ARE HUMANS BECOMING SLAVES TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY?
Whether humans are becoming slaves to technology or not is a very debatable topic as there are many examples in which the benefits of using technology can be clearly seen. But at the same time, there are several impacts of overusing technology which might, at some point, make us a slave of technology. However, before going into this debate, it is important to understand what is exactly meant by the term modern technology.
What is Modern Technology?
Modern technology is the advancement and the modification of old techniques, methods and processes. However, it is not just limited to the high-tech machinery used in factories, new and advanced gadgets or the artificial intelligence which is being developed but is also an integral part of our daily lives. This is in the form of mobile phones, ensuring a face-to-face communication, 5g network which provides a blazing fast internet connection to the users, social media which helps its users to not only interact with new people but also learn new things and follow the trends all around the world with just one click and the list goes on. Modern technology is all about efficiency and speed which has made the lives of the people really fast.
How Technology has helped Humans?
Technological advances have enabled the growth of the world in many aspects, two of which are healthcare and education. Advances in healthcare include the digitalization of health records, which not only makes it easy to access but also reduces the chance of errors. Moreover, the development of telemedicine, which is a two-way video consultation, has also promoted the healthcare industry by expanding its access in rural areas and has also reduced the waiting times for the patients. Further advancements include healthcare machinery e.g., MRI scans, x-ray machines etc. The newest advancement in healthcare is the robotic surgeries which have several benefits which include, increasing precision, lesser complications and infections, less pain and faster recovery.
Like healthcare, there have been major advances in the education sector. A major example of this is the online system of education during this pandemic, which proved to be an extremely essential technological advancement, in keeping the everyday life going. Furthermore, the use of technology in classrooms does not limit the learning to a textbook only, in fact, it provides a broader learning environment which helps to prepare children for their future world. Also, the use of E-Learning provides access to educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom 24/7, which makes it flexible and encourages independent learning.
Impacts of Overusing Technology
In addition to the numerous benefits that technology provides us, there are several negative impacts of overusing technology; these include health issues such as eye strains, neck and back problems, sleep problems. A study found a clear link between excessive use of smartphones and neck problems. Furthermore, it has also made us underestimate our ability to memorize as now we have started storing everything in our cellphones. Socializing on the internet has also negatively impacted our social skills; many people can communicate quite effectively online but have difficulty in conversing face to face with people. We also lose the ability to pick social cues like facial expression when we shift real-life interaction to online communication.
Moreover, we have become so dependent on technology that it seems that it is impossible to carry out everyday tasks without the use of technology. In other words, we have started relying on it. All these gadgets and machines around us have also made us lazier than ever as everything is accessible to us by just one click, be it online shopping, food delivery, or any other kind of online services. We use calculators for the simplest of calculations, use the internet for new ideas instead of brainstorming and using our own creativity. We use cars to even travel to the nearest shop. Furthermore, we have also become addicted to our phones. According to Trendhunter, 66% of the population suffers from nomophobia today, which is the fear of not having a mobile phone around.
Conclusion
It is true that technology has taken over the world and these technological advances have been crucial for the growth of the world in many aspects but at the same time we can also see how everything is dependent on technology. To answer the question whether humans have become slaves to modern technology or not is quite a difficult task as it is actually up to us; whether we want to become a slave or not is in our own hands. We are the ones who make all these technological advancements, and we are the ones who use them. So, we can also limit the amount of their usage by eliminating excess.
Thus, calling it as slavery might be a bit too extreme as we, as humans, are still in control, even if we are relying too much on technology. The high-tech robots that are being manufactured are still at the liberty of human beings. The usage of mobile phones is in our own hands. Whether we walk to the nearby store or take a car ride to it is our own choice. Therefore, becoming a slave to technology is also a choice. We should follow a quote by Billy Cox who says that “Technology should improve your life not become your life”. This stresses that we should use technology only as long as it benefits us by finding a healthy balance between technology and society. This way we can ripe the true benefits of technological advancements without compromising on other things.
