Technology and Society
Introduction and Background Background of the Study
Technology, as defined by the Advanced English Dictionary, is the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to problems. Society is a voluntary association of individuals individuals for common end; especially especially an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, interests, beliefs, or profession profession (Merriam-Webster, (Merriam-Webster, 2012). Technology and society are two interconnected and inseparable terms of the modern world. Technology is a totally distinct and separate term with respect to its nature, concept and usage and application, but the same is not susceptible of independence independence from the society within which technology is widely used. The term society has now attained its much broader scope by means of the social media--- facebook and twitter are some of the most popular avenues. Technology is a powerful force in the modern age. It has been hailed as a way to cure everything everything from global warming warming to body odor. odor. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, technological technological developments have not been an unqualified blessing. Technologies frequently have negative side effects. But because technology technology is justifiably seen as indispensable in solving current problems and ensuring a better future, societies have chosen not to abandon technology, technology, but to shape and direct it. Every coin has two sides- the head and the tail. Every approach, technique, method or strategy like for instance in education has its pros and cons. In our pursuit for truth, justice and wisdom causing ourselves to commit mistakes or error is inevitable. We may take the wrong path, we might make a wrong decision, we may take a wrong move, but whatever it takes, said mistakes mentored us to better ourselves towards self-actualization. self-actualization. So just like the technology, it has the good, the bad and the ugly impacts in the society. Technology may be useful if properly used and exploited, sometimes destructive and horrible if abused or misused. Consistent efforts of exploring the relationship relationship between technology and society in order to find ways to create better future would be our objective of this study. Three important questions should be given answers to the following: 1) how does
technology shape our world? We will discover the variety of ways by which machines and techniques become embedded in society and thereby shape institutions, relationships, and values; 2) what kind of future do we want? Many of the articles we will read argue that certain values are of key importance to a just society and challenge us to consider which values we should hold most dear and defend; 3) how can we make decisions about technology that will get us to the future we want? Once we understand the role of technology in society and the world we want to build, we must develop strategies for getting us from here to there.
Literature Survey
Information technology is not the cause of the changes we are living through. But without new information and communication technologies none of what is changing our lives would be possible. In the 1990s the entire planet is organized around telecommunicated networks of computers at the heart of information systems and communication processes. The entire realm of human activity depends on the power of information, in a sequence of technological innovation that accelerates its pace by month. Software development is making possible user-friendly computing, so that millions of children, when provided with adequate education, can progress in their knowledge, and in their ability to create wealth and enjoy it wisely, much faster than any previous generation. Internet today used by about 100 million people, and doubling this number every year is a channel of universal communication where interests and values of all sorts coexist, in a creative cacophony. Certainly, the diffusion of information and communication technology is extremely uneven. Most of Africa is being left in a technological apartheid, and the same could be said of many other regions of the world. The situation is difficult to remedy when one third of the world’s population still has to survive on the equivalent of one dollar per day (Castells for UNRISD, 1999). Technology per se does not solve social problems. But the availability and use of information and communication technologies are a pre-requisite for economic and social development in our world. They are the functional equivalent of electricity in the industrial era. Econometric studies show the close statistical relationship between diffusion of information technology, productivity and competitiveness for countries, regions, industries and firms (Dosi et al., 1988). They also show that an adequate level of education in general, and of technical education in particular, is essential for the design and productive use of new technologies (Foray and Freeman, 1992). Information and communication technology is the essential tool for economic development and material well-being in our age; it conditions power, knowledge and
creativity; it is, for the time being, unevenly distributed within countries and between countries; and it requires, for the full realization of its developmental value, an interrelated system of flexible organizations and information-oriented institutions. In a nutshell, cultural and educational development conditions technological development, which conditions economic development, which conditions social development, and this stimulates cultural and educational development once more. This can be a virtuous circle of development or a downward spiral of underdevelopment. And the direction of the process will not be decided by technology but by society, through its conflictive dynamics (Castells, 1999).
