Technology and Society

Introduction and Background of the Study

Technology, as defined by the Advanced English Dictionary, is the
discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to problems.
Society is a voluntary association of individuals for common end; especially an
organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests,
beliefs, or profession (Merriam-Webster, 2012).
Technology and society are two interconnected and inseparable terms of
the modern world. Technology is a totally distinct and separate term with respect to its
nature, concept and usage and application, but the same is not susceptible of
independence from the society within which technology is widely used. The term society
has now attained its much broader scope by means of the social media--- facebook and
twitter are some of the most popular avenues.
Technology is a powerful force in the modern age. It has been hailed as a
way to cure everything from global warming to body odor. Nevertheless, technological
developments have not been an unqualified blessing. Technologies frequently have
negative side effects. But because technology is justifiably seen as indispensable in
solving current problems and ensuring a better future, societies have chosen not to
abandon technology, but to shape and direct it.
Every coin has two sides- the head and the tail. Every approach, technique,
method or strategy like for instance in education has its pros and cons. In our pursuit
for truth, justice and wisdom causing ourselves to commit mistakes or error is
inevitable. We may take the wrong path, we might make a wrong decision, we may take
a wrong move, but whatever it takes, said mistakes mentored us to better ourselves
towards self-actualization.
So just like the technology, it has the good, the bad and the ugly impacts in
the society. Technology may be useful if properly used and exploited, sometimes
destructive and horrible if abused or misused.
Consistent efforts of exploring the relationship between technology and
society in order to find ways to create better future would be our objective of this study.
Three important questions should be given answers to the following: 1) how does
technology shape our world? We will discover the variety of ways by which machines
and techniques become embedded in society and thereby shape institutions,
relationships, and values; 2) what kind of future do we want? Many of the articles we
will read argue that certain values are of key importance to a just society and challenge
us to consider which values we should hold most dear and defend; 3) how can we make
decisions about technology that will get us to the future we want? Once we understand
the role of technology in society and the world we want to build, we must develop
strategies for getting us from here to there.

Literature Survey

Information technology is not the cause of the changes we are living
through. But without new information and communication technologies none of what is
changing our lives would be possible. In the 1990s the entire planet is organized around
telecommunicated networks of computers at the heart of information systems and
communication processes. The entire realm of human activity depends on the power of
information, in a sequence of technological innovation that accelerates its pace by
month. Software development is making possible user-friendly computing, so that
millions of children, when provided with adequate education, can progress in their
knowledge, and in their ability to create wealth and enjoy it wisely, much faster than any
previous generation. Internet today used by about 100 million people, and doubling this
number every year is a channel of universal communication where interests and values
of all sorts coexist, in a creative cacophony. Certainly, the diffusion of information and
communication technology is extremely uneven. Most of Africa is being left in a
technological apartheid, and the same could be said of many other regions of the world.
The situation is difficult to remedy when one third of the worlds population still has to
survive on the equivalent of one dollar per day (Castells for UNRISD, 1999).
Technology per se does not solve social problems. But the availability and use of
information and communication technologies are a pre-requisite for economic and
social development in our world. They are the functional equivalent of electricity in the
industrial era. Econometric studies show the close statistical relationship between
diffusion of information technology, productivity and competitiveness for countries,
regions, industries and firms (Dosi et al., 1988). They also show that an adequate level of
education in general, and of technical education in particular, is essential for the design
and productive use of new technologies (Foray and Freeman, 1992).
Information and communication technology is the essential tool for economic
development and material well-being in our age; it conditions power, knowledge and
creativity; it is, for the time being, unevenly distributed within countries and between
countries; and it requires, for the full realization of its developmental value, an inter-
related system of flexible organizations and information-oriented institutions. In a
nutshell, cultural and educational development conditions technological development,
which conditions economic development, which conditions social development, and this
stimulates cultural and educational development once more. This can be a virtuous
circle of development or a downward spiral of underdevelopment. And the direction of
the process will not be decided by technology but by society, through its conflictive
dynamics (Castells, 1999).

