Technology is 'Hacking' our Lives

1.0 Applications of Technology

1.1 Social Media

Technology serves as a platform for humans to 'interact' and communicate effectively. This involves understanding the other party virtually through text messages and sometimes even videos. Now, the real question is - Why are people still performing this act now? What are the benefits that the publisher can get? What is their driving force for doing so?

While technology can enhance human lives both socially and morally, technology has its setbacks. With research showing that humans tend to succumb to temptations easily, we are easily hooked onto this device that provides an endless path of joy - social media, games, photos etc. As a result, people tend to term "Technology" as a double-edged sword. Furthermore, when this viewpoint was brought to the floor, people tend to express misology. Despite confessing and promising one's self-control, people usually surrender to these temptations due to lack of discipline. Hence, it is imperative that youngsters nowadays are over-using this device and need to be supervised on moderating its usage.

1.2 Factory Production

Technology assists and enhances the productivity of factory productions, hence enabling our economy to work at a more efficient pace. This in turn means that economic waste and inefficiency is minimized by technology functioning optimally. Not only does technology produce more capital goods per unit time, but it also explores & widens the landscape of new goods & services. Introduction of inventions are all because of technology. Because of technology, there is an opportunity for us to consistently upgrade ourselves, while concurrently raising the bar for national development from time to time.

Machines evolve to help, not to replace, humans. - Anonymous

1.3 Daily Routines

Technology, at times, takes charge of influencing the simplest activities that humans usually encounter such as transportation. Not only does it serve to upgrade our society and bring comfort to the citizens, but it also value-adds certain procedures through modification of current measures.

Focusing on such an aspect of technology application, one basic example would be education in schools. Prior to technological inventions such as the interactive whiteboard which opens up more presentation modes for the teacher, it was a hassle and a waste of time to erase the whiteboard. Since then, people started integrating technology to this aspect of life, thus inventing the interactive whiteboard to bring convenience to teachers. Moreover, why limit ourselves when there are so much more that we have yet to explore? Shockingly, this interactive whiteboard provides more than what the old-school whiteboard offers, such as different features of presentation, ink colours of whiteboard - all with just a simple 'tap'. Hence, it is astounding that technology can bring about a huge impact with such a small movement.

2.0 Prevalence

Since the creation of social media by the first recognizable social media site, Six Degrees in 1997, technology became a notable platform which enticed people to engage and share information through sites. This forged a system of interconnectedness and gradually reaching a global audience with its rapid growth. Consequently, by the invention of such an attractive feature which beautifies the virtual world around humans, it generates a growing relationship within the society.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

3.0 Reasons behind Social Technology Use

3.1 Societal Pressure

Imagine being in a class full of rich students with their expensive school essentials. And there you are, a low-income student who is forced to skip meals in order to save money to purchase lecture notes. Everyday, you are excluded from their conversations as they usually discuss about fashion trends which you are unable to relate to and contribute, causing you to feel inferior when seeing them hang out without you. Think about it, would you still want to continue attending school?

The above is just a simple example of the definition of "Societal Pressure". When surrounded by people with common aspects, you naturally feel the need to have the same aspect so as to include yourself into those around you. Relating this morale to technology in our society at a macro-scale, people tend to use them to stay relevant. Yet, at times, some might find such an action of conforming to society's standards to be suffocating.

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." - Mother Teresa

3.2 Social Status

Similar to the previous point, Social Status is another invisible reason that often serves as the reason on why we do things without us being able to explain ourselves. Social Status is viewed as a determinant of one's identity in the society - specifically divided into classes/groups. Furthermore, some treat this as a source of motivation as they work their way up the society's hierarchy (otherwise known as 'social climbing').

3.3 Method of Expression

3.4 Connection w/ World

In order to catch up with the fast-paced and globalizing nation, it is essential to keep up with the news because multiple changes are happening throughout the globe. Additionally, what happens in Country A might not necessarily mean it will solely affect Country A.

Say for example - Christchurch Shooting in New Zealand (2019). This incident that has brought many people across the globe to despair and fear. But wait, how is this relevant to other countries? It is none other than the value of multi-racialism. New Zealand being a multi-ethnic society and home to many different national origins, contains many ethnic groups, ranging from European to Māori to Pacific. [3] While it forges united bonds and promotes integrations, but tension can easily arise from conflict of interest between 2 different ethnic groups due to difference in beliefs.

3.5 Communication

Technology provides a plethora of communication platforms and open up the doors of communication modes - ranging from verbal phone calls to text messaging. Currently, there is even a integration of both verbal and physical messages which enable users to text according to their preferred style. These verbal messages allow them to send audio recordings of their own voice which eases the process of typing, especially useful for the Silver Generation. On the contrary, this is being taken for granted by the Generation Y as they always have constant access to modern technology in their youth.