Social Effects of Technology Essay Example

Introduction

The interaction of technology and society may be the one thing more than any other that gives society a meaning and defines us a human beings. In recent years it has become popular to point fingers of accusation at technology as if it were "autonomous" and driving us all to perdition. I take other view.

No doubt the uses of technology and society interact strongly. I think it wrongheaded and very naive to think of aggressive technology affecting a passive society eroding away the things that give society value and leaving behind a rusted hulk. Admittedly there always the potential for abuse or misuse of a technology, but technology is not inherently destructive, I argue.

In the following we will consider ten effects of technology. No doubt many more can be thought of. Instead of, or in addition to the list below, we might include the effect of technology on health, on other technology or on the security of the individual and the nation. I consider these and other topics as too narrow in scope or able to be covered under one or more of the other headings. I believe the following ten can be used as a systematic first step into the study of technology and society.

Here is the list of effects. Following that I will discuss each briefly. Finally I will present a list of nine values regarding the interaction of technology and society to guide our analysis.

Ten Effects of Technology

Technology's Effect on Commerce
Technology's Effect on Social Systems
Technology's Effect on The Environment
Technology's Effect on Individual Psychology
Technology's Effect on The Rate of Change
Technology's Effect on Institutions
Technology's Effect on Individual Freedom
Technology's Effect on Our Perception of Reality
Technology's Effect on Our Mutual Dependence
Technology's Greatest Effect

In the following each of these are briefly discussed.

Technology's Effect on Commerce

The first field deals with the economic and