Importance of Information Technology and Communication - Essay Example

? Abdullah Alrubaysh Lee Miller ENG 291-018 Technology Technology does more harm than good. This is because technology makes life complex never mind that most people view it as a problem solver. The meaning of solutions and complexity is being redefined. Most of the innovations that have been made are hailed as problem solving and that they are making life easier. Research shows that more people starve in this age than any other time in the primitive history. While it is true that some astonishing discoveries have been made, with regard to information technology and communication among other areas, they are not necessarily addressing the challenges that mankind goes through, (Shelly, and Vermaat 2011, p112). Any new idea has excitement that comes with it, (Shelly, and Vermaat 2011, p112). Sometimes this excitement causes people to fail to look into the long-term. Take the internet, for example, the innovation of cruise missiles. Every nation on earth has a mandate to protect her citizens. This mandate includes making the necessary steps to make sure the citizens feel safe enough in the nation. This has caused military, technological advancements to increase. It is disturbing that cruise missiles are made with a human enemy in mind. There is a genuine need for protection. Human to human enmity is not farfetched. That does not change the fact that war anticipation is not peaceful solution. In as much as the protection is beneficial, that protection does not mean that the sanctity of human life be compromised. We see more and more weapons of mass destruction, being made. There are better ways to anticipate peace and keep with world united other that regular tests devastating weapons, (USA Congress, p16). Technology is celebrated, because it has increase efficiency. Say, for example, in the point above. It is possible to instigate an attack in another country without necessarily being there physically. However, efficiency is not absolute. Efficiency has its place. The solutions that come with technology must reflect the values that protected the lives of those who come up with these technological solutions. In other words, if the technological solution is not pro-life, it then should not be taken in as a solution. The information age is here with us. People can purchase any product while still in their bedrooms. Navigating through a website is the new form of window shopping. Transactions happen at the click of a mouse. This, has been hailed, as a major breakthrough in that it saves time. There is no doubt that online shopping and ecommerce saves time and can be cost effective in that sense. However, the traditional shopping involved a physical interaction with the seller, though it was time consuming. The essence of technology is to provide solutions so that life can be bearable and there can be happiness. However, the physical interaction with a buyer has no substitute. It seems that technology has lessened the value of human to human interaction, (Graham, 2008). The earlier people leave each other the more convenient’ the deal was. It seems we are witnessing a culture where humans are working hard for less interactions and more centered achievements. The faster the egocentric desires, are met, the more convenient life is to us. All this, is done in anticipation that the world shall become a better place. However, the world is experiencing the highest suicide rate ever. Even the most services have been digitized, people are losing hope. There are many and numerous instances where technology has led to saving lives. Take for instance, the discovery of better intensive care unit systems and strong vaccines. Such discoveries have led to saving lives. The problem is technological convenience in the world does not translate into solutions or personal happiness. Rather, there are many instances that technology has proved to be more harmful that useful. When internet, was launched, there was a lot of hope that communication world be fast, and that international boundaries would be surpassed. Indeed the internet proved to be more that it was imagined. It can lead to the rise of social media. Teleconferencing and internet calls have caused the world to be called a global village’, (Parsons and Oja, 2009, p33). People can study while they are extraordinarily far from the lecturer. Many people have graduated with an online degree programs, (Kinash and Naidu, 2012). However, research shows that the essence of going to school or institutions of higher learning in more than to get a certificate. It is about the experience gained while interacting with people from other parts of the world. We a global society meet and interact there are things that they achieve which cannot be achieved through online learning. Indeed, there is no controversy in saying that the physical interaction with a teacher in the best form of learning, (Kinash and Naidu, 2012). While trying to look at technology, we must be balanced and honest with ourselves. We must celebrate the ingenuity, but be quick to point out if the discovery is going to lessen the value we have for the time spent interacting Indeed, the new forms of entertainment have taken the mind of the young generation. Youths like watching movies and games which, have been produced, with the latest cutting edge technology. The movies are simply breathtaking compared to the traditional movies. Most of these movies are now aired on national television, (Vurro, 2010, p13). One of the things that has are still controversial is the value of these programs to the youths. Technology can be harmful if embraced without caution. Children forget to do assignments while that are watching violent cartoons. The free flow of ideas is proving to be the real danger of the next generation, (Graham, 2008). This is because a solution that does not empower the human value system should not be embraced, (Lamarre, 2009, p7). There is a danger that, one day the innovative minds shall become extinct, because the technology, shall be advanced, to the extent that humans shall leave innovation to machines. This is not to say that artificial intelligence in criminal. Rather, we should not embrace artificial intelligence when we have human intelligence, (Shelly, and Vermaat 2011, p112). Already machines have led to lose of jobs, (Lamarre, 2009, p7). It is better to empower the human intelligence. The weapons of mass destructions are a strong indicator of technological advancements, (USA Congress, 2008, p16). To the manufacturers of such weapons, they view them as a solution to a future problem. However, they fail to see that any solution without the peace shall end up being creating other problems. Innovation has raised food production in the world today. With the use of fertilizers and superior seeds, food can now be produced en mass. This can caused some desert countries to become leading food exporters, (Graham, 2008). This is purely and indicator that technology can have an impact in the quality of life. When food is enough, then the society is healthy. The same technology has led to development of genetically modified food (GMOs), (New York Times, 2012, p1). The genetically modified food is gathering momentum and with time could replace the natural food. This means that the seeds shall have to be supplied at a price, as opposed to the natural production of the seed. The result might be more harmful than satisfactory in the ecosystem and to human lives in particular. For instance, GMOs lead to increased food allergies and shorter life spans. They also lead to extinction of seed varieties. Solutions whose long-term impact is devastating should be rejected even if they seem to working at the moment. Read More