Technology: a thread of brotherhood or a threat to other hood

                            What is the purpose of technology? Well, we come up with equivalent replies: to make our life easier, better and convenient; to get easy access to better education and information sources; to enhance a person's access to different disciplines/sectors. Our lenses observe only the positive impact of technology but we are unaware of its other side. We are manipulated and drained of European progress and their market monopoly. However, we can't deny the fact that everything has two faces: positive and negative. Technology has made immense progress in modern era. Along with the progress, it has made adverse effect on human relationship. The impact of technology on our social, mental, physical and environmental can be devastating if we aren't aware of its effects. There's no denying the benefits we have gained from technological advancements, but as with all things in life moderation is the key. Being aware of the harmful aspects of the use of technology help us to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Every scientific invention was made for positive change but not all scientific inventions left positive footprints. We human beings are also not purely true thinkers or purely false thinkers rather we are the hybrid ones. So, which aspect of our thinking is vibrant in our invention? Does the production helpful for humans? What usage of it makes our living horrible? -are the crucial issues we need to think and re-think when the issue of technology haunts us.

In the primitive age, people used to live together in a community even if they do not know about the concept of 'community'. They share each and everything they have got with them. The word ‘technology’ was not formed till then. They do hunting with the spikes and stones. Although we call that period as 'barbaric age', people of this modern age seem more barbaric in terms of human relationship. A sense of 'ourness' is rooted in everyone's heart in the ancient time. As the time passes by, the feeling of 'ourness' is substituted by the greed 'myness'. As we are getting more equipped and get access to the modern technology, we call ourselves modernized and civilized; we are creating a great fence in human relationship. We are more attracted towards technology- spikes are substituted by guns, stones are substituted by atoms, pigeons are substituted by emails and video calls. Thus, human felling and emotion is, now, narrowed down by modern technology.

With the invention of fire, human civilization got a twist with new changes and new development. Physical appearance of ‘nakedness’ gradually substituted by 'clothing'. People then stopped eating raw food because the cooked food tastes sweet. Slowly and gradually people started consuming different products that are needed in our daily life like cooking utensils, burners, candles, clothes and more. With these imported things, culture too gets imported with them and we get hybridized by culture, technology and even on human relationship. 

In the present context, recent innovations and modern technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, have changed the way people communicate, work and live. First of all, contacts between people and colleagues have been facilitated by communication software like emails. Additionally, social networks such as twitter and Facebook have eliminated the distance between people and have led ever shy people to become more socially accepted in this virtual world. However, there are some hazards involved in using such advanced technology. Firstly, people tend to spend more time staying at home and sitting in front of a computer screen rather than going outside to visit friends. In other words, people end up being distant. All this development will not strengthen family bonds if everyone sits in front of a computer. Finally fake relationships, deceptions and crimes manifest themselves which will affect social safety and social relationships. 

In one sense, the planet has never been more interconnected. And yet, this interconnectedness, while wonderful, hasn't come without cost. With modern technological system comes up new problems. From pornography to merely surfing the web, the Internet is clearly the television of the 21st century, an electronic drug that often yanks us away from the physical world (Healy). We may enjoy online relationships using social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, for example, but the difference between these kinds of interactions and interactions with people in the physical world is clearly vast. The problem, however, comes when we find ourselves subtly substituting electronic relationships for physical ones or mistaking our electronic relationships for physical ones. We may feel we're connecting effectively with others via the Internet, but too much electronic-relating paradoxically engenders a sense of social isolation.

According to New York Times published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a study of 2004, 16% of children (over 9 million) that are between the ages of 6-19 years are overweight or obese (Stone). This data shows that the children are obese by three times than that of 1980s, mostly due to the usage of modern technology. Being overweight can bring great health concerns. Not only children but adults are also affected by the immense usage of modern technology. Many of them suffer from physical problems like diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, high cholesterol or blood pressure. Also, according to Standard University of Medicine study, elementary students consume 20% of their daily calorie intake while watching television, which usually includes unhealthy snacks and junk food (Williams). In the modern context, same is the case for all level of people. Because of urbanization, no land is left for cultivation and because of busy schedule of people; they don't have enough time to spare in the kitchen. So, they prefer fast food which is not good for health. Unhealthy people can't have good relation with other people because they can't go for outing with others, crack a joke and share one’s own emotion and feelings.

With the invention of telephone, television, fax, computer and other technological items, people became more and more materialistic. Using these devices people restrict themselves inside the four corners of a room. People are limited inside a certain periphery in the name of being technological advancement. The real feelings that make human a human- happy, sad, disgust, anger, frustrate, etc - are lost, being out of touch. People in modern era, knowingly or unknowingly are enslaved by several technologies. In ancient age, people recite the verses, read several times information and memorize it. People of the then time believe on themselves, their own capacity. Modern people, instead of turning the real pages of a text, turn on the computer and Google the information they seek. In this respect, person's relationship with next person while doing discussion, asking some information, debating in certain issue has been overtaken by internet, computer and other modern technologies.

We are in the era of "Globalization". Globalization made this whole globe a village. People can easily reach from one place to another place of the world in few seconds; can communicate with person from next territory sitting inside a closed room. Although people limited the entire globe, relationships in the fingertips, people can't fence their emotions, true human bonding and the five senses. In one way or other, entire universe is suffering from a chronic illness, which everyone calls "Globalization". It is an illness which connects people of every nook and corner of the globe, without human sensibility. Human sensation lacks in virtual world, the modern technologies are responsible for degrading human relationships. The humans remain as a skeleton without any emotional tie. People are no more different than a dummy that a shopkeeper keeps in a fancy shop.

