My initial consideration to this question is that of course technology is almost always a good thing however after further reflection I realized that it all really depends on the context of how you are using it. For example a few days ago I had a very short paper to write. First I had to turn on my computer, login, respond to all of the annoying update notifications, and finally launch word. In addition to those steps in which I had to take just to get to the word processor there are a number of things required by the device that you don’t often think about. The computer requires electricity, a monitor, appropriate software, and of course a printer. This seems like a lot of extra work especially when you compare this option to the “old fashioned” typewriter which required basically two things, paper and ribbon. With a computer there are so many more things that can go wrong in the in the list of prerequisites just to enable you to word process. Of course the computer does allow some amenities such as spell checking, and error correction but the true question that will be different for everyone is if the advantages outweigh the complications? For people who are only using their computer for word processing it seems a bit excessive. Computers are always becoming obsolete and everyone is always running to upgrade to the latest and greatest but what exactly is the benefit for us personally? We may be the type of person who will greatly benefit from all of the great new features but as for everyone else its almost like a compulsion that they have to have the latest and greatest devices even if they don’t have the slightest clue what the benefits will be.
Isn’t our goal to be as productive as possible with the least amount of hassle? Many of our devices today do so much more than we would ever want or need, yet we still buy them. Modern game systems such as the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox360 are no longer just a video game. These systems now offer access to social networking, media streaming, and access to the World Wide Web. The system allow for a fictional virtual reality in which the user becomes engrossed in. The systems have become so intricate that they distance us from reality as the user gets lost in the virtual world of the device.
These game consoles have distanced us from the true human interaction desperately needed by everyone. People no longer turn to each other for entertainment as they now have devices to provide it for them. Board games used to be an acceptable form of entertainment but just like type writers they have been replaced with overly sophisticated devices. Technology has had an incredible impact on our lives but whether or not it has simplified or complicated or lives depends on how we use it. Does the simplification and efficiency of technology outweigh the complication for you?
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