A very important factor impelling change has been the technological explosion,
particularly in the area of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). Such
technologies are double-edged swords. They allow people to contact one another and
exchange ideas very easily in order to create communities built around common
interests and common causes. They also make it possible for global corporations to
move billions of dollars around the world with the click of a button. This gives them
tremendous power over local and national economies, especially of Third World
countries like India. Democratically elected national governments of Third World
countries, even big ones like India, are no longer as sovereign as they were twenty years
ago. With the profit motive reigning supreme, global corporations see human beings as
consumers of their products and not as citizens with inalienable civic rights and duties.
A by-product of this phenomenon has been the loss of diversity in the biosphere, in
cultural mores, and the ways in which we live. The world is becoming increasingly
homogenized (Lee, 2001).


Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the
creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as
the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will
be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology
can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of
economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit
data systems, electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications
and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic
disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence.
Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence on
technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at hand,
and high costs as a result of failure (Lee, 2001).



Technology Shapes up Our Society


Every little thing we do and make use of in this world involves technology. From
the moment we came out of our mothers womb in her delivery into this world up to
going to bed for sleep, there exists the undisputed presence of technology which in turn
greatly affects our society.

What we are today is the product of the past, and with that technology plays a big
role in our history and heritage. Educational media such as the books, journals, annals,
encyclopedia, and other related references are the repository of knowledge and archive
of information and records. Films and motion pictures have also become a rich source of
our past, showcasing the culture, religion, education, behaviour, lifestyle, and the like of
people who became part of our history. Our national treasures like the artifacts, realia,
or even replicas that stood the test of time served and built our identities up and
contributed to our social construction.

Social construction, in every way is very essential among the people in the
community for them to be able to interact with one another in harmony and solidarity
amidst the diversified beliefs, views, culture, religion, priorities, and the like. The
government or the state, as a whole needs social construction for it to be able to be able
to implement and enforce its police powers by the use of technology.

We, people, are inherently desirous of a brighter and bigger future ahead of us.
Like for instance, the fashion statement we wish to manifest may be reflective of the very
person who we really are, plus the fact of the technology employed that is readily
available within the vicinity. The set of knowledge, attitude, skills and values we are in
possession of, may be mediated by the level of education we have acquired through the
years and is greatly influenced by the use of technology.

Technology, may be deemed as the principal as regards the criminal liability of
a person in the commission of crimes. It may take a direct part in the execution of an act
of a person, should the employment of a technology is of utmost import in the
accomplishment of an undertaking or activity, say for instance in making films or
movies, the use of technology is very vital in the operation of the same. Likewise, it may
also be considered as an accomplice or an accessory. It means that technology may
have used indirect participation or sometimes it may have incidental participation to the
action, but the use of the same would make our life easier and more convenient.

The machines, gadgets and techniques would merely remain as they are, for your
eyes only or display purposes, unless the person lifts them and makes proper use of
them to work. Every technology is created or invented for the benefit of the general
people. The role or function of technology then lies on the very person who makes use of
the same. He may consider it as principal or the direct participator or actor in the
fulfilment of an objective; or he may let them help him indirectly by being an accomplice
or an accessory. In worst case scenarios, the people may be under the control of the
technology and with the deterioration or lost of the same extinguishes the life of a
certain person. He may be deemed as a slave to the technology.

With the advent of technological advances, there arise high-tech crimes: cloning
of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), cybersex, child prostitution and pornography,
libel in social media in a much broader scope, and many other cyber-related illegal acts.

It is thus imperative for us to keep our values, rooted on the principles of truth,
justice, freedom, wisdom, patience, equality and many others that our parents and even
forefathers have been inculcating in us. We never depart from those positive values
which serve as our guide all through our journey in life.

It is said that anything in this world may either make us or break us. In the case
of technology, we have all the power to make technology work for us, according to our
needs and interests. We all have the authority over the technology to function and
participate according to our will, command and intellect. We never allow a machine to
overrule us in whatever way it may be.

