Psychological, Social, Physical and Educational Impact of Technology - Research Paper Example

Psychological, Social, Physical And Educational Impact Of Technology Introduction The term technology is used to refer to the various techniques as well as machinery that are utilized by human beings in order to advance their health and wellbeing. Throughout history various new technological advancements have been developed and the primary purpose of all these technological advancements has been the advancement of human wellbeing. For example the television was introduced in order to serve the informational and entertainment needs of the members of the society and the mobile phones were introduced to enhance the social development of the society. There are various benefits that have been offered by different technological advancements, but these advancements have been severally criticized by the opponents of the debate of technology being beneficial or harmful to the society and its members. The opponents as well as the proponents of the debate use various researches in order to support their claims. The benefits of technological advancements have been well documented but at the same time the negative effects of technological advancements have even been well researched and these negative effects have been as severe as being the cause of death amongst the members of the society. As new technological advancements enter the society the concern of how negatively these advancements are impacting human beings has increased within stakeholders and policy makers. Technological advancements may have several benefits to offer but it is severally damaging the educational, social, physical and psychological life of human beings. Body Prevalence Of Technology Use The use of technological devices has increased quite steadily and these advancements are being used by people of all ages including teenagers, young adults, older adults as well as seniors. Steinberg in his article has cited various studies that have been conducted in order to provide insight regarding the benefits of video game technology and in these researches the populations that were survey and observed included children ageing 4 to 6 years old, children who were in the middle years of the school life, individuals who were working as adults and various others (Steinberg 1). Similarly, Winteman focuses on the use of technology of internet amongst the population of teenagers while discussing the impact of technology on members of society (Winteman 1). Psychological Impact Of Technology Technological advancements have severally damaged the psychological wellbeing of its users. The proponents of technology argue that technological developments have impacted the psychological development of the members of the society in a positive manner. For example: Steinberg authored an article regarding the positive effects of video game technology on the game players and cited a study that had identified that playing video games helped in making game players think positive about themselves (Steinberg 1). This research is a pure example of one of the benefits the technologies such as video games have to offer. The research helps in identifying that video gaming helps an individual in developing confidence in oneself and even increases their acceptance of themselves. But the reality is that it has now become medically proven through scientific research that use of technology is a major cause of psychological illnesses amongst the users and other members of the society experience the negative harmful effects in a passive manner. Kovach authored an article to focus on the subject of the impact of radiation from cellphone on the health and wellbeing of the users. In the article the author cites a researcher named Carlo along with a study that was conducted in the European region and these researches helped in figuring out that due to cell phone radiation an individual may end up experiencing several psychological disorders including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), autism and other psychological problems (Kovach 1). Winterman authored an article focusing on the impact of technology on the psychological health of an in individual. In this article the author cites a study that states that through a survey of 617 students it was identified that 9% of these students were sing internet technology to bully themselves (Winterman 1). Due to this act of self-bullying, students were losing self-confidence and were even experiencing decline in their self-image and self-esteem. The studies cited by Kovach and Winterman clearly depict that mobile and internet technology are negatively impacting the psychological health of users and due to these technologies the users are developing ADD, autism, declined self-confidence and self-esteem. Social Impact Of Technology Technological advancements are negatively impacting the overall society including the users of these advancements and other stakeholders. Those who support technological advancements state that these advancements are bringing members of the society together and increasing their social wellbeing. For example Steinberg cites a study that was conducted while focusing on the social benefits of videogames and the study figured out that the video game developers are developing video games that require more than one player to play together. The study states that 45 percent of the parents they surveyed were involved in playing video games with their children and this is leading to an increase in their bonding (Steinberg 1). But the reality is that, different forms of technology are developing trouble in the social life of the entire society. One of the major social issues that are being caused due to technology is the increase in the difference amongst the social classes of the society. According to Mittal, there is a major difference in the ownership of technology within the students who are attending same schools and class. Students belonging to lower income earning groups do not have access to modern technologies such as Android Smartphones, while students belonging to higher income earning groups have access to modern technologies such as laptops and tablets (Mittal 1255). Furthermore Winterman states that individuals are using the internet to connect with individuals in the virtual world and they connect with those individuals whom they do not even know and due to this