How Has Technology Ended the Physical and Intellectual Isolation of Americans - Case Study Example

In what ways has technology ended the physical and intellectual isolation of Americans? Introduction Technology is no longer the exclusive province of developed nations. In the current age of globalization, technology has become widespread and encompassing in its coverage. Moreover, it has infiltrated many countries regardless of their economic progress and access to resources. The Internet and the World Wide Web have made the access to technology universal. The fact that the cost of technology has been reduced through mass consumption has also made technology even more extensive in its coverage. Physical and intellectual types of progress have also become widespread, covering beyond the American shores and reaching as many developing countries in almost all corners of the globe. Such progress has now been apparent in the technologies being released and displayed by Asian countries like China, Japan, and even Vietnam. Other European and African states have also started to experience the industrial and digital progress which was once dominated by the United States. Americans have also branched out significantly in their geographical coverage and access to technology, having considered technologies from other countries to be utilized in their regions. Based on this discussion, this paper will consider the ways by which technology has ended the physical and intellectual isolation of Americans. Body The age of globalization has made cell phones and computers available and accessible anywhere in the world as part of mass consumption products. Their easy access has mostly become accessible due to the spread of globalization, and due to the widespread use of the Internet. As a result, cell phones are no longer as expensive to purchase. Information technology, in other words, has become globalized and has, therefore, become available to the masses. It has also become part of the superior good of the people, and this superior good seems to be dominating over and above the people’s income (Mann, 2005). Such income disparity is apparently greater for services and software and in some cases for the technology hardware as well. As a result, technology has been embraced by most countries at any price and at any cost because they see it as part of their greater good. IT (information technology) investments have also become elastic in price due to price reduction and accessibility of hardware (Mann, 2005). With higher investments for most countries, productivity growth has been seen improving capital and increasing changes in workplace practices (Bayoumi and Haacker, 2002). These investments have also changed the landscape of businesses in most countries, affecting skills in the labor market through higher returns in problem-solving skills among employees (Autor, Levy, and Murnane, 2003). With globalization, the US is no longer the only country engaged in technology and its trade. As the US also invests and sells its products abroad, it also takes in the products from other countries. Moreover, globalization of information technology also means that other states are also very much involved in production and investments; and these activities affect the US in so many ways (Mann, 2005). Globalized margins in production also reduce the IT process, including IT hardware. With lower process in IT, macroeconomy is richer and more widespread, making it possible to marker technology in prices affordable to the masses. As global markets have increased, there are now more players in global trade and more IT goods have become available to the public. The concentration of these producers and these markets has also become more widespread. The share of the market has become distributed to countries which include China, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan, as well as other nations (Mann, 2005). This distribution has also prompted to the US to improve its products and to market its products based on the more competitive market. In general, the IT marketplace has become broadly based across industrial and developing nations. The growth rates in spending and production, as well as trade has grown as significantly advanced rates all around the world (Mann, 2005). New exporters have also emerged and even with the US as the largest market for these technologies, new exporters have also emerged. The overall relation of hardware and software seems to be different based on the activity in the market. And in the current context, the activity has become largely diffused. Globalization now represents a time of extensive international economic activity as it provides macroeconomic effects in terms of mass migration and financial capital flows (Manivannan, 2008). The globalization of technology has now served as an aid for capital flows, as well as an instrument of change. This globalization has also released technology into a more liberal setting, one which is not restricted by geographical, market, as well as technological barriers. In effect, the appreciation of a certain product is not anymore restricted by the physical and technological gaps between the east and the west. The accessibility of technology has also become significantly global through the commoditization of these products which has made these products largely available to the masses (Oak, 2012). The standards of these products have also become more uniform, making it possible to produce higher quality products at affordable rates, especially at rates which the poorer individuals can afford (Manivannan, 2008). The product lifetimes have also increased and have given way to the re-use of these products in lesser developed countries. In effect, what may seem obsolete or outdated to the American user are often released to the lesser developed nations at cheaper prices. As a result, these countries are still able to enjoy the technologies, even if these technologies are outdated. The mobility of these products has also been improved through the globalization of technology, and this has reduced the need to travel; moreover, it has also reduced excess productions in these technologies (Manivannan, 2008). Globalization of technology has also made international travel easier with the promotion of standardized security and personal identity verification processes. Technology advancements has ensured that security processes in borders can easily be verified, thereby reducing delays in travel and ensuring that the security of individuals crossing borders would be protected. Support systems for various technologies have also become globally available at the lowest costs, making it possible for technical assistance from across borders to be delivered at low cost to the consumers (Oak, 2012). Globalization has established new possibilities for most people around the world. It came at a time when the world was bursting at its seams with demands for expansions in information technology and other expansive demands. With these demands, the global market opened to all these possibilities, allowing a mix of engineering and economic knowledge to guide the global movers. Through the globalization of technology, cross border and intercontinental outsourcing, as well as the crossing of time zones became viable tools for business (Manivannan, 2008). The language barriers leveled out with the universal use of English and with the literacy and intellectual abilities of global citizens becoming more diverse regardless of citizenship. Countries with the language advantage, as well as a strong affinity for high quality education have benefited from the globalization of technology. Through this globalization processes, there is an equally reliable telecommunication service in IT hardware available for most people in the world, allowing improved standards in support infrastructure to be available in both the developed and developing countries (Oak, 2012). As a result of this universality in technology, various future possibilities in technology have been explored and have emerged. The innovative cyber concierge services which have replaced sweat shop style call centers are now considered sources of knowledge, where information is evaluated and stored (Manivannan, 