Technology and Us!

I remember about 10 years ago, when our world's technology was only limited to a television set and window air-conditioners whose cool air came with a price of continuous racket throughout the night. When the introduction of a portable telephone was a miracle on its own and was owned only by a choice number of people. When radios were large devices with long antennas and a lot of static. If told back then, that in a matter of just a few more years our technology would take a giant leap from huge TV sets to flat LCDs -or better yet LEDs - when cell phones would not be used only as a means of contacting people away from home but also as a personal address book, computer, GPS and what-not, when the huge radios would be replaced by iPods, I would've given a polite smile, shook my head in an incredulous no and walked away.

Yet, merely 10 years later, we now live in a world absolutely ruled by technology! It has taken over every aspect of one’s life, whether it be work, play, leisure, or information -basically anything! There is absolutely no doubt that information technology has changed our world as we know it. Every aspect of our life is affected by it. But how much has our life changed from 10 years ago to now by this wave of machines and computers and all these gadgets and gizmos. It would probably take a whole book to explain only the basic changes information technology has brought in our life, so, for now, let us only review how it has affected work and working practices in the past 10 years.

If one just standstill in their working place , close their eyes and for one moment think about the technology surrounding them, it would take them but a minute to see how much they owe to it. It doesn't matter if you are an engineer, a doctor, a mechanic or a clerk- technology rules all.



In the past, to ensure that a single message be delivered from one place to another, following steps would have to be taken: a messenger would have to be sought, then means of a transport be found, getting to the intended destination, delivering the message and then the return of the messenger back to where he started from. Now, after 10 years, all it takes is one email from your pc or from your cell phone! And it would be delivered within a fraction of a second!

Calculations that would've taken hours can now be done within minutes! Information can easily be stored on a computer or a USB instead of keeping and managing thousands of files and folders that not only take up a lot of space but are also much less efficient!

Above all, seeking information, downloading data, managing accounts, transferring files, keeping an eye on market competitors as well as promoting your product can all be possible with the help of the mother of all technology, the internet! Indeed, the place that now various social websites hold for the promotion of a company, a product or an idea is spectacular!

That is not all! We have machines to help us everywhere! When previously it would've have taken ages for a farmer to ready his fields, it can now be done in a matter of hours with the help of a bulldozer. When, previously, thousands of lives were lost almost every day due to illnesses and ailments, can now be easily treated in hospitals due to the innovative technology that can be found there not only for the treatment but also to find the cures! Indeed, as technology advances it helps us make better plans, think ahead and, in turn, produce more advanced technology in the future, setting in motion a cycle.
But technology, along with its various wonderful pros, also has its cons. Since its advent, technology has reduced the energy that used to be spent on a single task, meaning machines have continuously been replacing humans! Less manpower is needed; hence, there is more unemployment! What would have previously taken twenty men to complete one job can now be done with a single device!

Also, the problem of increasing pollution cannot be ignored. Most of this is because of the harmful waste products released by many of the machines and equipments.

So, although technology has improved our quality of life superbly, its flaws cannot be ignored. Let's just hope that in future the advancement of technology will bring to us cures for these downfalls as well!