Is society too dependent on technology?
Introduction
THE 21st Century is now characterised by a high propensity to rely on technology with a growing school of thought calling our present era, the fourth industrial revolution. Everyone is using it, nothing works without it and owning it is a privilege. In the present-day world, for one to perform any basic service, transaction or even research, it requires some type of technological gadget. So it is true to say society is now too dependent on technology. The 21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001 and will end on December 31, 2100. Collins English Dictionary refers technology as methods, systems and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes, whilst the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods or knowledge.
Klaus Schwab (2016) is convinced that we are at the beginning of a revolution that is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and relate to one another, which he explores in his book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Schwab says (2016) previous industrial revolutions liberated humankind from animal power, made mass production possible and brought digital capabilities to billions of people. This Fourth Industrial Revolution is, however, fundamentally different. It is characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human.
“The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create mass production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres,” says Schwab in his book.
Thesis: Following the invent of telecommunication and mobile phone networks, computers, agriculture, industry, motor vehicles as well as plastic money and mobile banking to name just a few, technological breakthroughs, the world is now being operated from the click of a button, making it easier for people to do work.
Communication
Banking E-Learning
Motor Vehicle Agriculture
Industry
Firstly effective communication is key to success and development in any aspect. In Zimbabwe, Post Offices have since closed shop with thousands of people losing jobs as traditional letter writing methods using postal networks are now outdated. People prefer using emails and social media networks like Whats App, Twitter, Facebook to mention a few as more convenient and faster means of communicating. Zimbabwe Abridged Postal and Telecommunications Sector Performance Report for the second quarter of 2017, evaluated a total of 3.1 billion megabytes of data were consumed in the second quarter of 2017. This represents a 15.8% increase in data consumption from 2.7 billion megabytes recorded in the total national 768,669,233 859,593,966 11.8%.
All the mobile operators registered an increase in data usage. The rise in social media has contributed to the increasing data and internet usage. The introduction of social bundles such as WhatsApp and Facebook bundles by operators has driven the popularity and usage of these social networks in the country. WhatsApp and Facebook accounted for 44.2% and 1.8% respectively of total internet and data usage. This proves the increased dependency on technology as a medium of communication in Zimbabwe just like in many other countries worldwide. In fact, there is now a drastic change compared to the old days where children used to spend a lot time with each other playing or just sharing stories. According to Correll (2015) present-day more than 75% of children remain indoors playing computer games or with a smartphone. He argues that technology has taken up the time people used to have using face t o face conversations. He purported clichés by people are now popular, for instance when the internet connection is down people tend to say ‘all tasks are over for the day in the office’ or how people feel ‘stripped’ to go through a day without a smartphone. Technology dependence has gone too far such that some scholars have recommended for “technology detox.” According to Oxford Dictionary, Technology Detox is a period during which an individual avoids using any electronic devices including computers, smartphones etc as a chance to reduce stress and focus on social interaction in the outside world.
Secondly in E-learning , most students no longer use text books for research but rely on internet which is faster. In addition computer technology has impacted positively with E-Learning towards the working class in pursuing one’s career. They also use computers or laptops for assignments as well as notes capturing which is a result oriented practise. The industrialisation has been established in Early Childhood Education where children from as young as 2.5 years use computers / information and communication technology (ICT). Clements and Samara (2003) highlighted that the use of computers in schoolroom promotes social interaction. Nevertheless mature guidance is a prerequisite in order to achieve desired goals Kalas (2010); Siraj-Blatchford (2005). Thus technology dependence by society proven. Nonetheless other authors evaluates negative impact towards child development regarding ICT about human distress. However Bolstad (2004) ; Hatzigiannni and Margetts (2012) regard technology as fundamental towards e-learning and encourages the practice of technology.
Thirdly in Agriculture, instead of using primitive mechanical gadgets like ox-drawn ploughs most small-scale farmers in the rural areas now opt to use tractors which are faster. Gone are the days when farm labourers used hands to plant maize seed, beans to name but a few instead technology has brought about the planter for sowing seeds which is faster, efficient hence increased productivity and greater yield. In addition the spraying of chemicals such as herbicides with the current technology now being carried out using what they call Boom Spray and is quicker and accurate therefore the society dependency on technology is demonstrated. The commercial farmers now use computerised irrigation equipment such as the Centre Pivot (shown in Figure 1. ) as well as Reel Irrigation Equipment (shown in Figure 2.) and a variety of these are being introduced world widely as shown in figure 1 and 2 below.
