Technology and Lifestyle - Essay Example

Technology and Lifestyle Technology has been rapidly changing over the years and continues to change every day. This means that the way people live has been transformed in both positive and negative ways. The overall essence of advancing in technology is generally to be of benefit to the human beings. However, these technologies have been used destructively hence promoting complexities in the way people live in certain aspects. In one respect, the way people socialize has been completely changed courtesy of the prevailing technologies such as the social media. This virtual mode of communication presents many advantages though it is not without some disadvantages. Irrespective of the arguments that have been brought, it can be substantively argued that technology has enhanced the quality of life by making life easier and facilitating people in engaging with their daily activities efficiently and effectively. Technology and lifestyle are two inseparable aspects. People keep on changing their lifestyles based on the technologies that are being developed. Technologies have brought forth heightened levels of convenience and accessibility across all the dealings that people have on their daily basis (Cooper 1). On a normal day, a person wakes up to interact with technologies right from their bed, kitchen, road, to the workplace. A bundle of technology such as a smartphone has become a major accompaniment wherever and whenever; As a result of internet connectivity, an individual is able to access any information from any place. This has created a lifestyle where people are able to operate even from their homes. The implications are that people tend to become more independent and personal contacts become minimal. Though the lifestyle has constantly changed, the level of productivity has exponentially improved as a result of the convenience and ease of operationalization created by the use of technologies (Yu 217). The influence of technology is mainly for the general well-being of people. Many problems that confront people have found solutions in modern technologies. Technological products such as computers have ensured that life becomes easy, better, and quick. Communication from wherever part of the world has been transformed. In addition, transportation has been made easy and fast. A global view reveals that almost every facet of the human life has been influenced by technology mainly positively. As a result of these technologies, people’s social lives have been transformed significantly. On the positive note, it is possible to interlink with friends and relatives as well as transact businesses at any moment from any part of the world courtesy of developments in technology (Belcher 1). Despite the advantages of technology, addiction and obsession with technology has been a major concern that has contributed to unproductivity. Additionally, people have become more anti-social such that face-to-face contacts have continued to dwindle over time. Friendship development has been made to be virtual and less personal; in this respect, it is possible that people can be in relationship and have never met. On the other hand, the family has been affected by technologies advancements in a negative way. The consumption of media and other technologies have killed inter-personal communications between family members. Technology has greatly improved the quality of life. Through technological advancements, there are fewer strains in life. Technology has made life easy, more secure, and highly convenient for a person to have a decent life. Medical technologies have facilitated the prognosis of diseases such as cancer, cellphones have revolutionized communication, the internet has promoted sharing of information, and the cameras have helped in beefing up security, among other influences of technology. In essence, the quality of life has continued to improve courtesy of technologies. People are able to transact their business in a better and convenient way courtesy of technologies; this has resulted to better profits, which have helped in raising the quality of life and change in lifestyles. However, on the contrary, technology has been linked with reducing the human potential especially where individuals get obsessed with technologies. On the other hand, some technologies have been associated with deleterious effects such as exposure to radiation, which has been associated with diseases. Diseases such as cancer associated with exposure to radiation reduce the quality of life. Though technology has been applauded for its benefits to the society, it has been faulted and criticized for the associated detrimental effects. First, the use of communication technologies such as the social media has been criticized for the lack of personal touch in communication. In addition, the prevailing addiction has created a scenario where people become unproductive. Secondly, creativity and innovativeness has been lost since people have to rely heavily on technologies for their daily engagements. Human intellect has been suppressed while the machines and other technologies get to do the work. According to Vannoy & Palvia “technology may influence society, society often exerts influence on technology” (p.1). The over reliant on machination creates a scenario where the levels of unemployment and crime have continued to increase, therefore, “dependency on technology puts people at a distinct disadvantage, because they become less self-reliant” (Belcher 1). Thirdly, technologies are associated with diseases and deaths. Cancer has been postulated to be contributed by radiation that emanates from the various agents of technology such as mobile phones. On the other hand, there are many accidents that have been caused by technologies; accidents for trains, cars, airplanes among others contribute a number of deaths in the world today. However, these effects are detrimental; technologies have been developed to solve some of the underlying problems. The solution has been in developing beneficial technologies that contribute more benefits to humanity as opposed to the detrimental effects. In conclusion, the benefits of technology cannot be underestimated, neither can they compare to the associated negative effects. Lifestyle change emanates from the changes in technology, these changes are mainly beneficial to humanity. Technology has made life easy and convenient in many ways such as in communication, transport, security, and business transactions among others. Based on the accrued benefits of technology, it can be substantively argued that technology has benefited humanity and should constantly be encouraged. However, abuse of technology can easily result to detrimental effects such as addiction and promotion of criminal activities. Works Cited Belcher, Lynda M. Advantages and disadvantages of technology advances. 2014. Web. 5 June 2014. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-technology-advances-12579.html Chian-Son, Yu. "Construction and Validation of an e-Lifestyle Instrument." Internet Research 21.3 (2011): 214-35. ProQuest.Web. 5 June 2014. http://search.proquest.com/business/docview/871269950/F9882CDAE6DF44DDPQ/3?accountid=45049 Cooper, Glenda. Using technology to improve society. Theguardian. 2014. Web. 5 June 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/smarter-cities/smarter-cities-new-technology-social-improvements Vannoy, Sandra, A. and Palvia, Prashant. The social influence model of technology adoption. Communications of the ACM 53, Issue 6: 149-153. Web. 5 June 2014. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1743585 Yang, Kiseol, and Judith C. Forney. "The moderating role of consumer technology anxiety in mobile shopping adoption: differential effects of facilitating conditions and social influences." Journal of Electronic Commerce Research 14.4 (2013): 334-47. ProQuest. Web. 5 June 2014. http://search.proquest.com/business/docview/1468675350/84F34C3E01F424FPQ/1?accountid=45049 Read More