A very important factor impelling change has been the technological explosion, particularly in the area of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). Such technologies are double-edged swords. They allow people to contact one another and exchange ideas very easily in order to create communities built around common interests and common causes. They also make it possible for global corporations to move billions of dollars around the world with the click of a button. This gives them tremendous power over local and national economies, especially of Third World countries like India. Democratically elected national governments of Third World countries, even big ones like India, are no longer as sovereign as they were twenty years ago. With the profit motive reigning supreme, global corporations see human beings as consumers of their products and not as citizens with inalienable civic rights and duties. A by-product of this phenomenon has been the loss of diversity in the biosphere, in cultural mores, and the ways in which we live. The world is becoming increasingly homogenized (Lee, 2001).
Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit data systems, electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence. Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence on technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at hand, and high costs as a result of failure (Lee, 2001).
Technology Shapes up Our Society Every little thing we do and make use of in this world involves technology. From the moment we came out of our mother’s womb in her delivery into this world up to going to bed for sleep, there exists the undisputed presence of technology which in turn greatly affects our society. What we are today is the product of the past, and with that technology plays a big role in our history and heritage. Educational media such as the books, journals, annals, encyclopedia, and other related references are the repository of knowledge and archive of information and records. Films and motion pictures have also become a rich source of our past, showcasing the culture, religion, education, behaviour, lifestyle, and the like of people who became part of our history. Our national treasures like the artifacts, realia, or even replicas that stood the test of time served and built our identities up and contributed to our social construction. Social construction, in every way is very essential among the people in the community for them to be able to interact with one another in harmony and solidarity amidst the diversified beliefs, views, culture, religion, priorities, and the like. The government or the state, as a whole needs social construction for it to be able to be able to implement and enforce its police powers by the use of technology. We, people, are inherently desirous of a brighter and bigger future ahead of us. Like for instance, the fashion statement we wish to manifest may be reflective of the very person who we really are, plus the fact of the technology employed that is readily available within the vicinity. The set of knowledge, attitude, skills and values we are in possession of, may be mediated by the level of education we have acquired through the years and is greatly influenced by the use of technology. Technology, may be deemed as the “principal” as regards the criminal liability of a person in the commission of crimes. It may take a direct part in the execution of an act of a person, should the employment of a technology is of utmost import in the accomplishment of an undertaking or activity, say for instance in making films or movies, the use of technology is very vital in the operation of the same. Likewise, it may also be considered as an “accomplice or an accessory ”. It means that technology may have used indirect participation or sometimes it may have incidental participation to the action, but the use of the same would make our life easier and more convenient. The machines, gadgets and techniques would merely remain as they are, for your eyes only or display purposes, unless the person lifts them and makes proper use of them to work. Every technology is created or invented for the benefit of the general people. The role or function of technology then lies on the very person who makes use of the same. He may consider it as principal or the direct participator or actor in the fulfilment of an objective; or he may let them help him indirectly by being an accomplice or an accessory. In worst case scenarios, the people may be under the control of the
technology and with the deterioration or lost of the same extinguishes the life of a certain person. He may be deemed as a slave to the technology. With the advent of technological advances, there arise high-tech crimes: cloning of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), cybersex, child prostitution and pornography, libel in social media in a much broader scope, and many other cyber-related illegal acts. It is thus imperative for us to keep our values, rooted on the principles of truth, justice, freedom, wisdom, patience, equality and many others that our parents and even forefathers have been inculcating in us. We never depart from those positive values which serve as our guide all through our journey in life. It is said that anything in this world may either make us or break us. In the case of technology, we have all the power to make technology work for us, according to our needs and interests. We all have the authority over the technology to function and participate according to our will, command and intellect. We never allow a machine to overrule us in whatever way it may be. Information technology raises a host of questions about intellectual property protection and new tools and regulations have to be developed in order to solve this problem. Many issues also