Technology: The End of Mankind
TECHNOLOGY
The human race is slowly, but surely, contributing to its own demise. This sub-conscious suicide is being carried out in more than one way, but the most apparent one is technology. Technology is advancing at a pace so rapid that it will eventually lead to the self-extinction of the human race.
The most current and pressing issue that falls into this category is the infamous Y2K bug. This is the virus that is going to cause every computer in operation to go haywire when the year 2000 comes around. Some of the things will be effected by this are personal computers, ATM’s, air traffic control and street and traffic lights. Even if none of these theories pan out, the hype alone that is being created by the media is predicted to cause enough chaos and pandemonium by itself. In a recent survey, it was proven that over 50% of the American people are afraid of the bug and what it will do. If this matter is not addressed soon it will be responsible for many casualties.
Another branch of technology that has caused casualties in the past and is bound to cause many more in the future is weapons. The weapon that has had the most impact is the gun. It has killed millions, not only in wars, but in everyday life as well. In addition, there is the atomic bomb that killed thousands at Hiroshima. More recently there is the nuclear missile that is capable of wiping out an entire major city. Moreover, there are many inventions that have been built with the intent to improve life only to repeatedly take it away from people. Some such inventions are cars, planes and nuclear power plants. Something must be done to hinder the advancement of technology in these areas before we are all dead.
Lastly, technology is the biggest source of pollution. This pollution poses the largest threat of all to the world. Not only will it eventually lead to a genocide of the entire human race, but it is destroying everything else on the planet. The increase in the population has compounded this effect leading to more cars on the road and more waste, hence, more pollution. If pollution keeps up at this rate something bad is going to happen. Everyone will die of either cancer, due to holes in the ozone, starvation, because all of the animals were wiped out by pollution, or some other illness obtained from contaminated food and water.
Technology is supposed to be seen as such an advancement and great accomplishment. What others may not always know is sometimes it isn’t all fun and games, it can be dangerous. As seen when we created the atomic bomb and guns, their only purpose is to destroy and cause pain to others. Although they are not always in use, they are a constant threat to our well being. We need to take into consideration the positives and the negatives of the technology we create today.
Although the world as a whole has become greater and greater as each decade passes, the world has experienced a decline that overpowers the good that has happened in this century. Technology wise, the world has used this to our advantage, and become a greater and smarter world each day. However, the technology is a main reason for the world’s downfall.
As our world becomes increasingly globalized, numerous people travel to urban areas in search of economic prosperity. As a consequence of this cities in periphery countries expand at rates of 4 to 7 percent annually. Many cities offer entrepreneurs the potential for resources, labor, and resources. With prosperity cities also allow the freedom to of a diversity of way of life and manners (Knox & Marston, 2012). However, in the quest to be prosperous, increasing burdens are placed on our health and the condition of our environment. These burdens are amplified as the area is further urbanized; increasing demands for fossilized fuels, food, water, and property for additional urban construction. The impact of industrialization has transformed human life and produced extensive ecological deviations. In order to understand how the environmental impacts of ever expanding industrialized technology might linger to impact our health and that of our environment, offers facts that should be studied. This paper suggests that extra research be conducted to enhance perception concerning advancing modern technology disadvantageous consequences on the safety of humans and their surrounding environment.
Advancements in science and technology can be very beneficial, but they also pose a big threat. What happens when they are relied too heavily upon? There is a loss of communication, relationships, and freedom. The majority of the population begins to live in fear as a select few delve deeper into the next big phenomenon, or what they believe to be the means by which the society will prosper. This infatuation with science and technology will bring nothing but destruction, as it prevents all individuals from fully experiencing life.
Attention getter: Fumes. Gases. Toxins. We cannot survive without air; even though, we must inhale any air that is available in the atmosphere. According to the Environmental Protection Agency “a new gas powered lawn mower produces…air pollution in one hour of operation as 11 new cars each being driven for one hour” (Springfels). If the society keeps producing technology, then the environment will be destroyed.
Every day when looking out a window, people see a beautiful earth. The earth is intriguing, but hinges on a delicate balance. Many natural resources keep the grass green and the sky blue. Man has made quite an impression on our world, and has transformed the earth's resources into tools to make life easy. However, mans' manipulation on earth has become detrimental to the health of our planet and the safety of mankind. Through the use and production of resources such as oil and energy, man is gradually poisoning the earth. Pollution has become such a dilemma in society; there is no real control or a feasible solution to society's recklessness. Without complete change, our system will collapse. The earth will eventually retaliate with disaster, or corporate control of our economy will cause hysteria and depression. Evaluation of the consequences and repercussion of worldwide pollution, may give people a better idea of what the future holds.
