Technology and Its Negative Effects on Human Race - Essay Example

Technology and its Negative Effects on Human Race Technology is an important element in the daily life of human beings. Since the period of the industrial revolution, human beings have depended on technology. Nonetheless, since the earliest forms of technology, human beings have been carrying out more experiments with technology, and today, the world is experiencing complex technology, which did not exist in the past decades (Grubler 117). The improved technology today has resulted in many positive outcomes in different spheres of human life. For instance, this has led to an increased rate of economic growth, including massive production of consumer goods. Technology is wide, and is experienced in the information and communication, and science, among others. Nonetheless, despite the positive effects of technology in society today, human beings have become slaves of technology, thus resulting in negative outcomes. Nonetheless, technology influences various aspects of human beings negatively, including shaping their personality, and this endangers the existence of the human race in future. According to a New York Times article written by Parker-Pope (WEB), technology has an ugly toll on human beings today. This mainly regards human personality, which has greatly been affected by technology in a detrimental manner. Today, there is the technological invention of high-speed internet, which most people use. There are different gadgets with fast-forward buttons, including many other types of technologies, which people use daily. Parker-Pope (WEB) therefore, argues that the use and dependence on this technology slowly shapes the personality of most human beings. According to Parker-Pope, “Some experts believe excessive use of the Internet, cellphones and other technologies can cause us to become more impatient, impulsive, forgetful and even more narcissistic” (WEB). For instance, since most people are used to high-speed internet, it becomes hard for them to tolerate people who are slow in real life. Additionally, people today are living a virtual lifestyle, since they spend more time on their computers and gadgets, than the time they spend with other people, including their friends, families, colleagues, and relatives. Therefore, this makes life of people today resemble a chat room. Additionally, since most people spend most of their time with their devices and computers with internet, this has resulted in some people becoming addicted to the internet and to the cellphones and other gadgets, therefore, making technology to become like a drug. Technology has also led to the cutting-off of social interactions among people. People communicate more on their cellphones and through the internet, therefore, leading to less time of face-to-face interactions. More people spend time in chat rooms, and this is encouraged by the high efficiency of the internet and iPhones, as well as the anonymity of chat rooms (Parker-Pope WEB). In another article in the BBC News, by Coughlan (WEB), Coughlan argues that technology is presently ranked among some of the threats to human extinction. Humans develop technology; therefore, this might be a case of self-destruction, as observed by Lord Rees, who is a scientist, “This is the first century in the world's history when the biggest threat is from humanity” (Coughlan WEB). Natural disasters, diseases, persecution, and environmental change might not lead to extinction of the human race, since humans have survived this throughout history. In addition, nuclear war might destroy a high number of lives, but some humans might survive. Nonetheless, the present era of technology has the highest capacity for destroying human existence in future. The major reason for this is the lack of control, which people exhibit in the development and use of technology. Therefore, the negative effects of technology are not controlled. People today have become more experimentative and have delved into areas that are unpredictable. For instance, experiments in machine intelligence, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology, might have unexpected negative consequences in future (Coughlan WEB). The use of advanced technology and experimentation sin human biology today has gone beyond boundaries, although these might have positive outcomes, with regard to medical benefits. Synthetic biology, including nanotechnology, and machine intelligence, might have positive outcomes in different areas including agriculture and medicine, but pose a risk to humanity, if this technology is misused. For instance, if this technology is used in warfare, it is capable of gross effects on humanity. Although humans develop technology such as genetic modifications, with good intents of solving various medical and social problems, there are unexpected consequences of such technology in future, especially if it is applied in the wrong environment. Additionally, the development of new organisms for use in medicine and agriculture has detrimental effects on ecology, thus, this might affect humanity in the end (Coughlan WEB). Different studies have also shown that the high use of technology today has a negative impact on education. According to Science Daily (WEB), increased technology use among students and all learners has resulted in a decline of the ability of their critical thinking and analysis processes. A study by the psychologist, Patricia Greenfield, has shown that increased use or dependence on technology results in increased visual skills, but reduced critical thinking and analysis skills in individuals. In her research, Greenfield analyzed different studies conducted on learning and technology, and this included areas of multi-tasking, computer use, video games, and internet use. Nonetheless, her findings indicated that technology today has resulted in young people not reading for pleasure like in the past, as these today engage in video games and movies, among other technology-based entertainment. Young people and students today are more engaged in visual media, and do not spend time with print media. This, according to the study findings, denies young people a chance to experience and enhance their thinking and imagination levels. Students today use more visual media compared to print media. Therefore, these might not develop their vocabulary, imagination, critical thinking, and reflection, which are obtained from reading. In another study, Greenfield found that the use of internet by students did not enhance their learning process. In this study, two groups of students were sampled, with one group allowed to use the internet during lectures, and the second group denied access to internet use during lectures. Results showed that the group with internet access performed poorly in a test given after the lecture, compared to the second group with no internet, which performed better. With regard to video games, Greenfield argued that these have positive impact on the visual skills of an individual, but can also result in adverse consequences. Most video games comprise violence, and have a tendency of resulting in negative influence on the user. These negative effects include violent behaviors and the disregard for violence in real-life. “Technology is not a panacea in education, because of the skills that are being lost” (Science Daily WEB). Therefore, by emphasizing visual skills and killing critical thinking and analysis skills in students, technology puts future education at stake, since this might lead to the production of incompetent students, who might not make competent leaders in various spheres, which need critical thinking and analysis skills. In conclusion, technology remains an important aspect of life, as this has made life to be more comfortable, and increased efficiency. Compared to the past centuries with low levels of technological development, today, the high level of technology has realized various positive outcomes in the world, including in the economic, social, and political spheres. However, the over-reliance of humans on technology, as well as the lack of control in technological innovations is likely to result in undesired and unanticipated consequences in future. Presently, technology, including the internet and cell phones, continues to shape human personality in a negative way. In addition, extreme biological engineering might be useful today, but pose danger for the human race in future, especially if used for the wrong reasons. Furthermore, visual media decreases people’s ability to think critically and analyze situations, therefore, having a negative influence on intelligence. Nonetheless, human beings still have the chance of turning all these negative effects of technology around. This is through making technology their servant, so that they are bot slaves of technology. First, human beings should learn to regulate their use of technology. Using technology in moderation will ensure that most negative effects are abated, and the overreliance on technology is done away with, since this is the cause of most negative effects. Additionally, people should exercise control in developing new technologies. If a type of technology is proved to bear negative consequences, this should not be developed. Nonetheless, technology builds and destroys; however, wise use of technology will help abate its negative effects. Works Cited Coughlan, Sean. “How are humans going to become extinct?” BBC News, 24 April 2013. Viewed 14 May 2013 < http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22002530> Grubler, Arnulf. “Technology and Global Change.” London: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Parker-Pope, Tara. “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness,” New York Times, 6 June 2010, Viewed 14 May 2013 < http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brainside.html?_r=0> Science Daily. “Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis?” 29 January 2009. Viewed 14 May 2013 Read More