surround free speech and regulation of content on the Internet, and there continue to be calls for mechanisms to control objectionable content. However, it is very difficult to find a sensible solution. Further, the same technology that allows for content filtering with respect to decency can be used to filter political speech and to restrict access to political material. Thus if censorship does not appear to be an option, a possible solution might be labelling. The idea is that the consumers will be better informed in their decisions to avoid objectionable content. It is popular wisdom that people today suffer information overload. A lot of the information available on the Internet is incomplete and even incorrect. People spend more and more of their time absorbing irrelevant information just because it is available and they think they should know about it. Therefore, it must be studied how p eople assign credibility to the information they collect in order to invent and develop new credibility systems to help consumers to manage the information overload Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit data systems, electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence. Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence
on technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at hand, and high costs as a result of failure (Lee, 2001). As regards how the technology shapes up our world, we zero in on every individual person first. How a technology shapes a person is very relative. It is dependent upon how that technology impacts that person. It is how that person makes of the technology that is immediately available to him and the extent of use of such technology all relies upon him. It may either make him or break him as a person. With respect to one’s society, the same is true of the impacts of technology. It may make it or break it. It is really dependent upon the will of the people and definitely not on the “will” of the technology which is bereft of such a human characteristic. The whole society may still be greater than the sum of all individuals who do not make proper use of the technology. Positive must, in many respects, outnumber the negative class. It is in the positive practice of technology among individual persons that will be a determining factor as the regards the success and level of conscious competence in the use of technology. The use of technology in our daily lives may be intentional or unintentional. Direct or indirect. Effective or ineffective. The relationship between technology and society has become so proximal nowadays due to its widespread use. Technology is so embedded in our present society that it shapes institutions, relationships, and values. It has become an essential part of the system in the process and in the fulfilment of every activity, undertaking, project or program of work of a person. With all these technological advancements that continually come by leaps and bounds in our society, where do we go from here? As the Bible puts it: The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord. By that, we are leading to the right path, if we choose to take the said track, we are after all, given all the willpower to exercise our freedom. Converging into a common destination that is victory and success in every endeavour we do. And that could be achieved through a good start and maintained with a better performance towards achieving someone’s best self. With the benefits of technology, we can bring families closer than ever. Those who are separated by distance, may make use of the latest gadgets, Iphones, web cameras, and may do virtual and real-time conversations even a party to the conversation is miles and miles away. Thus the sense of oneness and close family ties is kept rekindling no matter the distance. Countries to countries, state to state may make use of websites, government sites, teleconferencing and the like to keep international relations close. Comity among nations may be enhanced more through the use of readily available technology. Technology should draw every person closer to one another, not separate one from the other. It broadens our world to a limitless possibilities. It opens our mind to endless information our human minds can contain. It catapults our imaginative minds to the ends or the very core of the earth, to the vast universe. It simplifies every complex query
of the inquisitive mind. It satiates our technological needs, our drives, our desires for excellence, our desires for truth. The present computer and communications revolution has multifarious impacts in the economy and modern society and which require careful and in-depth study of the social science in order to manage its dangers and possible damage control. Such work would be valuable for both social policy and technology design. Major and minor decisions should be taken in an extraordinary manner since it will affect life and the very lives of the individual persons of the society. At the end of the day, we never underestimate the capacities and capabilities of the technology as an agent of the socialization. It may be a boon or a bane to our daily lives. Individual and social responsibilities may be keys to properly make use of the technology. It may be deemed as treasures we may wish to take a stronger grip or release from the realms of our hands.
References:
Advanced English Dictionary Castells, Manuel (1999). United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Discussion Paper, Switzerland. Dosi, Giovanni et al. (1988). Technical Change and Economic Theory, London: Pinter. Foray, Dominique and Christopher Freeman (1992). Technologie et richesse des nations, Paris, France. Lee, Konsbruck Robert (2001). Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century, Switzerland. Merriam-Webster (2012)
