweigh the criticism thrown towards it. Since the days of the old, beginning right at the well-known story of the “first wheel”, technology has traversed through a long history of quickly revolutionizing various aspects of human life.

Thesis Statement

Technology as a prospering tool and the numerous phases it underwent to reach the point in advancements that we witness around us today will be further discussed in this essay.

Discussion

Technology has undergone various phases, and decades of research have gone into bringing the present state of technological advancements before people all over the globe. Numerous researchers in the discipline of technology have constantly been improving it over the years, making it more efficient, cost-productive to produce and easily available to consumers. Not only has it affected the lives of an average consumer that implies the use of technology in their daily lives, it has also sped up the way machines operate, providing a big hand towards manufacturers and industrialists. As the story goes, “technology started with the first wheel in motion” presents the general understanding that the prospects of making travel faster, in terms of considering the wheel, however, it has also made it possible to bring comfort for people and aided in the transport of goods that were previously being carried back and forth with the use of carriages, around the medieval ages. An example of communication technology exemplifies things from a better perspective. Communication in the old days was in the form of messengers carrying out the message from town to town or in between cities. However, right after the invention of the telegraph around the year 1837, sending messages encoded in the form of Morse code allowed for communication to take place at a faster pace. Samuel Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, was inspired to send messages back and forth between designated stations in the form of Morse code, which carried an entire page-length message in it. This proved to be a step forward in communication technology, eliminating the use of horseback riders to carry messages, and timely communication could easily take place. An important aspect of this technology paved the way for another notable technology, the telephone, invented by Graham Bell. This proved to be the first stepping stone towards turning the world into a global village, with everyone connected through means of the internet as we know it presently.

Industrial Age

Dating back to the industrial age, when numerous projects were undertaken to bring forth a major influence towards creating a name for themselves, numerous nations were in continuous strife over who took the first leap towards becoming more dominant. Technology, as a tool, has always been the enabler of dominance for nations, and any nation that excelled vastly in this domain held an upper hand over others around it. Returning back to the topic of the industrial age, it proved to be one of the leading times in which a strong emphasis was placed on technology. Various advancements at that time were focused towards making life easier. Inventors were continuously absorbed in the process of bringing about a relevant change in the system of processes that governed a layman’s life and for businesses that existed to serve the needs of people. Advancements such as pulleys, levers, screws, and axles that seem relatively mundane now held a prosperous advantage for industries back then. The advancements in the industrial age were noticed to be a revolutionary step towards bridging gaps and bringing the world closer. Almost every aspect of life and discipline has received a major technological advancement. A significant advancement was observed in the field of medicine, as technology greatly influenced the field of physiological studies and medicine. This proved to be a great step for humanity as medical researchers became better equipped to deal with illnesses and ailments that were previously incurable. This had a marginally noticeable impact towards increasing life expectancy chances for people (Ali et al., 493-501). The 19^th century is considered to be one of the major contributors and pioneers towards technology.

Digital Age

Before the start of the 20th century, the question of what possible outcomes can technological advancements have that the industrial age was not able to contribute to. The start of the 20^th century, otherwise regarded as the digital age, is known to have aroused feelings of both awe and fear among people all over the globe. The technological advancements in becoming able to travel faster on land, air, and water became sensational and productive from a nation’s point of view. Countries devoted towards into researching military advancements were able to craft means of both enhancing their offensive and defensive measures (BATES 2015). Knowingly becoming strong and gaining an edge over other neighbouring countries. As nations progressed into the Age of Information, advancements in technology took on a new form, bringing forth a new edge in prospects of making these new innovations become more passive yet effective. Technology has always relied on the concept of making the use of things more easily perceived, invoking comfort in their use and increasing productivity (Barrett 135). A good example of this is the automobile industry. Automobile industries now have the ability to manufacture more rapidly and supply to the needs of their customers while ensuring that each model is equipped to make each ride more comfortable and secure.

