the areas greatly contributing to its development over the last decade will be extensively examined.
Technology has transformed from a very slow channel of communication into a fast, reliable and efficient service. Sal Restivo stated in his book that it is, “the means by which humans accomplish results in the material world, so it is inherently global” (595). It is hard to escape the presence of technology since its practical and technical impact on society continues to increase. Dating back to the prehistoric years, technology was depicted as the invention of basic tools and old techniques that contributed to the way people innovated new ideas. It is not just limited to the innovation of computers but takes up an active role in society by increasing choices, possibilities, ubiquities and opportunities. As Hallstrom noted in the International Journal of Technology and Design Education, “ Some believe that technology is essentially about human design to solve societal problems—be it by means of artefacts, system” (volume: 1 pg 3-17).
Technology has come to encompass a vast range of areas from its origin – energy, computer and consumer technology to automotive, medical, and nuclear science technology. It provides a world’s perspective on how things happen around us and society’s traditional beliefs help to shape this matter. There has been an industrial surge so drastic that even the greatest philosophers did not predict this rapid growth. Restivo comprehensively noted that, “Technologies that were once localized are now more correctly assessed as globally available and globally integrated” (595). In 2002, it was almost hard to believe that technology would become any better since the transformation seemed great in comparison to ancient history. Today, it is visible that the world is a different place as a result of a technological revolution. The emerging minds of people in society helped to shape the economy on a whole thus creating vast opportunities for major technological advancement.
The gaming industry is one area that shows tremendous changes in technology. Portable gaming devices have become a popular demand in recent years. Traditionally, games included ping pong, gameboys and other hand games played with friends. In 2012, children and adults gravitated to a world of rapid progression and the gaming technology quickly assumed a place in their lives since it has the power to create new possibilities. That emerging technology seemed to be the new fashion and children explored their new found interest in XBOX 360, Playstations, Wii, and Apple Ipads. The authors of Digital Play: The Interaction of Technology, Culture, and Marketing stated that, “The video and computer game industry also exemplifies the globalizing, transnational logic of the twenty-first-century capital.” (13) Indisputably, this technology has captured the enthusiasm of many people in society and the industry is noted as a useful mechanism for acquiring knowledge and learning specific strategies.
Technology is every changing and embraces an implicit view on computers and machineries. Studies of science technology and medicine indicate that technology is prevalent in medical and genetic advancements that involve computers over the last 10 years. Examples include: Modern MRIs, the machines used to decode the human genome, a computer that manages to produce the first rendered image of an electron, and the advancements in hearing aid technology. Jobs created over the last decade in this field have requested the existence of technology since clinics and hospitals are using machineries to perform the most miraculous medical breakthroughs in 2012. The Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine concluded that, “medical technology is indispensable for people 's health and better quality of life in some areas; and contributes billions of dollars to the economy” (LTH Tan and KL Ong 223). The introduction of portable devices has altered the way doctors and nurses communicate with their patients now as oppose the way they did 10 years ago. Doctors are using tablets and small computers to communicate with patients during their visits. The change in technology also affects medical students where information requiring extensive research hours a decade ago has been made available to them through smart classrooms, video lectures and information and media devices.
Technology has made it easier to access information through the Internet. The internet can be considered the spinal cord for the evolving technological world in society. It is a global platform that has changed the lives of individuals by shaping their attitudes and the way in which they get things done at home, school, and during their everyday lives. This twist to technology has become the advancement for businesses and institutions. 10 years ago, persons were limited to internet connection speed and access to websites. Resources weren’t readily available and the cost of this technology was relatively high. One of the biggest changes is the transformation of the internet into a main stream society. It has grown to one of the fastest channel for human communication.
In contrast to the years dating back to 2002, the internet is now considered a better communication channel. It is faster and more affordable and it also gives society some control of their environment. It accelerates many areas of an individual’s life and changes the way society interact with the government, as well as others. Dutta and Bilbao-Osorio marked in their article, “ the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on each industry has become more far reaching as its transformational effects spread to several sectors of the economy and society via innovations, the emergence of new industries, and the advent of the era of hyper connectivity.” This report noted that the information and communication technologies industry received drastic changes over the last decade. Access to social networks and the development of mobile broad band are some of the changes which helped to shape economic activities and other business practices of the society.
Undoubtedly, new technology has tailored the development of society by bringing forth great optimism to its culture. The Internet has been looked upon as a gateway to freedom, a channel often use by many individuals to express feelings. Restivo strongly believe that the reason technology will continue to grow is that “technologies tend to adapt to a society and not vice versa” (226). Its effectiveness can be seen throughout the lives of students. This channel has provided a new access to information for research purposes. Around 2002, students were merely seen at libraries, using the resources made available through schools and publicly accessible information centers. A decade later students have the luxury to work on a computer utilizing internet access to get the same job done. Students are not limited to a confined area but now have the opportunity to execute internet searches from the comfort of their location of choice. Each day inventors develop new ways to boost technology speed and the different software and applications that can enhance people’s overall experience with a system. Computers are constantly being re-designed to astound the average individual. 10 years ago, the concept of social networking sights such as facebook and twitter were inexistent. Today, facebook has been documented as one of the largest social networking sight. The 2012 Digital Marker reported that, “91% of today’s online adults use social media regularly” and it also ranked facebook as the number one social networking site with over 9 billion users for the month of March 2012.
