How Technology

Changed Our Society

By Robert Caudle and Nate Davis
How long have computers been around?
The word computer was first recorded being used in 1616 to describe
someone who performed computations and calculations.
The first physical computer that we would consider a modern computer
was invented in 1936 by Alan Turing, and was named the Turing Machine.
This machine was able to print symbols on paper tape that would emulate a
person following a series of logical instructions.
What did the Turing Machine look like?
arcadefire.com
What about Modern Day Computers?
The two companies most widely recognized for manufacturing operating
systems for computers to run are Windows and Apple, but these two
brands did not start in the 2000s, they both started in the late 1970s.
It would take 15 years for the personal computer to take off, and the
creation of the internet to really see computers and phones change our
society.
This is an advertisement for
in the 1980s for a computer
hard drive. 100 times the
amount of advertised
memory can be bought
today for under ten dollars...
A image displaying the evolution of Apple computers:
Worldinfo4u.com
How modern computers changed our society
Imagining our current lives without computers is nearly
impossible, and a lot of things in our lives depend on
computers and phones in order to to operate properly.
Computers were originally designed to be only used in
workplaces, but slowly made the transition to personal
use.
The introduction of the internet would have a significant
impact on the way we look at the world. Many everyday
experiences including doing homework and shopping
would never be the same with internet.
A graph showing the
past, present and
future amount of
internet users
globally.
Source: futuretimeline.net
How modern computers changed our society
(Continued)
With the advancements in technology including
computers, it is obvious that it is changing how we
communicate and express ourselves.
Neuroscientist Susan Greenfield states that if we dont
acknowledge the damage that our current technology is
doing to us then we will be one step closer to living in a
world to where the dependence for technology is so high
that one would not be able to go without it for days at a
time.
How did computers affect the workplace?
30 years ago there would of never of been job titles such as a
software developer and app developer, simply due to the
fact that there was no need for these type of occupations.
In our modern times though, these type of occupations are
seeing massive growth. Software developing careers are
expected to grow 25% by 2022.
Not only have technology oriented careers been affected by
modern technology but many other industries have been
affected by the creation of the internet and computers.
What Industries are affected by modern
technology?
With the introduction of the internet, many industries have
taken a hit. Specifically including the music industry and the
movie industry.
In todays times, many new albums and movies are just a .rar
file or torrent link away. The internet has provided many
people with music and movies that would have otherwise
costed money. With a program called uTorrent, you can
download torrents of popular games, music, and movies.
There are consequences for illegally downloading media
though...
In 2013 a man named Kim Dotcom
(Yes, he changed his name to
Dotcom) was charged with illegally
uploading and hosting thousands of
movies to his website Megaupload.com
This website earned Dotcom millions of
dollars due to the advertisements he
would display on the site, and a
premium service for users who
wanted to upload mass quantities of
files.
To be specific, Dotcom and a few
associates made around 25 million
from advertising, and 125 million from
premium subscription fees.
So what about cell phones?
The world's first mobile phone call was made on April 3,
1973, by a motorola employee named Martin Cooper.
The call was made to the headquarters of Bell Labs in
New Jersey.
Although the call was not recorded, we do know that it
did not last over a minute.
This would lead to the invention of the first commercial
mobile phone in 1984, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.
The worlds first mobile phone...
This phone retailed for the cheap
price of $3,995.
The phone could only hold 30
numbers, weighed 1.75 pounds, and
took 10 hours to charge
Along with this the battery really
only lasted 30 minutes, so after a
long 10 hour charge, you only had
30 precious minutes to use it.
content.time.com
How have cell phones affected our everyday lives?
Cell phones have had a tremendous impact on the way
we carry out everyday tasks, and even how we interact
with those around us.
With a few simple taps on a screen, you can find
directions, restaurants, and even people you know that
might be close by.
Cell phones can help save on long distance calls too.
Instead of paying for long distance, your paying for the
minutes you use instead.
How have phones helped our global society?
In third world countries, cell phones allow people to
spend money through their phones, because most
people do not have access to banks and credit cards.
Cell phones help save lives due to their mobility. For
example, health workers in Africa can contact medical
specialists who can address serious medical issues.
Cell phones also help people find jobs. In Palestine there
is an app called JobMatch that has helped many young
people find jobs right out of college.
The worlds first text message,
sent on December 3rd, 1992.
The message was sent by a
man named Neil Papworth,
and it was sent to his boss. The
text read Merry Christmas.
The worked for Vodafone as a
software engineer.
Today, 200,000 text messages
are sent every second.
ctvnews.ca
newsmax.com


How have technological advancements changed UNC
Charlotte?
Over time, many programs grew due to technology.
Including the Computer and Informatics program and
many other programs.
The introduction of high speed internet on campus has
had a tremendous impact on how students communicate
and study.
Advancements in computer technology has also helped
students multitask while using their computers, and
external storage allows students to store more without
buying another hard drive.
How have technological advancements changed UNC
Charlotte (Continued)
Not only students, but teachers have benefited from
current technology.
Most homework is done online, saving paper and ink.
Grades can also be put online making access to tests and
homework easier.
Cloud based storage is also beginning to take off,
allowing many people to share certain files with each
other.
Finally, current technology that is helping shape the
future...
Works Cited
Antliff, Alex. "10 Ways The Internet Has Changed The World." WhatCulture. N.p., n.d. Web. 21
July 2014. (Antliff)
Greenfield, Susan. "Modern Technology Is Changing the Way Our Brains Work." Mail Online.
Associated Newspapers, n.d. Web. 18 July 2014. (Greenfield)
Higgins, Chris. "6 Ways Cell Phones Are Changing the World (Beyond the Ways You're Probably
Thinking)." Mental Floss. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. (Higgins)
"How Mobile Phones Have Changed Our Lives." - The Center of Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July
2014. (How Mobile Phones Have Changed Our Lives)
Kay, Robin Holding, and Sharon Lauricella. "Investigating The Benefits And Challenges Of Using
Laptop Computers In Higher Education Classrooms." Canadian Journal Of Learning & Technology
40.2 (2014): 1-25. Education Research Complete. Web. 24 July 2014.
Works Cited(Continued)
Mayhew, Ruth. "How Is Technology Impacting the Changes in the 21st Century Workplace?" Small
Business. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. (Mayhew)
Stewart, Erin. "Does Cell Phone Use Really Affect Our Communication Skills? - The Lance." The
Lance. N.p., 23 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 July 2014.
Ward, Logan. "The 10 Breakthrough Products of 2013." Popular Mechanics. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 July
2014. (Ward)