Social Commentary 2: Complicated Technology

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, technology is defined as “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area” and “a capability given by the practical application of knowledge.” With this definition, we can say that technology is supposedly used for making our life simpler and more convenient.

However, do all our technological advancements actually make our everyday lives easier? I believe that some technology nowadays actually makes some of everyday simple tasks more complicated. For example, the simple task of going out for a morning jog is made very complicated by the various gizmos and gadgets that could be used to see your performance. Technology such as this just doesn’t make sense. A jogger would have to push buttons all over his gizmo before starting a routine jog. This makes things more complicated for the jogger, who could have just opted for a jog without his gizmos and gadgets and save time trying to figure out that particular gadget.

The problem of technology making life more complicated for us could go on to the extent the some people actually develop useless technology. These are technology like the blogging plant. As if how many people are really going to bother to watch a plant for one whole day. The resources that would have been used for this kind of useless technology just do not justify whatever little ‘discoveries’ that might be discovered from having such technology. This raises a question of whether other technology that are being developed might actually benefit us humans or whether these are just a waste of Earth’s precious resources that might have been used for other beneficial uses, like providing a roof for the poor people all over the world.

Well, it can be said that technologies does make our lives easier, like cars which enables us to reach destinations in minutes rather than long hours that might be taken to walk that distance. Perhaps, the advancement of the human race to this day and age would be largely contributed to technology. The use of technology to utilize fossil fuels for energy gave way to the age of industrialization. Furthermore, the use of technology also led to the globalisation of the world through improved transportation and communication systems. But example such as the ones mentioned above makes some technologies look practically ridiculous. If only every human being could develop technology that would truly benefit mankind, then technology wouldn’t be as bad as I would think of it to be.

As the German philosopher Goethe once said, “Knowing is not enough; we must apply!” Our knowledge must be applied accordingly to what the current and future needs of the human race is for technology to be truly appreciated by everyone.

Article: The politics of Male Joggers - Reader’s Digest August 2009 edition

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