Figure 1. below is an A Series irrigation reel a state of the art technology which was designed ideal for small scale farmers. https://www.bauer-at.com/en/products/irrigation have become very popular in Zimbabwe and are being imported from Austria.
Figure 1.
Figure 2. below shows the Centre Pivot irrigation technology which is now widely used in commecrcial farming and the results are amazing in effieciency as well as crop production.
Figure 2. The Center Pivot https://www.bauer-at.com/en/products/irrigation
The fourth one is the debate of technology which has also of late stirred huge debate of concerning automation. Automation in most workplaces is displacing human jobs. The future of work for most people is at risk and large-scale corporate now prefer machines which increase production and cut on labour payment costs in the long term. It is increasingly becoming difficult to survive in the 21st century without technology. This is evidenced when power cuts occur and business is literally brought at stand still in manufacturing industries unless there is back-up technology such as diesel or petrol powered generators. It is therefore prudent to say that society is now clearly too dependent technology.
Moving to the fifth is the transport technology. Transport technology comprises the railway train, the aeroplane, the small vehicles, the buses the ship to mention but a few. Long ago people use to travel very long distances by foot whilst the majority would be reluctant to visit one another due to distance factor. In addition students would walk over ten kilometres to school a thing which left numerous isolating themselves from education. Furthermore several were subjected to severe weather condition as well as predisposed to diseases. However this practise has been alleviated by the amazing motor vehicle technology. Students now make use of the mini-buses, the buses as well as private small vehicles to various institutes. Moreover travelling/transportation over a 1000km to the neighbouring countries is facilitated by routine buses/trucks which are convenient and secure and most the cross boarder traders depend on especially to the neighbouring Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. Also the use of aeroplanes to various destinations has proven society dependency on technology from domestic, regional and international for business, leisure and tourism. Early this I travelled to Dubai which is over 10 211km from Zimbabwe without the aeroplane technology this would not have been made possible. For the vehicles to function they need fuel which the haulage transport is used to transport fuel from one source to the other. Additionally efficient transport has been made available for the transport of various agricultural produce to the processing plant as well to the consumer.
Last but not least there remains a few who refuse to be sucked in the technological dependence era, especially those in the rural areas. But for that small fraction of conservatives, government policies and the pressure of the modern world as a global village will eventually catch up with them. In Zimbabwe at the moment government is pushing for plastic money given the liquidity constraints in the country. This alternately means people are now forced to have bank accounts or have mobile phones to be able to use mobile money transfer systems as a second option. Moreover the opportuneness online shopping has grabbed the show which is being practised world-wide. Studies reveals people that now resort to due to the
Conclusion
Technology decisively continues to display fundamental success and constant technological dependency towards every aspect of life. As evidenced from the above very little can be achieved without the application of technology especially having moved from the traditional revolution into the 21st century which is characterised by invention of new technology coming into play which is competent and expedient. Furthermore this is momentous as results are revealed with the innovation of technology however further studies are a prerequisite regarding hazards as well as technological enhancement and robustness not avoiding cost effectiveness in the process.
References
Abridged Postal and Telecommunications Sector Performance Report (2017) Second Quarter http://www.potraz.gov.zw/images/documents/Abridged_Sector_Perfomance_report_2nd_Quarter_2017.pdf
Clements, D. H., and J. Sarama. 2003. “Strip Mining for Gold: Research and Policy in Educational Technology – A Response to “Fool’s Gold.”” AACE Journal 11: 7–69.
Collins English Dictionary retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collins_English_Dictionary
CorrelI, D. J. (2015), Society Too Dependent on Computers/Phones? https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/23/is-society-too-dependent-on-computersphones
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2015.1016804
https://www.bauer-at.com/en/products/irrigation
Kalas, I. 2010. Recognizing the Potential of ICT in Early Childhood Education. Moscow: UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education
Merriam Webster Dictionary retrieved fromhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictionary
Oxford Dictionary https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
Schwab, K. (2016) The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Published January 11th 2016 by World Economic Forum
Siraj-Blatchford, I., and J. Siraj-Blatchford. (2005) ICT in the Foundation Stage: A Position Paper. 327 Matters. http://www.327matters.org/Docs/CfBT.pdf