Criticism On Innovation

While being notably of much use, have these innovations truly impacted every life in a positive manner? Although an abundant amount of criticism is towards the negative impact technology has had on the natural ecosystem. Known as the savior for humanity and being greatly dependent on it, technology did contribute towards preserving life and increasing life expectancy, however, as advancements proceeded further and the excavation or petroleum, coal and other means of fuel become much more convenient, it also held great repercussions on the standards of living. A large increase in automobiles has allowed for more cars to be on the road and more industries to open up and operate, but it has also increased pollution levels significantly. This has caused life to decay quite rapidly. This can simply be translated into the factor of innovations serving as a dual-ended blade, both benefiting and inflicting harm at the same time. Technology experts around the globe have been tackling this ongoing debate for decades. However, many innovators are now looking into spending money on resources and environment-friendly means to bring about a healthier impact on the environment. Elon Musk, the inventor of Tesla cars and owner of Tesla Inc., introduced making cars run on electricity as an alternative to petrol, which is a progressive step towards switching to means of less pollution. Similarly, power-producing plants that were previously dedicated to running their operations on the use of petrol are now slowly switching towards solar power-driven systems to generate enough electricity for their operations. Photowatt has brought around a revolutionary step towards being a pioneer in the solar power industry for the last 30 years.

Is Technology Truly Benefitting Education?

Televisions have become a source of great entertainment for people, bringing families together and being extensively fitting for building a strong social structure. Philo Farnsworth and John Logie Baird, honorary names in the field of technology, brought about a working television for people in 1926. However, recent surveys have brought about a claim that television in the present day and age has served as a bad influence towards the upbringing of children with respect to education. A similar critical point of view prevails in terms of whether technology has been truly helpful for education. It has been critiqued quite extensively, but research has shown that people now have the ability to easily research things faster, making it possible to access virtual libraries while on the go. Students can easily log into libraries and read up on the books without having to carry them around. Children now have been noticeably more in touch with education than those 30 or 40 years ago.

The availability of education with a click press has made it easier for students to stay in touch with their teachers. Parents can easily check up on their children to monitor their progress. This is truly beneficial since most parents are engaged to work odd hours and normally are not present to check on their children during school hours. Another edge can be seen through the aspect of technology, which makes it easier for children in less developed areas of the country to enrol themselves in virtual classes, interact with instructors over the Internet, and submit their assignments online with ease. Checking up on these benefits and weighing them against the criticism brings forth the obvious deduction that even though technology may have had a negative impact on the lives of a few, it has benefited the lives of many.

Technological Impact On Society

Have you ever wondered where the best pizza is being served? Which hotel provides the best accommodations or the best tourist spots? A simple search on the internet can cut back on hours of asking around and checking up places. The Internet has been a prominent aspect of technology over the years and has become a sensational topic for critics as well. Furthermore, the criticism has been directed towards the overall use of technology in the present era. The supporting argument most people use to criticize is that an excess of anything can become lethal over time. An analytical analysis does make this saying hold true meaning in our everyday lives since a simple observation can reveal that people are more indulged in their cell phones (Crowley and Paul 2015). Being constantly connected to people around the globe over the internet. Telecommunication boosters and microwave ovens have brought forth diseases inflicted by radiation. Exposing children to the risk of having radiation effects early on in their lives Teenagers are now more interested in the virtual worlds created around them than in indulging in an actual gathering. Sleep patterns have been disturbed, causing people to be more stressed and depressed and the overall effects of anxiety. Technology’s impact on society displays that people, regardless of their age, have become more absorbed in communicating with others over numerous social media platforms. Making physical interaction feel more awkward and less comforting. In this regard, technology is proving to be a bad influence over the newer generation, making them less prepared to function in society. It can also be credited for playing a considerable role in the overall obesity issue in America, which is why people are more tempted to spend money on things and services over the web that do not hold any true value in the physical world. People have become more exposed now than they were before (Technology Futures Analysis Methods Working Group 287). Privacy and security hold little value now since every person’s entire life can easily be accessed over the internet. Researchers and surveys have conclusively stated that technology is responsible for the increasing development of elements such as children lacking empathy, an overgrowing trend toward violence, developmental issues in early childhood, and shortened attention spans.

Technology – Good Or Bad?

