College students and technology - Research Paper Example

College and Technology Here s Here College and Technology Technology is the application of scientific advance, and there has been an explosion of innovation in this area in recent decades (Buckingham, 2007). In the developed world, personal computers have become part of whole-home networks that can include televisions, video game systems, and even some refrigerators. Cellular phones have been eclipsed by more advanced technologies that could be referred to as personal computerized devices, integrating online networking functions with enhanced processing capabilities.

The mobility of tablets and personal computers are other products that contribute to our consistent connection with the virtual world. The college student is a demographic that may have the largest investment in these technological advancements. The extreme diffusion of device usage is readily observable in the halls of many post-secondary academic institutions as students wander dangerously close to collision paths while fixated on their electronic devices. There are many less obvious, but more serious ways that the regular usage and exposure to technology may influence the perceptions and behaviors of college students.

How Does Technology Influence Culture? The culture of many college-aged individuals in the developed world has been highly influenced by, and possibly even built upon the concept of technological advance. The way in which we communicate traditions has become the tradition itself, as the use of personal technologies and worldwide networking has become an expected behavior. However, it could also be argued that technological advance and online networking actually contribute to the preservation of classic tradition by allowing for safer storage and sharing of related information.

By the same token, the presence of traditional information on the Internet makes many cultures available to be incorporated into the lives of people as they see fit. In this manner, the use of technological advances may be responsible in part for the increased multiculturalism that is observable in many current societies.The Increasing Use of Technology and Effects on Social Interaction The constant use of technology among most college students is a potential contributor to isolated conditions and asocial behavior.

These consequences are associated with an increased risk of mental disorders such as depression. In contrast, technology has made the task of contacting another person easier to accomplish than ever before. We may then suggest that the use of technology is a positive contributor to socially interactive behavior. Before we make any conclusions, we must consider that technology-enabled interactions are not the same as personal interactions. Research from developmental psychology has identified the need for close human proximity as being present from a very early age.

It is likely that “virtual” social interactions are insufficient in delivering all the benefits associated with interactions in close proximity to another human being.How Does the Use of Technology Impact Interpersonal Relationships? The potential negative consequences of technology use on social interactions may extend to the interpersonal relationships of a college student. If the isolation theory is correct, then it is also likely that all of a student’s personal connections, weak and strong, will be weakened as a result of persistently using technology.

However, the typical post-secondary environment places students in close proximity to each other on a regular bases, such as within dorms and classes. College students may not face as high a risk of sociocultural impairment due to the communal nature of college life.ReferenceBuckingham, D. (2007). Beyond Technology: Children’s Learning in the Age of Digital Culture. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.