a romantic gesture now be \
just a tap away? Growing in
popularity are personal devices
such as Google Glass and the
latest smartphones where
navigation, videos, messaging,
and sharing are so accessible
and simple that children can
manipulate such products.

A concern seen on
HuffingtonPost.com is how
technology is changing social
norms due to the growing
number of people who are
absent to those present around
them. These individuals are
seen as absent, because they
are so engulfed in what is
happening on their mobile
devices. People love using
applications such as Twitter
and Instagram to illustrate
where they are and what they
are doing, almost creating a
new type of public statement.
Although physically present,
many no longer fully enjoy
people and settings around
them. When texting, many
use slang words and other
representations of “wurds”
and “fraises.” With instant
messaging, some are left
to wonder how people
communicating through
handheld devices will affect
the ability to comprehend and
apply proper uses of language.

Is the overpowering
influence of technology
because of how little people
appreciate the life it has
brought? The dialogue of
whether or not technology
is hurting society should
shift blame away from the
advancement of technology,
or even the individuals who
discover and create these
advances. Conversations
should be focussed on how
society should utilize it ina
more constructive way, one
that respects its power and
does not abuse it for things—

like asking if Siri is Her (a
reference from Spike Jonze’s
movie Her).

Medical advancements
have proven groundbreaking,
providing individuals with
abilities that are taken for
granted by most. Through
robot limbs and eye vision
correction procedures, along
with others, people’s lives
are improved as personal
accomplishments and goals
are more easily achieved
than before. Progression in
technology has given members
of society the ability to improve
their health through devices to
track sleep, caloric intake, and
steps walked. Despite more
common concerns over human
health, applications such as
these have allowed people to
more easily stay in touch with
their health between doctor’s
visits.

Technology has made
learning easier. Many young
people growing up with the
Internet have heard from
previous generations of
how lucky they are to access
information so effortlessly, with
the aid of technological tools.
Not only does technology in
the home improve educational
outcomes, but many are also
fortunate enough to have
devices such as tablets and
laptops which facilitate a
different learning environment
than the traditional one
seen in the public education
system. Now, even within
establishments such as the
library, computers are readily
available to aid an individual’s
search for the needle they
require in the haystack of
books.

So, looking at how
technology hurts and
improves society, how can
humanity create a balance of
its use? Apart from personal

 

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&

restrictions or utility of
technology, is a conversation
about establishing

legislation to reduce
consumption of it needed?

Is the law of not allowing
drivers to use cellphones
while driving just the first
step? These are all difficult
questions to address, so
society may be left to

wait for the onset of the
technological ice age with

no answers. While waiting,

I encourage you to finda
balance between the presence
and the absence of technology
in your lives.

 

‘e