Privacy and Technology

In 1965, co-founder of Intel Gordon Moore made a prediction about the rate at which computer chip technologies would continue to expand into the future years. His prediction proved to be accurate, and today the processing power of microchips is continuing to double every 18 months. In a society constantly striving to become bigger and more profitable, a new era of advanced technologies has been adopted to perpetuate itself ahead of the global race for expansion. However, the mass development of new innovations in technology has not gone without a noticeable impact across all domains of society. As the transition into the future rapidly ensues, social and economical impacts have become more and more prevalent. One question to be considered in the race to improve and expand the nation is whether or not there is an equal amount of attention and emphasis being put on preserving our social values versus the importance put on pursuing economical gain. Many argue that the introduction of technology into modern society has brought about a world of positive change through which has offered immense advancements in global connectivity, efficiency, and quality of life. While the majority of new technologies are individually worthy of being considered great accomplishments throughout the technological world, they have collaboratively worked together to create an abundance of distractions throughout school and the work place as well as contribute to diminishing traditional values and overall quality of life, leading society to suffer lasting consequences as a result. In this paper, I aim to expose the underlying dangers posed by the ever-expanding presence of new technologies, as well as bring light to the negative impacts society, and its values as a whole, is facing as a direct result of the introduction of new innovations and developments. Able to be applied to a multitude of aspects in life, too much of any one thing can prove to be harmful, no matter how good the intentions or nature of that something might be. Modern society has become obsessed with technology and the competition to improve and outcompete the latest and greatest product on the market. This competition has been perpetuated by the national mentality of capitalism and the pursuit to become larger and more profitable. Since the industrial revolution, millions of miles of roads have been laid, and small towns have expanded into large cities in order to accommodate a rapidly growing population. The landscape around the globe has, and still is, undergone immense changes. (However,) in an article titled “Technology and Altruism” written by Hardin Tibbs, he states “modern technology is changing mankind as much as it is changing our planet”. Throughout centuries of colonization in the U.S., there has been a transformation in societal goals and values. From what was once a society basing its values on exploration, sustenance, and sustainability - to what is now (a society) focused on extensive expansion and profitability, technology has lead the way in the mission to become bigger and more powerful as a nation. An article by Manali Oak titled “Positive Effects of Technology in Society” states; “Technology runs in the veins of society…it has brought luxury in the life of the common man. The automation brought about by technology has saved human effort and time to a large extent”. Given that Oak’s statements do hold validity, isn’t it true that luxury is something that one must put in much effort for and work hard to obtain, and furthermore, if it comes to be something that the common man has, in effect it can no longer can be considered a true luxury and rather just a common item or object? Some of the greatest pleasures in life come from the things that you sacrifice the most for and work the hardest to achieve or obtain. In a song titled “Many Men” by the well know rap artist 50 Cent, he states, “Sunny days wouldn't be special, if it wasn't for rain. Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain”. The ease at which technologies have been able to replace and automate daily tasks such as cleaning the dishes or going to the store has helped us only temporarily. The long-term effects of technologies developed in the last decade have promoted an increasingly stagnant lifestyle by offering citizens even more ways to avoid miniscule daily tasks. By providing us with new electronic gadgets that can replace miniscule daily task, technology has had detrimental long-term effects and left us a lazier, greedier, less appreciative society. In an article written by Konsbruck Robert Lee called “Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century”, he highlights the positive impacts of technology and its potential to increase production and profitability. Lee argues, “[technology] will reduce the informational barriers to efficient market operation…and make intermediaries such as sales clerks, stock brokers and travel agents…redundant. Removal of intermediaries would reduce the costs in the production and distribution value chain”. While technologies could potentially be developed to automate the functions of different intermediary job positions, what would become of the employees who will be losing their jobs, and what would happen to the vast number of unskilled labor citizens who may be lacking money and seeking employment? Furthermore, where is that placing our values on person-to-person interaction and communication within our society? The article “Technology in the Workplace” published by Stanford University explains how due to technology, “workers will inevitably suffer a loss of face-to-face interpersonal skills and a deterioration of relationships in the workplace”. As societies capitalistic mentality of increasing profitability on both a small and large scale persists, greater profits are being made, but only at the expense of a rapidly diminishing care, compassion and sensitivity towards one another. As Tibbs elegantly describes, “Technology is building bridges between people on opposite sides of the globe, but it is also building ever stronger walls between neighbors” (Hardin Tibbs). Evidence of the impacts of technology is constantly emerging as the bookshelves in classrooms and work offices are being replaced by new, high-powered desk and laptop computers. Various forms of teaching, learning, and communication skills are having to be adapted in order to accommodate the reshaping of societal values and the way through which we communicate with one another amidst the new age of technology. The introduction of electronic communication devices has enabled a broader range of connectivity between individuals across the globe by offering access to both a more affordable, and more efficient way to communicate and stay connected with others. However, despite the obvious immediate benefits technology has presented in the communication throughout society, a price is being paid for the increased rate at which we are now able to send and receive digital messages via text messages, e-mail, as well as various other methods such as online communities like Facebook. Michael Klurfeld wrote an article called, “More Students Failing Grammar Due to ‘Netspeak’”, where he states that, “According to [a study by] Waterloo University in Canada, around 30 percent of entering students fail a simple grammar test”. Diminished spelling, grammar, and overall writing skills have taken the brunt of the impact caused by the influx of communication technologies.
The introduction of mass-production technology, and its extensive use and development, has also contributed to stripping society of one of the key elements in which makes it so great, that being the ability to maintain personal individuality and uniqueness. The more tasks in which machines are now being generated to automate daily duties; and replace employment opportunities for citizens such as sales clerks and stock brokers, is depriving people of using their own unique individuality and sense of imagination to solve problems and complete tasks. The rising values being placed on perpetuating technological developments purely for increased productivity and economical gain has brought about severe societal consequences. The abundance of electronic tools that are becoming more readily available to the common man has prompted a new generation of buyers rather than do-it-yourselfers, which is just what the large, mass-producing companies have aimed for. The advertisement and encouragement from corporations for society to embrace their material items and adopt the prevalent changes in society that they have heavily influenced, is resulting in a lazier, more stagnant functioning of daily life in a multitude of aspects. In the end, however, no matter how strong the influence may be to adopt the constant new technologies rolling off the production line, the decision remains in the hands of the individual as to whether or not their core values placed on material items are in line with that of the U.S. nation as a whole.

Works Cited
"Technology in the Workplace." stanford.edu. Stanford, n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2011.
Klurfeld, Michael. "More Students Failing Grammar Due to 'Netspeak'." thenextweb.com. The Next Web, 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 7 Dec 2011.
Lee, Konsbruck Robert. Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2011.
Oak, Manali. "Positive Effects of Technology on Society." buzzle.com. N.p., 09.21.2011. Web. 7 Dec 2011.
Tibbs, Hardin. "altruists.org." Technology & Altruism. N.p., Sept. 2000. Web. 7 Dec 2011.