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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Has Technology Changed Your Life?

I am a supah star! I made my trip to Pahrump, ran all my errands and made all my appointments this afternoon - and still ended my day by 4:00pm. I am going to do some work from home tonight after my walk, and I was thinking how wonderful technology is to allow me the ability to do so. But is it?

Technology has so many benefits, just a few general ones being:

  • Increased productivity (although some might argue that point)
  • Entertainment value
  • Educational value
  • Having the world at your fingertips
  • Increased jobs (my entire department could speak for this...lol)

But at what cost?

  • Longer working hours (or less, depending how you look at it)
  • More variety of addictions
  • More opportunity for crime
  • Time spent with technology could be spent doing other things (i.e., exercise)
  • Less jobs - with technology replacing what humans do

I know this is very broad, as I'm sure an entire dissertation could be written on this subject. But tell me what you think? Is technology a blessing or a curse? What about in your own personal experience? Has technology changed your life?

8 comments:

Bar L. said...

First off related to the last post - congrats on getting into the pre-preg jeans! That must feel great!

Excellent question about technology. Personally, I love it. I could go on and on about this topic but to narrow it down (since I am tired) I will say that along with all the benefits (getting to know people like you for one) the one negative is that I spend too much time sitting on my ass and I think I have become a tad addicted to blogging. Other than that, it saves time, money, is a great source of information, entertainment, and socialization!

BeckEye said...

Oh, definitely. I'm always running late, so with cell phones now I can at least call people to let them know. But chances are, they already assume it. And 9 times out of 10 they'd be right.

I also love not having to carry cash. Debit cards are awesome.

Ken said...

Great question! I think it is a mixed blessing. Yes - I am now expected to available 24x7, which drives Keds to distraction. But it also enables me to work from home, which I enjoy. So I think it's a 50/50 split...

Anonymous said...

I think it's definitely a mixed bag. It's not just computer technology it's everything.

One of the things that I find a con is the cost when one format changes over to another such as VHS, DVD and now it's turning into Blue Ray and HD DVD.

I also read something recently about analog tv going the way of the dinosaur in 2009.

JoeinVegas said...

I think it helps in general, but too many people are left behind. Yes, the MickyD cashiers now have the machine tell them what change to give back and don't have to learn money math, but is that good? And all the ads that say 'require computer experience' for people that have never touched one?
But it's a lot better than subsistence farming. And being able to find all my favorite videos on YouTube.

Cupcake Blonde said...

Funny I was just talking about this with someone today. I think it is 50/50 as well. Good because of all the medical and communication advances, bad because we forget things from before, like the fact so many kids have no idea what a dewey decimal system is. Also, think of your life with no electricity, no running water, no modern amenities at all. Could you live that way? I can't even imagine it.

Teri said...

I could not imagine teaching without using computers. What did they do when we were in elementary school?

Martin said...

As an information addict, it is a great benefit for me. I was talking to someone the other day about how long it took Britain to know they lost the Revolutionary War. Yet, if it happened now, they could text their surrender. I wonder how many lives that would have saved. CGI filming has saved the lives of many a stuntman. Heck, that whole Twilight Zone accident could have been avoided if we just made the helicopter out of Zeros and Ones. But, there wouldn't be progress without regress. I'm leaning 75% to 25% in the favor of betterment.