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Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?
Technology can be viewed as an activity that forms or changes culture. Additionally, technology is the application of math, science, and the arts for the benefit of life as it is known. A modern example is the rise of communication technology, which has lessened barriers to human interaction and, as a result, has helped spawn new subcultures; the rise of cyber culture has, at its basis, the development of the Internet and the computer. Not all technology enhances culture in a creative way; technology can also help facilitate political oppression and war via tools such as guns. As a cultural activity, technology predates both science and engineering, each of which formalizes some aspects of technological endeavor. I strongly agree that modern technology make life more convenient.
Firstly, modern technology improves our daily communication. Latest news and discovery could be known in matters of seconds with the improvement of technology in the fields of communication. In olden days, we contact or get in touch with each other by writing a simple letter which might take times to reach the receiver. Later on, large and bulk telephone were discovered which currently been simplified into small mobile phones. Now a day, we could even do video conference between one to five different people at the same time with the help of camera phones and internet. One could just Skype around to talk with his or her friend from another part of the world as long both of them are connected via internet. They could also perform high quality video call as long as both have a high definition camera fixed to their computer or laptop. This advancement in technology is amazing as neither both of the parties involved could do this for free of charge. Hence, modern technology connects one other in a quicker manner and how could we agree if someone says life was better when technology was simpler. If one agrees to that statement means he or she thinks writing long letters which might take months to reach the receiver is better than instant video call.
Besides, improvement in modern technology saves our time in traveling due to advancement in modern transportation system. Traveling from one continent to another continent consumes time if travelled by sea. When sails were used travelling from the continent of Asia to the continent of Australia took months. Later on with the instalment of diesel powered motor the journey was shorten by half. Currently with the availability of commercial high speed airplanes the journey only takes 4 hours of flight. The advancement in commercial airplane was seeing by the world with the successful flight by the Concorde where the plane flew in the supersonic speed or speed of sound. However due to some safety and environmental reason the flight’s operation was stopped. In road system’s people could avoid traffic problem with the help of internet and general packet radio service (GPRS). One could plan his travel destination or find his route to a certain place with the help of GPRS. This system shows the person where and how he can reach a desired destination. The user only has to key in his current location and desired destination and the system will show the direction. The internet on the hand can be used to plan a right time to travel to avoid traffic and also show if the route that going to be used is safe or accident free, any roadblock by the police which might delay the journey or even the weather conditions in that particular area. How would life be without all this development and yet people believe this entire advance is not necessary.
Moreover, research and discovery in the field of energy has improved the lives of mankind. The basic kind of energy everyone need is light where it can be simply obtain by burning a candle or anything which contain carbon. However this source of energy produces harmful gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which thins our ozone layer. In the 1900’s petroleum and natural gas was the most used energy source which polluted the earth. In current time, due to the intensive research in this field scientist found an alternative energy source such as hydroelectric energy, wind, bio-fuel, solar and nuclear energy. The basic form of energy the world gave to the human were no other than wind and solar. Windmills were created and placed areas with strong wind to rotate the motor to produce electrical energy. Heat energy from the sun itself is captured with solar panels and converted into electrical energy. Animal waste and other waste gasses produced by decomposed product is collected in a high pressured cylinder and used to power vehicles instead of using petroleum which is expensive. This substance is called biofuel. There are many types of basic energy source that the earth can offer but they are under research to commercial it such as wave energy and geothermal energy sources. The other type of energy source which is undergoing pressure from many parties is nuclear energy. Many claims this energy is not safe and dangerous due to the incident occurred in Chernobyl. However, this energy is cheaper and produces a large amount of energy which can be used for a very long time. Advancement in this field ensures that this energy can be used in a safer manner. The incident in Chernobyl occurred for a very long time and people could relate the same might occur again as the technology have improved and many safety measurement were taken if such incident might occur again. The waste material of nuclear energy also can be used again to reduce down the radiation for safer disposal in future and yet people claim it that it is still not safe.
Besides that, advancement in the field of medicine or health has improved the well-being of human kind. This advancement has saved many people’s life. A simple tumor or cancer could not be discovered in early sign as signs of symptoms will only be presence as the illness gets serious. Once the illness became serious there is a negligible amount survival chance. Early diagnosis could determine the level of seriousness of the sickness and safety precautions and operation could be done to save the life of the patient. A simple headache or a gastric pain could be simply lead to misconceptions which could be life threating. A simple diagnosis which could be half an hour could produce instant result whether it’s a normal pain or life threating disease. If it’s a normal pain the doctor can prescript a paracetamol or painkiller to stop the problem from occurring again. Problem regarding infertility could also be solved with the advancement of medical science. A simple pill could increase the production of sex hormones which increases the productions of gamete. In current time, a doctor could also predict the date when a baby will be born based on ultrasound and other machines. The gender of the offspring could be predicted and any complication during labour can be known before the labour. All this information will help the doctor and nurses to take early precaution to perform the delivery smoothly with less complication. In olden days, a person could only donate his or her blood but with the advancement of modern technology a person can also donate other major organ such as kidney and liver. Once the donor passed away and his organs are in good shape, the organ could be removed and transplanted into other patient who needs it the most. Last time a disease in a donor could not be determine and possess harm when organ or blood transplant is done but in current time the conditions of the organs can be determine. The donor can be diagnosis and checked to prevent any of the donated organs is free from life threating disease such as Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This discovery not only prevents the transfer of this disease from one into another but also safe the victims life.
As a conclusion, modern technology makes life more convenient. I disagree with the statement that life could be simpler without modern technology. Life will never be the same without all this advancement. As stated above, modern technology had helped many people in many ways and yet there are some communities of people disagreeing with this. We will suffer and find a lot of difficulties in our daily life without the presence of modern technology. Many problem and complications will occur if there is no modern technology to help in our daily life. Simple task will take more energy and longer time to perform. Early precautions could not be taken as we can never predict what might or can happen in the future. Last but not least modern technology has changed our living style, made work easier for mankind and is more convenient.