Evo Morales stated, “Sooner or later, we will have to recognize that the Earth has rights too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans” (Pollution Quotes, 2013). Hence, attention must be provided to this devastating issue. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse changes (Wieman, 2013). There are numerous types of pollution, such as light, air, land, water, noise, thermal and radioactive pollution. In an article, the author highlighted that according to Richard Buckminster Fuller, “Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting, we allow them to disperse because we’ve been ignorant of their value” (Farrell, 1971, p. 52). Pollution is created mostly by human actions, but can also be a result of natural disasters. Pollution can harm the environment of the world and its inhabitants in many ways. Pollution has a detrimental effect on any living organism in an environment, making it virtually impossible to sustain life (Enclyopedia - Pollution, 2008).
As technology continues to advance it seems society's aptitudes have begun to decline socially, mentally, and physically. According to Butte, famous theoretical physicist Albert Einstein once stated, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity” (Butte). I believe this quote truly summarizes how technology has affected our society.
Today we live in a world where everything is practically automatic. We can refer to today’s society as the “technologically civilized” society. There’s been a drastic change from the older days till now. As an example, in the past people had to wash and dry dirty dishes by hand, or write a letter to get in contact with someone. Nowadays, we can push a simple button to start the dishwasher, or give that certain someone a phone call or send an email. Technology can provide the benefit of giving us a simpler, stress-free life or it can become a misfortune we face everyday. Unfortunately, today technology has overcome our lives and we have become too dependent on it.
Technology is unavoidable in our modern lifestyle. You wake up, you use technology; you use technology while cooking, while eating, while driving. While you’re lying in bed before you fall asleep, you use technology, technology wakes you up in the morning. Is all the technology around you good for you, or is it harmful to your health? Was our society healthier or safer before all the advancements? So many questions and concerns about all of the technology we crave, but there are very few people who know the answers. Technology affects all parts of human life. It can create jobs, motivate people to get active, and assist people in learning, but this does not balance out that there are dangers that follow the use of technology.
In the 21st century, the world has changed in many ways. Some changes have improved the quality of life and health for many people. Others have affected people health and causing different kind of pollution that is harming the environment. That is technology we talking about, it is apply to every one of us in daily life, example the motor vehicles and factory it all producing dangerous and harmful gasses to the environment but we can not live without it.
Humans have become overly dependent on technology over the past generations. Developing new technologies is important because it makes life more efficient. However, it has caused today's society to change the way they communicate, their honesty, the way they think, and how they spend their time in harmful ways.
Our planet is suffering from severe pollution, which ranges from contaminated air, water and soil as well. Humans are doing nothing to reduce the amount of pollution that is harming our earth. To understand how pollution works first you must understand that there are different types of pollution. The most common types of pollution and the ones that I will be focusing on which are the ones doing the most harm to our planet are air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination and littering. In order to help out and reduce pollution in our planet people need to be more aware of what these problems are and about the severe damages that they are causing our planet. Before industrialization really jumped into place and had an effect on large cities, nature had its own way of cleaning up its own air and itself. Wind scattered gases, rain washed many substances and the rest dissolved into the ground; while plants absorbed carbon dioxide and made it into oxygen. With big cities growing more every time and with more towns that were becoming more industrialized a lot of more waste began to be released into the environment and the atmosphere and soon this was more than enough for nature to handle. In order to stop and reduce pollution people need to understand the damage that it is causing our environment and our planet as well. People need to be more aware of how they can help out and do their part in reducing these problems that are causing our planet to die slowly with people not even noticing it.
One of the most talked about subjects on the future is climate. At this very moment the Earth is warming up and we are the cause. The warming of the Earth is known more commonly as global warming. Maybe this subject is going to be fought over for centuries while we squander the time we have left away, but even if we did stop doing the things that cause global warming it will not bring it to a standstill. The main cause is pollution, and although scientists say that crude oil will be a thing of the past, alternatives to it will be created.
This paper discusses the relationship between technology and society. It focuses on how technology has influenced various aspects of the society. The areas looked are: how technology has affected the communication, transportation, education, health, economic activities, environment, food production, food conservation and preservation and food distribution. It has gone further to explain how technology has radically changed the demographic structure of the societies in question, specifically Japan society. In addition, it has discussed how technology has influenced government policy formulation.