What Technology Has Done to Us
I am not a patient person. As I was waiting for the elevator the other day, I must have looked at my watch 25 times in one minute. Living in a world of fast-moving technology, ] am used to instant reactions. I push a button, die elevator should open, right? Ah, this is what technology has done to me.
So, why do we use technological devices so much? It saves time and is convenient. With the Internet, we can receive and send information, communicate with friends and buy various items ail instantly by the dick of a mouse. In fact our patience level has changed drastically all because of faster connections.
While this technology does make it more convenient to receive information, sometimes I wonder if all this is too convenient. We take advantage of the speed so much that if the Internet is not working or the fax machine is not sending properly, our world seems to shut dawn temporarily. We simply find it difficult to function without access lo our e-mail or updated news. In fact, technology can often make us lazy. I cannot possibly spend the time in mailing a letter in the acclaimed snail mail. “Fax it. E-mail it,” the world cries. Society seems to revolve around time as it never did before.
This speed of communication has caused us to be so impatient that we have grown apart from each other. Our society can practically thrive without physical contact. Many people have all the required devices already in their homes: a computer, Internet access, a phone and a fax machine. Does anyone else think it is scary that a person does not need to even leave his or her bedroom to have full contact with anyone in the world? I think it decreases our value of face-to-face human contact as a whole. why visit someone who lives 40 minutes away when you can e-mail them or chat online? It saves time, yet nothing can replace having face-to-face conversation with someone.
What about those who have limited access to the Internet or other technology? They seem to get lost. Sometimes，when I am too busy to check my e-mail or have no access, I miss out on important information and events that have already taken place with my knowledge. The common thought seems to be that if you have an e-mail address, you must check it every hour, right? Sadly, this idea is becoming truth.
While technology is an essential pan of our thriving society, it should be less emphasized as the only way to communicate efficiently. Instead, accuracy should be the priority. While the Internet and fax machines are faster, efficiency can have its drawbacks. They do not always promise accurate information in sending. For example, these devices might not be the best way to submit important documents, such as college applications. Also, with the Internet, valuable information, such as credit card information, can fall into the wrong hands without being detected.
While completely abandoning these communication devices is not feasible, society needs to be more patient with the inefficiencies of human-made inventions and of course with human connections.
