How are Online Technologies Changing The Way We Live - Assignment Example

How are Online Technologies Changing The Way We Live? 1. Introduction The invention of computer has been one of the most influential inventions of the past century. The convenience of automation and record keeping was further coupled with the emergence of the Internet that diminished the geographical barriers of the world and transformed the world into a small town. The extent of accessibility and communication that has been introduced with the widespread of internet is so magnificent that it is almost bewildering for a common man to understand the mechanism of such processes. Alongside the numerous benefits of online technologies, it would not be wrong to state that it has altered our natural life processes to an extensive degree, such as leaving us less time to bond with friends and families, gain the habit of skimming through content rather than fully concentrating and leaping away from the usage of correct speech and following rules of writing. 2. Online Technologies Changing the Way We Live The ocean of information and features on the web tend to keep the users engaged for hours. According to statistics from Internet Usage Statistics for 2012, there exist 2.4 billion internet users. The usage of online technologies has intervened in the daily lives of individuals such that it has become habitual for them, rather than work. The conventional form of meeting people involved visiting them at their residences or talking on the phone etc. The fast paced nature of the modern world has taken a different toll ever since the innovative forms of communication have been adopted by the masses, namely emails, social networks, discussion forums, chat applications etc. The availability of such online forms of communication provokes an internet user to communicate with his contacts online rather than arranging a personal face-to-face meet up. The impersonal nature of online interaction is a devoid of any gestures that proves to play a part in creating a real bond between the participants. Interaction with increasing number of acquaintances, online contacts and lesser degree of face to face interaction with close friends, family leaves one feeling alone with the passage of time. Nie and Hillygus also pointed out similar concerns and stated that the duration of 24 hours a day has been prevalent ever since the beginning of recorded history and that the emergence of internet has consumed some of the vital daily activities in the lives of the humans (2). He further stated that face to face social interaction with friends and family is one of the activities that tend to be compromised the most due to spending time on the internet. Nevertheless, another argument has been witnessed being stated by the results of APS National Psychology Week Survey that presented the point of view that online interaction with peers and social contacts tends to be easier for individuals who might be shy and do not feel comfortable in face to face social interactions (2). Alongside the prevalence of impersonal relations, the lack of concentration on a single task has also been researched. The habit of multitasking on the internet (where a user may be performing multiple actions on the web, for example, chatting with a friend, writing an email or researching about a subject) has become a common occurrence among internet users. Jarmon explained in the light of research that multitasking tends to decrease efficiency and ability to fully concentrate on a certain aspect (3). Naughton also agreed with the notion that the usage of technology and internet tends to promote multitasking to such an extent that the human brain and mental processes are being affected. He quoted Plato’s point of view who stated that the technology of writing is more likely to diminish the value of remembering things in the days ahead. Terms like ‘information overload’ have come into existence ever since the inception of internet. Carr stated that the art of reading and fully concentrating on articles and books is diminishing since people are acquiring the habit of skimming over content like they do over the content on the web (5). However, Carr also quoted the examples of some of his writer friends who claim that the availability of extensive level of information and browsing nature of reading has made them aware of many more things than before (8). Such individuals believe the notion that general information regarding more things in life is better than deeper study of fewer aspects. The fast paced nature of the current times also provokes the internet users to communicate in a language that is a devoid of the rules of writing and speech. Crystal stated that there exist few common aspects about every language, namely, grammatical rules, structure of a sentence etc (7). The language being used on online sources is a devoid of all of such textual organization and rules. The sole purpose of language being used on the internet is to communicate the message to the recipient in the shortest and fastest way possible. Few common terms that are used to refer to the language being used in computer mediated communication is ‘Netlish’, ‘Weblish’ etc. Even in the technological nature of the current times, the internet users are witnessed to express their feelings and emotions. However, the impersonal and limited nature of expression in a computer mediated communication does not provide them the leverage of laughing with a friend or giving a high-five. Such emotions are also being replaced with small images, known as ‘emoticons’. In the midst of such improper use of language, the essence and depth of languages is disappearing. Another invention of the internet language is that of the abbreviations to save time in chatting or messaging, such LOL means ‘laugh out loud’, TY means ‘thank you’. However, the positive aspect of modern online communication is that people are writing more than ever. Roschke stated that 90 million Americans write emails everyday in which considerably better form of languages are used (2). Emails are also kept as records of communication between participants in organizations. Nevertheless, it cannot be forgotten that excessive level of slang can never be considered as a growth of any language or society. 3. Conclusion The modern man has become more aware about the local, as well as the global perspectives due to the level of accessibility that has been introduced with the emergence of the internet. The advancement in the field of communication, education and online business has been coupled with many other factors that are proving to alter the lives of humans. Firstly, the broad scope of online services and features engages the internet users for hours. It is due to this habitual engagement that personal and social interactions are diminishing with time. The easy accessibility to online acquaintances makes the users interact with them more than their own loved ones in life. Lack of face to face interaction may seem to be a better approach for introverts; however such impersonal computer mediated communication will result in a greater urge to avoid people in life. Secondly, the trend of multitasking on the internet is decreasing the ability of humans to fully concentrate on content and to understand it in a patient manner. Repeated acts of browsing on the web makes the individuals acquire the habit of skimming through content without making the efforts of researching further into the matter. Such reading habits can result in the acquisition of incomplete knowledge and can result in an adverse manner. Alongside the lack of skills to provide any content full attention, language is also being affected. The need to communicate messages at an immediate pace have invented a new form of language that involves excessive usage of slang, emoticons and abbreviations, thereby compromising the essence and depth of any language. In the light of these adverse effects of usage of online technologies, it should be attempted to use the internet for work-related purposes to ensure saving of time for more productive activities, for example, pursuing personal social interactions with friends and families and increasing one’s knowledge by reading. Works Cited APS National Psychology Week Survey, The Social and Psychological Impact of Online Social Networking, 2010. Carr, Nicholas. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, W. W. Norton & Company, 2011, ISBN-10: 0393339750. Crystal, David. Language and the Internet, Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-511- 03251. “Internet Usage Statistics”, Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2012. Web. 2 March. 2013. Jarmon, L. Amy., “Multitasking Helpful or Harmful?”, Student Lawyer, Vol. 36, No. 8, (2008). Naughton, John., “The internet: is it changing the way we think?”, The Observer, 15 August 2010, Nie, Norman., Hillygus, Sunshine., “Where does Internet Time Come From?: A Reconnaissance”, IT & Society, Volume 1, Issue 2, (2002), 1-20. Roschke, Kristy. “The Text Generation: Is English the Next Dead Language?”, Arizona State University, 2008. Read More