Information technology raises a host of questions about intellectual property
protection and new tools and regulations have to be developed in order to solve this
problem. Many issues also surround free speech and regulation of content on the
Internet, and there continue to be calls for mechanisms to control objectionable content.
However, it is very difficult to find a sensible solution. Further, the same technology that
allows for content filtering with respect to decency can be used to filter political speech
and to restrict access to political material. Thus if censorship does not appear to be an
option, a possible solution might be labelling. The idea is that the consumers will be
better informed in their decisions to avoid objectionable content.

It is popular wisdom that people today suffer information overload. A lot of the
information available on the Internet is incomplete and even incorrect. People spend
more and more of their time absorbing irrelevant information just because it is available
and they think they should know about it. Therefore, it must be studied how people
assign credibility to the information they collect in order to invent and develop new
credibility systems to help consumers to manage the information overload

Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the
creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as
the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will
be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology
can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of
economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit
data systems, electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications
and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic
disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence.
Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence
on technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at
hand, and high costs as a result of failure (Lee, 2001).

As regards how the technology shapes up our world, we zero in on every
individual person first. How a technology shapes a person is very relative. It is
dependent upon how that technology impacts that person. It is how that person makes
of the technology that is immediately available to him and the extent of use of such
technology all relies upon him. It may either make him or break him as a person.

With respect to ones society, the same is true of the impacts of technology. It
may make it or break it. It is really dependent upon the will of the people and definitely
not on the will of the technology which is bereft of such a human characteristic. The
whole society may still be greater than the sum of all individuals who do not make
proper use of the technology. Positive must, in many respects, outnumber the negative
class. It is in the positive practice of technology among individual persons that will be a
determining factor as the regards the success and level of conscious competence in the
use of technology.


The use of technology in our daily lives may be intentional or unintentional.
Direct or indirect. Effective or ineffective. The relationship between technology and
society has become so proximal nowadays due to its widespread use. Technology is so
embedded in our present society that it shapes institutions, relationships, and values.
It has become an essential part of the system in the process and in the fulfilment of
every activity, undertaking, project or program of work of a person.

With all these technological advancements that continually come by leaps and
bounds in our society, where do we go from here? As the Bible puts it: The steps of a
man are ordered by the Lord. By that, we are leading to the right path, if we choose to
take the said track, we are after all, given all the willpower to exercise our freedom.
Converging into a common destination that is victory and success in every endeavour we
do. And that could be achieved through a good start and maintained with a better
performance towards achieving someones best self.

With the benefits of technology, we can bring families closer than ever. Those
who are separated by distance, may make use of the latest gadgets, Iphones, web
cameras, and may do virtual and real-time conversations even a party to the
conversation is miles and miles away. Thus the sense of oneness and close family ties is
kept rekindling no matter the distance.

Countries to countries, state to state may make use of websites, government sites,
teleconferencing and the like to keep international relations close. Comity among
nations may be enhanced more through the use of readily available technology.
Technology should draw every person closer to one another, not separate one from the
other. It broadens our world to a limitless possibilities. It opens our mind to endless
information our human minds can contain. It catapults our imaginative minds to the
ends or the very core of the earth, to the vast universe. It simplifies every complex query
of the inquisitive mind. It satiates our technological needs, our drives, our desires for
excellence, our desires for truth.


The present computer and communications revolution has multifarious impacts
in the economy and modern society and which require careful and in-depth study of the
social science in order to manage its dangers and possible damage control. Such work
would be valuable for both social policy and technology design. Major and minor
decisions should be taken in an extraordinary manner since it will affect life and the very
lives of the individual persons of the society.

At the end of the day, we never underestimate the capacities and capabilities of
the technology as an agent of the socialization. It may be a boon or a bane to our daily
lives. Individual and social responsibilities may be keys to properly make use of the
technology. It may be deemed as treasures we may wish to take a stronger grip or
release from the realms of our hands.































References:




Advanced English Dictionary


Castells, Manuel (1999). United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
(UNRISD) Discussion Paper, Switzerland.

Dosi, Giovanni et al. (1988). Technical Change and Economic Theory, London: Pinter.

Foray, Dominique and Christopher Freeman (1992). Technologie et richesse des
nations, Paris, France.


Lee, Konsbruck Robert (2001). Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the
new Century, Switzerland.

Merriam-Webster (2012)