Running head: SHIFTING RESULTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Shifting Results of Technological Development

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SHIFTING RESULTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Shifting Results of Technological Development

Technological development surged through the centuries. At first, technology begun with
agricultural and transportation purposes, but to date, it is already the standardized form of
human processes even in the most critical medical treatments. Since the Scientific Revolution,
many claimed that technological or industrial development allowed philosophers to produce and
extend true knowledge to everyone (Shapin, 1996), and that it is surge-forward and watershed
advancement (Kreis, 2009) in human society. However, is it really true that technological
development serves as a picture of human excellence? Technology is beneficial and able to
provide various advantages in human life, but man should utilize it properly.
For some, particularly those who lived many years ago, life would be better without any
technological developments we have today. On the other hand, many claim that technological
developments made human lives easier, more comfortable, and more capable of sustaining
human life. The answer to this argument depends on certain conditions. Technology is not
beneficial under the following circumstances: when it is used to destroy, when it results in the
loss of fundamental form of human learning, or when it results in the loss of fundamental skills
of every workman. Technology is significantly good, but in many cases, adverse effects could
happen especially when people become too dependent on it.
Technology serves for the good of mankind. It provided further developments in global
trade and industry. It improved our means of communication; it created advanced educational
materials; it complemented the mans labor in various trades and careers. In fact, the necessity of
technology in life is seen in almost every human activity nowadays.

SHIFTING RESULTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Nevertheless, when people go further than having technology as complementary to our

daily activities and work, technology loses significance. Considering the environment, for
instance, everybody can see the adverse effects of technology. Technology improves agricultural
procedures, but chemicals and smoke from tractors still contribute to pollution.
Another area of effect of technology is communications. Whether it is through mobile
phones or online instant messengers, overdependence on technology has some disadvantages.
First, it could affect the [formal] literacy of an individual. When sending text messages, people
want to have ease in their conversation and thus tend to shorten some words within their
message. In fact, text communication is deemed notorious for forming misunderstandings
(Baldauf & Stair, 2011). If a young, uneducated person gets used to this form of communication,
he or she could hardly make formal and complete communication in many occasions. Second, it
could lead to a significant loss of self-sufficiency. Overuse of text messaging can make
someone overly dependent on other peoples answers rather than having it on his or her own.
This will be discussed further below.
Another downside of technology is in the context of medicine particularly medical
practices. Indeed, when it comes to medicines and medical operations, technology is truly
necessary. Computerized provider order entry and other clinical information systems can help
reduce medical errors, promote practice standardization, and develop the quality of patient care
(Campbell et al., 2007). However, some negative results could still happen from this. First,
unless manual systems are reserved for backup, clinical disorders could happen when
computerized systems accidentally break down. Second, when providing clinical information
from computerized systems, clinicians could doubt reports and opinions shown in the computer
(2007). Since the output is computer-generated, research studies attest that information are

SHIFTING RESULTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

sometimes inconsistent. Third, many clinicians are unable to work absolutely with computergenerated systems. This suggests that if clinicians will be overly dependent on technology for
their practices, significant skills would be lost.
Another downside of technology in the area of health and medicine is the use of
breastfeeding technology. Breast pumps, for instance, are used by many mothers as an alternative
for usual breastfeeding. But research study affirms that this leads into breast pain, soreness, and
discomfort; the need for medical intervention; breast tissue damage; and contamination of the
breast milk during the pumping (Buckley, 2009, p. 13).
Lastly, another downside of technology is in the context of education and profession.
With cool gadgets such as Android phones, and PSPs, parents become more negligent of the
education of their children. Parents think that with these gadgets, their children will find their
way to educating themselves anyway. Even older people tend to overuse technological
innovations. The need for social interaction and communication through social networks could
also lead into serious addictions. In formal education, some contend that technocratic
consciousness is the new educational mechanism for generating classroom health. (Mahajan,
2012, p. 5). But this is still an unhealthy form of learning. Overdependence on technology is a
major concern, to the extent that people experience gradual to drastic loss of essential skills,
mental toughness, and physical stability to survive (Stevens, 1980).
There are more examples of adverse effects of technology such as cyber bullying,
cybercrimes, and so on. Of course, technology is absolutely not bad by itself. The way people
use it and to what extent they use it determines whether it is for the good or the bad of everyone.
Man should use it the proper way.

SHIFTING RESULTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

References
Baldauf, K., & Stair, R. (2011). Succeeding with technology. Massachusetts, MA: Cengage
Learning.
Buckley, K. (2009). A double-edged sword: Lactation consultants' perceptions of the impact of
breast pumps on the practice of breastfeeding. The Journal Perinatal Education, 18.2, 1322.
Campbell, E., Sittig, D., Guappone, K., Dykstra, R., & Ash, J. (2007). Overdependence on
technology: An unintended adverse consequence of computerized provider order entry.
AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings, 94-98.
Kreis, S. (2009, Aug. 13). The medieval synthesis and the secularization of human knowledge:
The scientific revolution, 1642-1730. The History Guide. Retrieved from
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture7a.html
Mahajan, G. (2012). Multimedia in teacher education: Perception & uses. Journal of Education
and Practice, 3.1, 5-13.
Shapin, S. (1996). The scientific revolution. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Stevens, D. (1980, Nov. 3). The menace of micros. Computerworld, 3-22.