Mirsad Capric - Group C
Article – Is Technology The Hero Or Villain Of The 20th Century?
Technology: Pro or Con?
When I read the article from our textbook I was excited about the topic that we had to research: negative aspects of technology. The reason behind my initial enthusiasm was because I had done an assignment similar to this in my sociology class not so long ago and was intrigued by the topic from the start. As a society I believe that we have become completely desensitized to technology. All we do is “Ooh!” and “Aahh!” at every technological advancement. We no longer ask pertinent questions, such as “Are their any negative aspects behind this product?” The article that I found, Is Technology The Hero Or Villain Of The 20th Century?[1], delivers a fascinating look into the pros and cons of technology and its impact.
The article delved into past inventions that had forever changed our world. Inventions such as Morse code, which sparked wireless communication; the automobile, a new, advanced form of travel; the assembly line, a fast and efficient way of producing products; the internet, an invention which has become as important in our lives as any other invention, etc.. On the contrary, the author then begins to offer disadvantages brought about by technology. For example, hormones in food, which have changed the way humans develop; video games, which may desensitize kids to violence and cause them to lash out in violence, etc..
The
author does not place the blame solely on technology. He only identifies
technology as the means. He believes, “we must look
at the user and not the object” In other words, people are the reason that good
technology goes bad. People are responsible for the pornographic material on
websites; people misuse arms for a misguided political issue, it is the people
who take any type of technology and use it in a malicious or reckless manner. The
article successfully expands on the popular cliché, “Guns don’t kill people,
people kill people”. We must understand that we cannot curb technology because
of a few incidents. Technology plays too much of an intricate part in the
world, it must continue; however, we must be alert to how technology is used.