In consideration of the facts presented above, is it safe to assume that technology has only been a contributor to all things ill or has it truly presented a positive prospect for people? Answering this question requires inspecting things from an initial or basic perspective on technological evolution or advancement. Can we truly abandon everything and revert back to the days of the Stone Age to safeguard and preserve the ecosystem? Seemingly close to a far-fetched idea, it still holds a prominent element in our lives. Because people are dependent on technology now more than ever, it seems quite unlikely that anyone will be willing to give up on these luxuries to adopt a life without technology. Technology, being a tool, is as useful as a person wishes it to be (Heilbroner 1967 p 335-345). The use of technology solely relies on how a person wishes to implement it in their lives. Whether people love it or hate it, technology is an inescapable convenience that leads our lives. The evolution of technology is evidence of how far humanity has come since the start of time. The progressions in various fields and disciplines, even though they have both positive and negative impacts, still hold true to the fact that people need to educate themselves about its usefulness. Gaining an educated approach to technology can help identify the problem and possibly hint towards alternatives to fixing it. Whether people accept it or not, technology is considered to be a mediating factor that is impacted by phenomena that both act on and are acted upon by it. A significant aspect of it can be seen through the fact that even though technology has come a long way, people still need to fully realize its potential, its usefulness and the best ways of implementing it in their lives. Turning a blind eye towards technology in the present era is equivalent to idiocy and a display of poor intellect (Coccia 2017). Technology, being a prominent factor in people’s everyday lives, is also responsible for reforming societies around the globe. However, this perception is gradually changing with each generation and essentially plays a pivotal role in the progression/evolution of technology in the years to come. An important question holds to whether, as an individual, we truly accept the risks of immersing ourselves in technology to benefit our lives.

Conclusions

In a conclusive tone, it can be stated that technology has brought about benefits for nations around the globe. An analysis of the progressions noted in the timeline of technology shows that each step forward in technology has brought humanity a step closer to fully utilizing technology to fully reap its benefits. Technology has proven to a trustworthy ally of humans, providing meaningful ways to inquire into the nature of natural disasters and providing alternatives in avoiding these disasters. Most critics have raised objections and debates on the topic of technology and its usefulness in the life of a person, basing their argument on the various aspects of technology. However, the benefits of technology outweigh the criticism thrown towards it. An analysis of the progression of technology from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age reveals countless amount of innovations. Notable as one of the most prominent ages in terms of the contributions around this time. The start of the 20^th century, otherwise regarded as the digital age, is known to have aroused feelings of both awe and fear among people all over the globe. Technology has always relied on the concept of making the use of things more easily perceived, invoking comfort in their use and increasing productivity. An abundant amount of criticism is towards the negative impact technology had over the natural ecosystem Excavation or petroleum, coal and other means of fuel become much more convenient, it also held great repercussions on the standards of living. Innovations serve as a dual-ended blade, both benefiting and inflicting harm at the same time. A similar critical point of view prevails in terms of whether technology has been truly helpful for education. Children now have been noticeably more in touch with education than those 30 or 40 years ago. The availability of education with a click press has made it easier for students to stay in touch with their teachers. An important question holds to whether, as an individual, we truly accept the risks of immersing ourselves in technology to benefit our lives. Can we truly abandon everything and revert back to the days of the Stone Age to safeguard and preserve the ecosystem? Technology has only been a contributor to all things ill, or has it truly presented a positive prospect for people? Significant advancement was observed in the field of medicine, as technology greatly influenced the field of physiological studies and medicine. This proved to be a great step for humanity as medical researchers became better equipped to deal with illnesses and ailments that were previously incurable. The age of information took on a new form, bringing forth a new edge in the prospects of making these new innovations more passive yet effective. Technology has always relied on the concept of making the use of things more easily perceived, invoking comfort in their use and increasing productivity. Technology has been dedicated to bridging gaps and bringing the world closer. The use of technology solely relies on how a person wishes to implement it in their lives. Undeniably, technology has proven to be an ally of humanity.

Works Cited

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Barrett, Michael, et al. “Service innovation in the digital age: key contributions and future directions.” MIS Quarterly 39.1 (2015): 135-154.

BATES, AW Tony. “Teaching in a digital age.” Glokalde 1.3 (2015).

Coccia, Mario. “Fundamental interactions as sources of the evolution of technology.” (2017).

Crowley, David, and Paul Heyer. Communication in history: Technology, culture, society. Routledge, 2015.

Heilbroner, Robert L. “Do machines make history?.” Technology and culture 8.3 (1967): 335-345.

Milanovic, Branko. “Global inequality: A new approach for the age of globalization.” Panoeconomicus 63.4 (2016): 493-501.

Technology Futures Analysis Methods Working Group. “Technology futures analysis: Toward integration of the field and new methods.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 71.3 (2004): 287-303.