"Social Effects of Technology" http://www.rit.edu/~flwstv/techeffects.html#freedom

Working on my Scrapbook Evaluation for this blog, I became so frustrated because I was at a loss of words. I knew how I felt but no matter how hard I thought I couldn't find a way to put down my thoughts. I was a little distracted, I guess, with the band Switchfoot playing on my CD player but I turned that off and sat at my computer, staring at the computer screen.
"Come on think el stupido!"
I decided to type in random words associated with my study and I came across a very well written website on the "Social Effects of Technology."
The first sentence states, "The interaction of technology and society may be the one thing more than any other that gives society a meaning and defines is as human beings."
I kind of giggled to myself because I thought of how ridiculous it sounded that technology, which could be anything like a microwave or an electric toothbrush, "defines us as human beings." I felt the opening sentence was strong and controversial but I digressed and read on. The website had wonderful support on the advancements and advantages of technology relating to everything. The author had a top ten topic list:

Ten Effects of Technology
Technology's Effect on Commerce
Technology's Effect on Social Systems
Technology's Effect on The Environment
Technology's Effect on Individual Psychology
Technology's Effect on The Rate of Change
Technology's Effect on Institutions
Technology's Effect on Individual Freedom
Technology's Effect on Our Perception of Reality
Technology's Effect on Our Mutual Dependence
Technology's Greatest Effect

Not to catch one off guard, I have to say that most of the reasons this person listed on why technology is one of the greatest effects on life, I agreed with. I am using this website as an example to clarify what exactly I am preaching about. I am trying to convey that the issue in society with technology is not technology itself but it is the decisions people make when using technology and the effects coming from those decisions. I realize one may think my earlier blogs are contradictory to what I am saying now and that is because it has finally come clear to me what I was actually looking for.

In this artifact I did not find a negative effect of technology that seemed important and that is because people don't want to look at the pessimistic view of technology and write about it. If you look at it from one perspective, there is no negative part of technology. The negative or "downfalls" come from the users of technology. The downfall is shown in people who abuse/take advantage of technology, depend on it unnecessarily, and use it for morally wrong reasons.

The Downside of Technology

I have decided to change my research topic to the downside of technology instead of the impersonality of society. My first topic, impersonality, was very specific and I had trouble researching and finding good information. In most of my sources, the data was all leading into one issue: America's dependency on technology. I decided that I would, form here on out, study the downside of technology and use impersonality as an effect of it.

America's Dependency on Technology

MacLean, Doug. October 7th, 2003. "Dependency on Technology." http://news.digitaltrends.com/talkback27.html

I read an opinion from Doug MacLean, someone who does all his work on a computer sitting at home, on his view of America's dependency on technology. He talked about the black out that occured on most of the east coast in 2003 and how millions of people were completely thrown off when they didnt have electricity or access to a computer. To some it was a nightmare but to others, a big party in the city.
Doug MacLean used a great example to describe the dependency on technology.

"The dependency on technology is a two edge sword. As a person that is house bound for physical reasons it is easier than ever. I can work, shop and chat with friends all from the comfort of my seat. I see the down side more in the younger members of our society."

Technology brings so much into the world and is a wonderful advancement in todays society. Technology has made communication, building, transportation, household chores, cooking, and so much more easier, especially when aiding people who are "house bound for physical reasons." This is one sharp point of the sword.

"... every teenager has a cell phone and it appears to have been surgically attached to them."

This is another point of the sword, the downside in technology. Young adults in this generation are so involved in technology and dependent on it that it is hard for them to learn how to do things for themselves. Almost every person in the younger generations are so wrapped up in cell phones they will drop anything just for that phone call or that text message. But it is not just teenagers that are attached to their phones, many adults LIVE on their cell phone. For example, my father's cell phone is a growth on his hip or an earring for his ear with his tiny, thumbnail ear piece. His cell phone is his home phone, work phone, entertainment, and computer all in a tiny gadget that is always attached to his hip on a fancy little clip or on his ear with his bluetooth ear clip. This is not necessarily a bad thing but in some cases it is shown as a bad thing to be on your phone any time any place. For example, in restaurants you can hear people gabbing away on their phone and its rude! I dont want to hear someone talking on their phone about their boyfriend or their cat dying. I would like to sit down and enjoy my meal just like anybody else. The same concept applies to the dinner table or any public place if someone is causing a distraction when talking on their cell phone.
My questions for the day:

• Are people aware of cell phone ettiquette?
• What is the cell phone ettiquette?

Online Shopping

"Internet's impersonal touch could doom the high street." Marketing Week (Sept 28, 2006): 102. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 12 Dec. 2006 http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A152040904&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=elli29753&version=1.0.

In my research, I found another way people use technology and avoid interaction with other human beings: online shopping. The holidays are here soon and shopping at the mall or common stores is pretty much disastrous. Online shopping is an easier way to get through the holidays alive and shopping online is definitely an advantage for people especially the elderly people who aren't very mobile or people who honestly dread shopping but it lacks the WONDERFUL experience of going out with the kids, picking out presents for the grandfolks, paying ridiculous prices, and waiting in those horrendous lines. Okay, so maybe it's not all that great but its an example of technology lessening human experiences this generation's parents had when they were kids.

There was one statement I came across when reading this opinion that opposes the social issue of impersonality:
"Nothing quite beats the impersonal touch."
Im curious of others opinions on this topic and would like to know what leads others to this conclusion?
Do people prefer living in technology or human interactions?

Rogers, Adam. "Department ofWarp Drive and Wormholes.(NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program)(includes international statistics on cell phone use)(Brief Article)." Newsweek 132.n9 (August 31, 1998): 12(1). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 6 Dec. 2006 http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A21065086&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=elli29753&version=1.0.

Right now I am in the beginning of my journey into the world of technology, comparing it to the impersonalities of society, and I am starting out with research of the modern day communication technology. I came across a site (above) that gave me some predicted statistics from 1997- 2002 on the use of cell phones in large populations:
"cellular-phone subscribers in millions 1997 2002
U.S. 53.3-113.7
Japan 29.5-67.6
China 13.5- 41.9
Italy 11.3-24.7
Germany 8.4- 27.3
England 8.3-19.1
South Korea 6.7- 15.6
Canada 4.3-10.1
Brazil 4.0-18.8
India 0.8-7.1"
Obviously this rate has grown over the past years but this gives a small piece of information on the growth of cell phone users.
What are the statistics today in 2006? Growth rate?

I know that people's lack of confidence, laziness, the advantages of technology, and more reasons cause impersonality in society today. People seem to live their lives on the computer with the online dating, AIM, myspace, facebook, or any other ways of "socialization" and lose the connection of talking to people in person. An example: Nowadays boys either dont have the guts or are too lazy to ask a girl out so they do it in a text message or in an instant message. I know that there are some families that talk to eachother online when they are in the same house. Why cant they just talk to eachother in person? I would like to understand why people would develop relationships, communicating through the computer, when they could be out talking to people face to face.
I want to know:

• the many reasons why people prefer other ways of communication other then talking in person or on the telephone
• statistics