The drive to incorporate technology into schools is partially surrounded by the internet. The growth of the internet has provided a network of computers with data storing valuable information for educators and students. Technology for learners has introduced visual aids, wikis and blogs into the teaching system. This new decade of digital immersion made available vital resources for students and teachers to be incorporated into the learning process: Ebooks, encyclopedias and articles. Up-to-date information can be stored on web servers for long periods of time so that teachers and students may have access for countless number of years. One profound impact of the internet on society is the ability to complete a degree online. Henry O’Lawrence argued, “In general, society benefits most from an overall increase in technology literacy through greater access to education” (qtd. in Education and Human Development 2007). Traditional universities are now available online so individuals have a better chance of becoming educated without physically enrolling in a classroom. Two of the many benefits include lowering tuition cost and achieving a certain level of standardization in the quality and quantity of material received by all learners using computer-aided learning tools (O’lawrence 2007).
Technology has transformed the lives of individuals in society by enhancing job experiences. Online jobs have boomed over the last decade since people are finding it even more convenient to work from their homes. A sample reading from itbusiness.ca suggests, “It comes as good news that over the last decade or so the Internet has created 1.2 million jobs, many paying higher salaries than average, a new study finds.” The assistance of computer technology has streamlined job responsibilities making it possible to accomplish tasks more quickly through low-tech avenues. It remotely changed the work culture of society for the better and reduced a significant amount of work load for office employees. Another view point measures the use of the internet for business activities stating that, “Internet-based advertising has increased four-fold since 2002 to more than $20 billion (Qtd. Itbusiness.ca). This communication channel has allowed society to go paperless in various areas; the purchasing power of consumers have been extended to incorporate internet technology and recruitment and advertising for the business world can also be done online.
New gadgets are being created each day and new ideas revolutionize today’s living. The development of communication devices has matured over the last decade where companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Samsung and Intel continue to enhance the mobile and computer industries. In 2002, it was a great privilege to have a phone with color display; today, smart phones, tablets and video games have tripled their production rate. A business report by Micheal DeGusta revealed that it took landline telephones about 45 years to get from 5 percent to 50 percent penetration among U.S. households. On the contrary, he noted that, mobile phones took around seven years to reach a similar proportion of consumers and smart phones have gone from 5 percent to 40 percent in about four years.The competing firms in the technological revolution are battling for the top spot as the nation’s best producer/seller. This adversary has not only impacted their production market but it has given society a chance to sample many options of their merchandise. For instance, phone companies have been releasing new phones with competitive market prices. A senior analyst at Telcom Research highlighted in his blog that after the T-mobile/MetroPCS deal, “it was the second major transaction in the US wireless market in the last couple of weeks.” The competition is seemingly noticeable when he further stated that, “smaller players look to strengthen and compete with AT&T and Verizon in the LTE market.” Technology continues to affect many aspects of society even within the automotive industry.
From this research, it can be concluded that technology has certainly come along way over the last decade.
Because of its advancement, society will continue to embrace the presence of its products and services even when the economic climate increases or decreases. It is clearly observed that the evolution of technology and the internet in society has stimulated growth and development in a human’s life by using preexisting solutions to enhance different communication systems. Recalled as the first main point, technology has tremendously transformed over the last decade from a slow medium of communication to a fast efficient and effective tool. This enriches society by providing diverse communication means to improve every aspect of living. Technology is not just limited to computers as viewed by a select few but it expands to increase motions as simple as using a pen to write on paper. Its usage in the medical field contributed to health research and rapid diagnostics and
treatments.
The internet has also become a significant contributor to changes in today’s society. The upgraded platform used to transmit internet data has allowed many individual the opportunity to enrich their surfing experience. Providing many gateways to education, research and job opportunities, internet technology has created amazing opportunities beneficial to society at large. Student lives have become change since educators incorporate technology into their class room encounters. Their overall learning experience is richly filled with new possibilities and creative thoughts. Technology is simply use to balance the world we live in; thus, the changes it has made to society made living standards considerably better. It has benefited society by bringing diversity to its cultural traditions. Connections are made globally where different institutions and companies communicate through virtual stimulations. As for job experiences, society can easily locate jobs and receive the ultimate comfort of working from home. Overall, society use technology to improve their lives at school, work and at home. The rationale behind technological advancement is to live comfortable lives and embracing its properties creates a better future for mankind.
Works Cited
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O 'Lawrence, Henry. "An Overview of the Influences of Distant Learning on Adult Learners."Journal of Education and Human Development 1.1 (2007): n. pag. Print.
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