Saturday, April 4, 2009

History of technology and its shift in purpose


The advancement of technology has always helped humans live better lives. Every year, scientists come up with new machines and new ideas that will open doors to many opportunities. Although technology creates great inventions such as factory machines or a cure for illnesses, technology has its bad aspects. Over the years, it has slowly been creating a decrease in social interaction; and the faster technology improves, the greater the gap between people's social lives among others. Technology has been seen in different ways throughout history. In the beginning, it was seen as a great innovation that would advance life to a better world. People did not forecast any bad consequences. It was astonishing to them, after the invention of the phonograph, that people were actually able to materialize their voices and have them in their hands. Today, technology can be seen as the devil in people's social life. Not only is it creating a gap, but it is also creating psychological problems (loneliness, stress, lack of self-confidence, etc)

In the nineteenth century, Thomas Edison built the phonograph. It was one of the greatest inventions in history because people were finally able to record their voices and it would be the predecessor of telegraphs, telephones, and recorders. However, today, technology is seen as a way of distancing people's social lives. When the telephone was first invented, its main purpose was for people to contact their loved ones or for long-distance calls. Years later, the telephone would be used for various purposes. Over time, it created larger problems such as creating an isolated society. For instance, Thomas Edison proposed to his wife Mina over the telegraph. He once mentioned that one day, people would be able to stay at their locations and give business conference meetings by sending out a recorded message to each business person. Already, there is a hunt that the society would distance itself.




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