Technologies not only influence the single aspect rather each and every part of human life. Technologies influence our typical culture, lifestyle, music, religion, education, and so on. Technology impacts how cities grow, where people live, and who owns what. Technologies are the reason a few people are very rich, that people are more social, and that teaching and learning is changing. The Internet and mobile technology are changing the way people interact, work, and learn. Everyone can report the news or share a picture from their cell phone. We can produce our own music, publish our own books and talk on our cell phone whenever and wherever we want. We are using technology for our own use yet it infringes on others.

Many people are involved in an abundant number of relationships through technology, but sometimes the quantity of these associations leaves people feeling qualitatively empty. Obviously, technology has had a profound impact on what it means to be social. Society is likely on the cusp of a social revolution, during which it will be important to redefine socially appropriate and acceptable behaviors (with regard to digital or virtual interaction). We are at a point in history where very few people have given critical thought to new social realities created by technology and what those realities mean for the individual and society. In a society where people have become quite mobile and family and friends are often geographically separated, it is convenient to keep in touch through technology. However, one need not look far to find problems associated with social networking sites. There is a lively debate about whether Internet addictions are real. To me it appears to be a real problem (perception is often reality in a social context) with which people have to grapple. Some assert that these Web sites contributed to cheating on significant others, often leading to divorce. People have been fired from their jobs or put under pressure because they use these sites at work or because something is posted on a site that undermined the person’s professional standing.
        Narcissism-excessive interest in one’s appearance and in oneself-is sometimes manifested on social networking sites (Lewin). These Web sites have been found to be an avenue for people to display their narcissistic traits online. It is apparent that technology has the potential to harm or enhance your social skills and social life. The key is to analyze how technology affects you socially.With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly chemicals to leach into the ground (Hosale). Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste. Although individual devices are becoming more energy efficient, the increased overall use is causing a higher consumption of energy. People don’t turn their devices off; they keep computers on or plugged in, mobile devices charging and televisions plugged in. Also manufacturing all of these high tech toys causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

When we are focused on a device instead of what’s going on around us we miss a great deal. Think of the number of times you have been texting or talking to a friend and missed the opportunity to flirt with the hot guy standing beside you. There is also a rise in the number of injuries incurred by people texting while walking. The constant stream of violent scenes on video games, TV, movies and YouTube causes people to become desensitized to destruction of any kind (“Study Shows…”). The normalizing of bad things happening and the culture of narcissism created by social media creates a society of people who lack empathy. When people stop caring, the world goes to hell in a hand basket.

Despite the absence of physical contact or audible insults, cyber bullying can be even more traumatizing than traditional forms of bullying. The term "cyber bullying" refers to the use of Internet and/or mobile technology to harass, intimidate, or cause harm to another. Through social media and mobile communications, bullying can now potentially be viewed by all of a child's friends, family, and acquaintances. As a result, the embarrassment, shame, and other more severe consequences of bullying can become even more severe. Consider, for example, if a high school student takes an unflattering picture of a classmate and sends it to all of her friends (via mobile phone) with hurtful comments. Suddenly, the target student is being teased by more than half of her classmates. So instead of one instance of bullying, it often takes on a life of its own.
       Another danger zone of modern technology is degradation in human creativity. Researchers have discovered that we can become addicted to the Internet just like we can become addicted to nicotine (“Is Technology…”). Recent studies have validated the condition known as Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). Those with IAD can suffer tremors, shivers, nausea and anxiety. Other negative effects include lack of sleep and shortened attention spans. If we suffer from IAD then we are out of the circumference from human connections, interactions and discussions. We can't sustain our mutual relationship with others if we suffer from IAD.

  Little by little, Internet and mobile technology seems to be subtly destroying the meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society. Technology has created a world where children are distant from the parental relationship. Instead of spending time in person with friends, we just call, text or instant message them. It may seem simpler, but we ultimately end up seeing our friends face to face a lot less. Ten texts can’t even begin to equal an hour spent chatting with a friend over lunch (“Childhood Obesity…”).There’s something intangibly real and valuable about talking with someone face to face. This is significant for friends, partners, potential employers, and other recurring people that make up your everyday world. That person becomes an important existing human connection, not just someone whose disembodied text voice pops up on your cell phone, iPad or computer screen.
     Technology has allowed us some means of social connection that would have never been possible before, and has allowed us to maintain long-distance friendships that would have otherwise probably fallen by the wayside. We can’t also deny the fact that technology is slowly ruining the quality of social interaction that we all need as human beings. As Edward Tenner sees “a revenge effect” in which our perverse technologies turn against us with consequences… (Healy). In 21^st century, technology offers convenience and development between our interactions; however, taking negative things in consideration, we must be more careful on real communication, emotional bonding and social human relationship.

Work Cited

“Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts.”  N.p., Jan. 2007. Web. 06 June 2014.

Healy, Tim. “The Unanticipated Consequences of Technology.” N.p., n.d., Web. 06 June 2014.

Hosale, Sheri. “25 Negative Effects of Technology.” N.p., 8 June 2013. Web. 6 June 2014.

“Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis?” University of   California. 29 Jan. 2009. Web. 06 June 2014.

Lewin, Tamar. “If your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online.” N.p., 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 June 2014.

Stone, Brad. “The children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s.” 09 Jan. 2010. N.p., Web. 06 June 2014.

“Study Shows Kids Tethered to Technology” abcNEWS. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 June 2014.

Williams, Shawna. “Kids eat hefty number of calories while watching TV.” Stanford Report. 7 July 2004. Web. 06 June 2014.