Are We Too Dependent on Technology?
Are We Too Dependent on Technology?
Eric Tracy ENG 122 Angela Temple May 3rd, 2010
Are We Too Dependent on Technology? If you were to ask somebody what a computer was sixty years ago they would look at you look at you puzzled. Now days it is hard to find a household or office in America that does not contain at least one personal computer. With all of this information at our finger tips, we have to ask ourselves if we are becoming too dependent on technology. Imagine if we were to wake up tomorrow with all electronic devices disabled. Everybody’s life would be impacted in one way or another. We would lose what has become the largest portal for communication. We would also lose countless information that has been stored on computers. There is no denying that technology is going to continue to grow; and impact every aspect of our lives. But the question is if we are becoming too reliant on something that can quickly disappear. We very well could be at risk of losing it all very soon. I will discuss what could cause this change to happen. I will also go over how I believe our dependence on technology is growing. Earth’s magnetic field protects us from most of the suns radiation and other harmful effects. However, the sun is a very powerful force that can cause sudden intense outbursts of energy that are called solar flares. (Microsoft Student Encarta Edition) If a very powerful solar flare where to strike Earth it could cause serious effects to our power grid. If we have no power grid, we have lost all of our electronic devices that we count on so much. Solar flares usually impact us the most on an eleven year cycle. The most recent time solar activity peaked was in 2001, and caused widespread radio blackouts in the pacific. The newest cycle of solar activity had begun in late 2007, a year earlier than expected. Scientists say it will peak in 2012 and be between thirty to fifty percent more intense than the one in 2001.
Eric Tracy ENG 122 Angela Temple May 3rd, 2010
Are We Too Dependent on Technology? If you were to ask somebody what a computer was sixty years ago they would look at you look at you puzzled. Now days it is hard to find a household or office in America that does not contain at least one personal computer. With all of this information at our finger tips, we have to ask ourselves if we are becoming too dependent on technology. Imagine if we were to wake up tomorrow with all electronic devices disabled. Everybody’s life would be impacted in one way or another. We would lose what has become the largest portal for communication. We would also lose countless information that has been stored on computers. There is no denying that technology is going to continue to grow; and impact every aspect of our lives. But the question is if we are becoming too reliant on something that can quickly disappear. We very well could be at risk of losing it all very soon. I will discuss what could cause this change to happen. I will also go over how I believe our dependence on technology is growing. Earth’s magnetic field protects us from most of the suns radiation and other harmful effects. However, the sun is a very powerful force that can cause sudden intense outbursts of energy that are called solar flares. (Microsoft Student Encarta Edition) If a very powerful solar flare where to strike Earth it could cause serious effects to our power grid. If we have no power grid, we have lost all of our electronic devices that we count on so much. Solar flares usually impact us the most on an eleven year cycle. The most recent time solar activity peaked was in 2001, and caused widespread radio blackouts in the pacific. The newest cycle of solar activity had begun in late 2007, a year earlier than expected. Scientists say it will peak in 2012 and be between thirty to fifty percent more intense than the one in 2001.
References: Levine, Randolph H., and Lang, Kenneth R. "Sun." Microsoft® Student 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008. Next cycle of solar flares may be more disruptive to communications :[Final Newsstand Edition]. (2006, March 8). Nelson Daily News,p. 12. Retrieved May 1, 2010, from CanadianComplete. (Document ID: 1000493801). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2006). Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2005 (NCES 2007- 020).