Modern Technology

Technology is constantly being reinvented and upgraded to better suit the lives of modern day society. Modern technology is involved in almost everything that we do in life. For example before I came to Virginia Tech I was told that I needed to pick up a tablet notebook instead of a regular laptop. My parents and I wondered why a freshman would need such an expensive and high tech computer for their first year at school. When I bought it, I was positive that I would never bring it to any of my classes or use it outside of my dorm-but how wrong I was. It seems that now I bring it to almost all of my classes, and I use it constantly in lectures and in workshops. And although the latest technology is exciting and modern, is technology really that great?

Just from looking at the latest cell phones that come out every other week, technology is constantly being upgraded to include the latest gadgets and devices. But when do we stop using technology, and begin depending on ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I depend on technology more than anyone else, but after reading the article “Confessions of an Instant Messenger” it made me think about modern technology in a different light. For example in the article is analyzed how teenagers and young adults are depending some much on facebook and instant messanger, that they are beginning to lack in their communication skills. Although I thought that the author’s argument was more of an exaggeration, I do believe that his argument is true to a certain point. I do believe that nowadays people would rather communicate by using technology than having a face to face conversation. Many people argue that they use facebook, email, instant messenger, etc., because it is convenient, but when does convenience turn in to laziness.

My dorm room is located next to the stair well, but yet I always tend to use the elevator because it is closer and more convenient than walking around my building to get to the stairs. Sometime I tell myself that I am too tired to walk up six flights of stairs, and other days I just confess that I am too lazy, but the truth is that the elevator is not the only technology that we use on a daily basis to make our lives easier. For example I made it through all of the test and quizzes in calculus thanks to my TI-89. When I was a junior in high school I wanted to buy it so I could do all of the equations with ease and convenience. Then when I got to college calculus and learned that we were not allowed to use our TI-89 on our tests and quizzes, I felt like my crutch was gone.

On the other hand, modern day technology has increased the standard of living all around the world. Technology can save lives, cure diseases, and make work easier and more convenient. It is important that our society makes technology a key topic of research, but at the same time it is important to realize that the fastest and most convenient way to do something is not always the best.