Technology and Society

As any student of history will tell you, technology can have a profound effect on society. Perhaps that is why certain eras have been named after the dominant technology, such as the Stone Age, the Industrial Age, and the Information Age.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the primary goal of technology is to make our lives easier. At home, this may mean an additional five hundred television channels on the telly or an indoor hot tub. While at work, new technologies almost always promise improved efficiency.

Is technology inherently good or bad? For every new technology, there is often a group that opposes it. Years ago, these people were called Luddites, because they opposed technological progress of any kind. But today they are simply dismissed as being out of touch. After all, who wouldn't want to replace old used cars with luxury vehicles?

Of course, there are a few legitimate concerns when it comes to new technologies. Specifically, there is the growing trend of shinny new gadgets that focus solely on entertainment and distraction.

Really, no sane person would oppose the microwave, the mobile phone or the laptop computer. After all, these devices save us time, money and energy. But when it comes to gadgets that are only used for entertainment purposes, their value to society is negligible, at best.