they experience bullying over the internet at the hands of the strangers (Winterman 1). Technology is causing a division of social status amongst the youth of the society and owning modern technology has become a social status issue. Due to this those who own better technological devices consider themselves as people having higher status and this is resulting in differences between members of the same society. Physical Impact Of Technology Technology has become a major reason that is causing physical impairments amongst the members of the society. Those who are in favor of use of technology propose that technology is helping human beings in maintaining their physical help. For example Steinberg pointed out that video game industry has focused on developing games that require players to move and Steinberg has cited a research in which the researchers identified that the 39 students who were attending mid-level schools and were involved in motion based games were obtaining exercise that was similar to running over a treadmill (Steinberg 1). Similarly Szczerba has identified the positive impact the technology will have on the field of healthcare and how this would lead to benefiting human health and wellbeing (Szczerba 1). Technology may have some benefits for the physical health of the users, but it has devastatingly impacted the physical health of members of the society. Kovach authored an article in which he has cited a study that was conducted by Dr. Carlo. In this study Dr. Carlo identified that the radiation from mobile phone technology was damaging the DNA of an individual and it even caused posed problems to the cardiac pacemaker and due to this the heartbeat of an individual is disrupted (Kovach 10). Furthermore, mobile phone technology has become so lethal that it is taking the lives of young individuals within the society. Winterman states that a girl named Hannah Smith was only 14 years old when she committed suicide as a result of being bullied through the use of internet technology (Winterman 1). The findings stated in the articles authored by Winterman and Kovach completely discredit the benefits of technology for the members of the society because in reality technological advancements such as the internet and the mobile phones are taking away precious lives. Educational Impact Of Technology Adoption of technology is even becoming an obstacle in the path of effective learning and development of students. Those in favor argue that if technological advancements are adopted within the educational system, several benefits for the learner as well as the teacher can be attained. Mittal states that if inclusion of technology such as mobile phones in classrooms is allowed, the students can benefit by recording teacher’s lecture, teachers and students can discuss various issues regarding the course content through group discussion that may take place on social media website and various other benefits (Mittal 1254). Lindquist identified that mobile phone technology in classrooms can be used to submit video based, picture based as well as message based assignments and quizzes to teachers (Lindquist 387). Although there are certain educational benefits associated with use of technological advancements, but at the same time these advancements have huge number of disadvantages to offer. For example, Mittal states that students within the same classroom do not have access to up-to-date technological advancements and students do not wish to share their technological devices with other students and this is leading to division between the students. Furthermore, students including girls are using these advancements for nonearning purposes within the class such as contacting virtual friends and these results in distraction (Mittal 1255). Lindquist identified that using mobile phone technologies for submission of work does not allow students to freely express themselves and the content cannot be sent to teachers in text message form as that content is quite difficult to understandable (Lindquist 387). Educational use of technology has almost failed because using technological advancements in classroom is conflicting with the educational needs of the students and is even distracting them from what teachers want them to learn. Conclusion Using technological advancements may have certain benefits for the society, but the reality is that the net negative outcomes of technological advancements precede the net positive outcomes. Technological advancements are negatively impacting the physical, social, psychological and educational wellbeing of the members of the society. Technological advancements are causing physical impairments such as DNA damage and are becoming a cause of suicide. These advancements are resulting in the development of psychological problems such as ADD, autism and declined self-image. Technologies such as the internet and the mobile phones are creating distances amongst the members of the society. These technologies distract students from studying if these technologies are implemented within the classroom. Works Cited Kovach, Sue. The Hidden Dangers Of Cell Phone Radiation. Life Extension Magazine 2014: 1 - 2. Print.< http://www.lef.org/Magazine/2007/8/report_cellphone_radiation/Page-01> Lindquist, David et al. Exploring The Potential Of Mobile Phones For Active Learning In The Classroom. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin 39.1 (2007): 384. Web.< http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~bsimon/pubs/papers/SIGCSE07cell.pdf> Mittal, Reena. "Use of Cell phones in Classroom Teaching: Boon or Bane." International Journal of Research [Online], 1.8 (2014): 1253-1257. Web. 24 Nov. 2014 < http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/ijr/article/view/575> Steinberg, Scott. The Benefits Of Video Games. ABC News Blogs. N.p., 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.< http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/12/the-benefits-of-video-games/> Szczerba, Robert. Tech Trends Shaping The Future Of Medicine, Part 2. Forbes. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.< http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertszczerba/2014/11/23/tech-trends-shaping-the-future-of-medicine-part-2/> Winterman, Denise. Cyber Self-Harm: Why Do People Troll Themselves Online?. BBC News Magazine 2014: n. pag. Print.< http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25120783> Read More