Use technology cautiously

 

 

 

 

CAN we imagine a world without technology? Surely the answer will be in the negative. But, then, what is technology? It is the application of research-based, scientific and innovative knowledge which increases the utility of products and services and contributes to value creation. It makes our life easier, better and simpler. Technology touches the life of everyone in more than one way as people's needs evolve with the passage of time and technology provides the solution to those needs. For example, making long distance calls once required days but now with mobile in our hands it requires a few seconds. Apart from audio and video calls, sending messages, videos, emails is at our fingertips. Carrying cash is not necessary as payments can be made at a flick from mobile phones and the day is not far when our country will move towards a cashless system. Cooking food is so easier and trouble-free in a microwave or on induction cooktops whereas the former generations used stoves, wood or coal. Technology allows for multifold increase in production as machines complete the job with perfection and in a lesser time. Due to technology people are generating additional income thereby raising their standard of living. Technological advancements in medical or health sectors have instrumented in increasing the longevity of the people.

 

The entertainment industry would not have been the same in absence of technology. During the phase of COVID-19 the education of students and office work of staff hampered very little due to technology. Access to the Internet has opened a plethora of opportunities for one and all. With the aid of maps one can reach his destination as it provides hassle-free guidance. Business has become easier with products being sold through online platforms and it saves time and energy of the customers, being cost-effective and offering quick delivery at the customers doorsteps. Thus technology has innumerable advantages but it has negative aspects too as it has created a lot of obstacles. The major challenge is of data protection, as large amount of data is collected and if it gets compromised the information can be manipulated or fabricated to suit one’s need especially by fraudsters, criminals and hackers.

 

People are getting disconnected and isolated as the habit of socialising is taking a back seat whereas communicating through devices has become the new norm which is leading to illness, anxiety and depression among the people. Photographs, audios and videos can be easily doctored giving it a negative form, making it vexatious to know whether it is real or fake thereby maligning the image of anyone. School-and-college-going students can easily copy and paste their assignments from online platforms without actually learning anything which may result in their negative development. The social platforms are witnessing trolls, insults and abuses with fake identities which poses a challenge to nab the culprits. Youngsters are addicted to games which is giving rise to variety of complexities. By depending heavily on technology many of us are loosing creativity. In other words technology is a tool which if used properly will help in the development of society but if misused will be a deadly weapon that may destroy the society. I remember the words of writer David Wong who said, “Technology is not good or evil in and of itself. Its all about how people choose to use it”.