Irene argues that we must continue to evaluate the expansiveness of technology in our evolving lives.
Technology has become alarmingly intertwined into our lives, especially considering there’s a whole population of upcoming youth who were raised with the constant oversight of the internet. There just seems to be no way to avoid it. Although there’s the age old complaint of progress tainting the sanctity of conventional lifestyles, the utilization of technology today is nuanced by the way it has shaped individuals’ future in industry, confounded the assimilation of information, and redefined intimacy & communication.
The biggest milestone of modernization can be seen with automation in careers, but these improvements come at a cost. As we learn new techniques, there are skills that have become a lost art. One such instance is in the practice of medicine. Feats of engineering and medical science created innovations like the Da Vinci Machine, which allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgeries. Also, EKGs allow us to graph the heart's electric signals. Despite the prevention of illness and the lives saved, there’s growing concern on the over dependence on state-of-the-art instruments. Specifically, long-time practitioners warn that if there were issues regarding a large natural disaster or in lower income populations, consistent maintenance of such equipment would be obsolete; therefore, traditional diagnostic methods may be necessary as a step earlier from modernization. As we move forward, there needs to be balance and careful considerations before the full integration of development within an industry.
The internet hosts platforms to unify people from all over the world, yet, with the abundance of information at our fingertips, how do we differentiate the good & the bad? Pressing concerns arise with think tanks that reverberate harmful ideologies and the spread of misinformation, but a particular perspective worth noting is the gatekeeping of reliable peer reviewed materials. Many promote the necessity for rigorously tested and statically accurate papers, but most sources are geared for college educated individuals, and come at a significant cost to the individual, the institution, or the publication.
Consequently, the accessibility of knowledge in multiple mediums allows for the manipulation of data. Open access to news & media can improve the knowledge of people, but at the same time, it can be weaponized.
On a personal level, the nature of relationships & communication have been significantly altered through introduction of dating apps, texting, and social media. Though courtship is distinct to certain cultures, elements of modern age have dictated how current relationships form, progress, & end. Phones allow for instantaneous connections and online presences can promote an individual's personality. That being said, pressures to embody certain ideals and the inability to disconnect jeopardize vulnerable moments and intimacy - not to mention, privacy & security concerns if a relationship fails. Despite the prosperity of applications that serve to modify portions of our way of life, there are still risks to examine.
While it poses no benefit to adamantly deny every aspect of modern advancements, we must continue to evaluate the expansiveness of technology in an ever changing society due to its reach on critical aspects of our lives.