2008). Due to the globalization of technology, the information network has also become more expansive, and with computer-generated video reporting on the rise, more individuals are gaining access to the same information regardless of their location in the world. The reputation of the US for technological dominance came from years of having honed the ability to develop new technologies and industries at a rate faster than any other country in the world (Segal, 2004). Since the end of the Second World War, the US has dominated technological innovations and coupled with its strong entrepreneurship, they have ensured their place in economic prosperity. Americans invented various technological breakthroughs in almost all fields of practice, from medicine to engineering, and labor-saving devices; they have invented the semiconductor, the personal computer, and a slew of other devices which have now served the world well (Segal, 2004). Today, however, this technological advantage has slipped, and one of the more serious threats to its technological power seems to come from Asia. With current competitive tax policies, as well as significant investments in research and development, including improved policies in science and technology, Asian governments have now leaned towards improving the quality of services, thereby securing the management of future inventions and innovations (Lynn and Salzman, 2006). Patents issued, as well as scientific articles published by scientists, have emerged from the Asian countries like China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Technologies have also emerged from India which is now considered as the second largest producer of application services, in developing, as well as supplying software for clients around the world (Segal, 2004). South Korea has also emerged as a significant threat to the US in terms of advancements in its manufacture of computer chips and telecommunications software. China has also had serious gains in terms of laser, biotechnology, as well as advancements in semiconductors and manufacturing. The market for these technologies has become more diverse for consumers, with choices now featuring products not just from the US, but from Asia as well. Even as the US technological dominance is still globally significant, globalization of technology and development has placed a huge amount of pressure on the American system. As the US is learning and developing ways to gain advancements in technology, so is the rest of the world (Lynn and Salzman, 2006). Nevertheless, it is still important to note that the US is a formidable power in terms of scientific and technological tools, mostly because it has the financial capacity to support the research and development of these tools. It has been known to allocate billions of dollars in research and development, and these allocations are unrivaled in the world, with Japan being a far second, followed by Canada, France, Germany, and Italy (Segal, 2004). However, with the economic crisis which has impacted significantly on the US and on other developed nations, these allocations have been decreased to a significant degree and has compromised the extent to which technological developments can go (Juma, 2005). These funding issues have also been exacerbated by the fact that labor shortages have become apparent. “The number of Americans pursuing advanced degrees in the sciences and engineering is declining, and universally science and engineering programs are growing more dependence on foreign-born talent” (Segal, 2004). About 35% of US scientists come from outside the US; and more than half of the science and engineering award students under PhD levels studies come from China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea (Segal, 2004). The entry of these foreign-born talents has served to weaken the impact of the US in the future, especially with these graduates likely to go back to their homeland and improve on their knowledge there (Segal, 2004). The fact that talents from the US do not seem to indicate an increase in the years to come is a major cause of concern because this would lead to a smaller talent pool in the science and engineering departments. The 9/11 attacks have also limited the entry of foreign students into the country, but this has not decreased their talent in the fields of science and technology (Segal, 2004). The fact that their own countries are now increasing investments in the fields of science and engineering programs seems to have provided sufficient incentive for these students to remain in their country. With talents in science and engineering being widely dispersed, the technological innovations can also potentially become dispersed, thereby reducing the technological dominance of the US and compromising its place as the lone technological superpower (Juma, 2005). The means by which technological breakthroughs have been developing also has a significant impact on the current technological status of the US. While US companies have long been the leader in technological innovations with the Asians following their lead, this role of follower seems to have lost its appeal for many Asian nations (Segal, 2004). Asian governments are now actively supporting technological innovations and inventions with their financial allocations to this end being significantly increased with each year. Their involvement in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology has also increased and government support for these areas now rivals that of the US (Segal, 2004). In addition, China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea have adapted more flexible and market-oriented methods in order to support innovations and entrepreneurship. Various governments have also used new fiscal policies in order to support their development programs, especially those which help support research and development (Juma, 2005). These countries are also encouraging and supporting students and scientists to engage in research and development studies; in the process drawing in various companies to invest in these studies. Due to these activities, America’s technological isolation and superiority has somehow been less dominant. As it remains the most powerful country in the world, other countries are not too far behind. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, technology has ended the physical and intellectual isolation of Americans. This is largely attributed to globalization and the marketing of information technology on a worldwide scale. In effect, these technologies have pushed the US outside its comfort zone, prompting other countries to become more engaged in IT and its related developments. As a result, it has now become possible for other lesser developed nations to access what is also accessed by the average American. Mass production of information technology has made this process possible. The changes in science and technology for Asian countries have highlighted the fact that innovations are no longer influenced by geography. As a result, technological advancements can now be seen in any part of the world, thereby reducing the physical and intellectual isolation of America. Reference Autor, D., & Murnane, R. (2003). The Skill Content of Recent Technological Change: An Empirical Exploration. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(4). Bayoumi, T., Haacker, M. (2002. It’s Not What You Make, It’s How You Use IT: Measuring the Welfare Benefits of the IT Revolution across Countries. IMF Working Paper WP/02/117. Washington: IMF. Juma, C. (2005). Intellectual property rights and globalization: implications for developing countries. Center for International Development at Harvard University. Retrieved 18 January 2012 from http://www.cid.harvard.edu/archive/biotech/papers/discuss4.pdf Lynn, L., & Salzman, H. (2006). Collaborative Advantage. Issues in Science and Technology. Retrieved 18 January 2012 from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1000861_collaborative_advantage.pdf Manivannan, M. (2008). Globalization of technology – Imagine the possibilities Socio- economic, political and cultural implications and thought leadership. IAJC-IJME International Conference. 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