Are We the Prisoners of the Progress/Technology in Our Country?

ARE WE THE PRISONERS OF THE PROGRESS/TECHNOLOGY IN OUR COUNTRY? In general terms, technology is a point of view that produces solutions to the problems about the world. Also, it is a process that moving very fast to meet people’s needs in daily life. In today’s world, technology expand so much that we became a part of the technology, but I think that being a part of the technological progress should not be considered as we are the prisoners of the progress. Yet, there are some objections to that. In other words, some people think that the popularist culture and the capitalist system make people over-consumpt and be exposed to the technological devices in vain, and this make us addicted or the prisoners of the progress. Trend addiction is the first reason why we are the prisoners of the technology. In today’s world, People live fast, trends change fast, and it is possible to see almost all people try to have everything without looking in their hands. Every day, many technological products are produced and published such as smart phones, computers, and games, and it brings about to form an irresistible desire to possess all of them with little prices. About this topic, Fisherman (2012) stated how we think and behave when we shopping and buying everything as an addicted people:
‘’when stuff is so inexpensive, you don’t have to think that hard about whether to buy it. ‘Do I really want to the blender? Do I really need those blue jeans? Whatever, the jeans are just twelve dollars. Let’s just buy it.’ The prices of many things have come down below the level where you don’t have to even think about whether to buy it.’’ (As cited in Christopher, 2012, para.2)
Being harmful to the people’s health is the second reason why there negative thoughts about technology. Since the technology have occupied a very important space in our lives, we had to overcome with diseases more. We can manage our daily businesses via our phones from the Internet at home without spending any effort. Also, there are many computer games, and especially children play these games for hours instead of playing with friends at outside. Not moving enough doesn’t contribute anything to our health, and it results in affecting from any kind of diseases very easily.
Technology may have some negative effects on people, but I think the problem is not about the progress, is about the usage of that. In other words, the advance in the technology and science has eased the human life in many ways. The first one is about the upgraded information technologies. It offers storing, managing, transmitting, and distributing any kind of information safely. Thanks to the technology, whole official institutions, banks, companies, and many others use this system. Moreover, people not only can handle their businesses from their electronic devices such as phones or computers easily but also, they can communicate and see each other at the same time. This is important because sometimes people may need some help in some urgent situations, and they can call someone who can help him/her immediately.
The second advance in the technology is transportation. It is also very important in human life. In the past, people used the animals such as horses, camels to go somewhere, but now, there are many kind of vehicles that are useful to travel for short times such as cars, ships, high way trains, and airplanes. People can travel for business, or for vacation to the abroad within hours. Thus, we can say that the advance in communication and transportation of the technology has contributed speed, and easiness in the human life. Terry and John (2009) published a book about how the technology has changed the world:
‘’The information revolution has globalized the internal economy, made communication and social networking-among anyone, anywhere-virtually instantaneous and costless, puts vast storehouses of information and research within reach of everyone on the planet, dramatically boosted the prospects of cooperation and collective action, internationalized the cultures of previously insulated nations, and in countless other ways transformed the fundamentals of human society.’’ (Pp.6-7)
Another advance in the technology is about the medical improvements that for human life. In early times, people who have a problem with their health could die easily even if the disease is not serious because people have no solution or opportunity to cure them. But now, technology and science have developed so much that there is no disease that cannot be overcome. Thus, we can say that the progress make longer the human life than the past. Also, technology makes easy the surgery for both doctors and patients. There are many technological devices and equipments that can be fast and easy the surgery without feeling anything. This is important because people who have lived in the past had to stand to painful process, but now, even without cutting or opening the inside of ones, doctors can finish the operation easily. Ellsworth (n.d) argued that the fact about the benefits of the technological improvements in medicine:
‘’According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, technological progress has revolutionized medical care. Serious illnesses can be prevented by early diagnostic protocols using imaging techniques. For example, a photo-acoustic imaging technique was under development in 2007 for the early detection of breast cancer. Another hybrid imaging process that uses aspects of positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with magnetic resonance therapy allows medical care practitioners to non-invasively monitor brain tumors and other conditions. In eye care, retinal implants prevent blindness in patients suffering from retinal deterioration.’’ (n.p)
To sum up, technology is very important in people’s growth because the development of the technology has made life easier, and has brought us many opportunities that were impossible before such as long-distance communication, high-speed transportation, and advancements in medicine. Also, it can be said that we need to develop the progress of the technology more and more for a better future.

REFERENCES

Christopher M. (2012, July 02). The culture of overconsumption. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://business.time.com/2012/07/02/ten-ways-walmart-changed-the-world/slide/the-culture-of-overconsumption/#ixzz2PDQw7AMp

Elsworth S.(n.d). Positive effects of modern technology. Retrieved May 4, 2013, from http:// http://www.ehow.com/list_7177059_positive-effects-modern-technology.html

Terry M. & John E. (2009). Liberating learning: Technology, politics, and the future of American education. San Francisco: Jossy-Bass

References: Christopher M. (2012, July 02). The culture of overconsumption. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://business.time.com/2012/07/02/ten-ways-walmart-changed-the-world/slide/the-culture-of-overconsumption/#ixzz2PDQw7AMp Elsworth S.(n.d). Positive effects of modern technology. Retrieved May 4, 2013, from http:// http://www.ehow.com/list_7177059_positive-effects-modern-technology.html Terry M. & John E. (2009). Liberating learning: Technology, politics, and the future of American education. San Francisco: Jossy-Bass