Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology

A very significant point in history was the invention of the computer. In this way, connectivity is strengthened and businesses can connect more effectively with other countries. Computations and Analysis are simplified as well. In today's world, without devices such as televisions, cell phones, and computers people will not survive. These innovations have steadily taken important positions in the everyday lives of individuals and it would be impossible for some of us to be without them. To understand technology, one must know what it offers in terms of benefits, but also drawbacks. As depicted in https://futureofworking.com/10-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-technology-in-education/, the advantages and disadvantages of technology include;

The Advantages of Technology

• Home and work-life has broadened:

We can connect with everyone in the world and establish relationships with individuals who are some distance away, thanks to the internet and mobile technologies, rather than being restricted to individuals within our physical vicinity. For both home-life and work-life, this has some excellent positives. In terms of work-life, employees are able to connect from anywhere with co-workers, enabling more employees to work from home.

• Automation has improved manufacturing activities:

Increased automation of manufacturing and many other jobs, thanks to machines, means higher productivity, more engaged workers, and greater work-time flexibility. 

• Ability to work remotely:

Thanks to the internet, many jobs can now be done remotely, with many employees being able to work from home at times of their choice. This has proven crucial during the pandemic as most people have no choice but to work remotely. A bi-product of working remotely has been a reduction of carbon production due to the lack of commuters.

• A greater depth of information is available:

The abundance of data that is available now is astonishing. At least, in fact, having access to the internet implies having access to almost all the information of the world. Increasingly, as mobile devices become more and more efficient, we do not even need to sit at a desk to access information. We are able to make learning more available and affordable with this wealth of knowledge, ultimately creating a more informed society.

• The entertainment industry has developed

A change has been witnessed by the entertainment industry, especially the film and music industry. As musicians have more access to technology they are able to not rely as heavily on companies to finance and promote them. The result is that there is more content produced and available online. Consumers now have an impressive option of 24/7 movies, shows, sports, music, and other entertainment. Due to subscription costs and plans that are much more affordable than purchasing tickets for a live event, it is easy to offer entertainment to everyone. Although nothing compares to a live concert or event, the availability of digital content and virtual events is a welcomed addition to our lives, especially during the pandemic.

The Disadvantages of Technology

•  A lack of deep and meaningful human relationships: 

In the virtual world, human ties are reduced. As real face-to-face and physical contact is gradually replaced by online social networking, isolation will increase, as well as issues such as cyber-bullying, online harassment, linked to internet anonymity. Humans are social animals, so depression and anxiety could result from a lack of physical interaction. It will be hard to be a productive member of society and communicate with others in a professional environment if we become disconnected from real-world communications.

• Issues of privacy have increased:

Privacy problems have only escalated as it becomes impossible in the digital and internet world to control personal information. Financial information, personal pictures and videos can be hacked into and personal identities can be stolen. With password managers, it's very convenient for someone to steal a computer and gain immediate access to private accounts, although they make it so that you don't need to memorize anything.

• Dependency on technology has grown:

Modern societies are based on technology more and more. So much so that many critical services, such as hospitals, power grids, airports, transportation networks for rail and road transport, and military defenses, can now be taken out by internet attacks or natural disasters. If technology was stripped away overnight, humans would be almost powerless.

• There is an outrageous amount of information:

As we are bombarded with meaningless emails, sales phone calls, text messages, internet ads, etc., we are becoming constantly overwhelmed by the information overload that modern technology brings. New technology, instead of saving us time, means we are forced to process more and more information and work much more intensively. It can be exhausting and build a mental toll causing stress over needing to be constantly up to date.

Has Technology Been An Advantage or Disadvantage For You?

The technological transition is ongoing and we need to learn to adapt to all this new technology. Every improvement made has benefits and drawbacks, so it is difficult to call technology a positive or negative thing. You as an individual have to be able to know how you can use technology to your benefit. The only thing we can strive for is using our new-found knowledge and technological resources to enhance our society.