Why People Are So Reliant On Technology Nowadays

Despite people using technology for what it was intentionally made for they generally use it for entertainment purposes; at least many people in the digital generation do. Technology itself is not the culprit behind the negative effects of the misuse of technology, it’s how we use it that determines the outcome of whether or not it is beneficial. When used properly technology can provide proper learning services for students and people who are in general trying to learn about something in the world.

For people born during the newer generation it may be harder for them to understand proper uses for technology because they have grown up with the usage of technology; so much that it is now embedded within their lifestyle. Author Derrick Mears states, “Approximately 75 to 80% of homes containing a child between the ages of 11 and 18 have three or more televisions and Internet access. Between 14 and 20% of these homes have three or more computers, and over 50% have more than three digital video recorders. Gaming consoles are a staple in the households of children and adolescents as 28 to 35% have three or more. Over 80% of teenagers have their own cellular phone and MP3 player, 68% have their own television in their bedroom, and over 34% have their own computer" (Roberts, Foeher, & Rideout, 2005; Rosen, 2011). See here as explained in this quote access to technology for most children is relatively easy now. Along with easy access to technology comes the increased usage time on them which generally affects their lives. This in the long run contributes towards why America is seen as a lazy unfit country.

There are many factors that compile certain people of ages to become so reliant on technology. Determining whether or not people have the self control to deviate themselves away from the distractions in life (mainly entertainment wise) will result in the outcome of our society for better or for worse.

       Mears, Derrick. "The influence of technology in pop culture on curriculum and instruction: the iGeneration of children has a unique set of learning characteristics that must be taken into account when teaching." JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance 83.8 (2012): 15+. Academic OneFile. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

<http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.howardcc.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA306860981&v=2.1&u=colu91149&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>

(Miscellaneous 400)

Significance of Having Technology

Most people (most likely the people born during this new age of technology innovations) would disagree with claims about technology bringing out the worst in our society. They may say things like “technology has helped me become more interactive with others” or how “it brings a new way of learning”. Technology is a great way to do research in retrospect towards learning. According to authors Jared Keengwe and Gary Schnellert, “More than half (53%) of teachers in public schools who have computers use them or the Internet for instruction during class. But in schools whose students are from higher-income families, 61% of teachers with computers use them in class compared to 50% of those teaching in schools with lower-income students (Lenhart, Rainie, & Lewis, 2001).” In other words, technology is a growing field especially in education, more and more schools are being to incorporate the learning process that technology now has to offer. Another major factor that opposing viewers may bring up is that society somewhat forces to become lenient towards the usage of technology. For example applying for some jobs may require the use of online web applications or even some organizations may require the use of your contact information for future references. All of which are somewhat true but the way people actually undergo committing such acts is why we have such negative effects upon individuals in our society; but not so much on major social institutions (things like schools/education, politics, or the government).

Technology was meant to assist us in daily activities but people in this digital generation for example have become so reliant on the usage of technology that it is restricting their own mental and physical capabilities of doing things for themselves. Nowadays parents are even allowing the use of their 4 year old children to be playing with iPhones. At this stage a child really should not being playing with technology solely for entertainment purpose. The fact some people gain early access to using technology like this is what compels them to feel so dependant on it because they have grown up with it. A young person in most cases lacks the maturity to handle what technology has to offer without guidance. Which is why the implementation of technology in public schools is beneficial to students but the interaction of technology in a household for a young student should be strictly regulated for learning purposes to further help their mental growth and maturity.

       Keengwe, Jared, and Gary Schnellert. "Digital technology integration in American public schools." International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education 8.3 (2012): 36+. Academic OneFile. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.howardcc.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA294896340&v=2.1&u=colu91149&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>

Opposing Perspective (466)

Morals of Technology

Determining the proper uses for technology in most cases can generally benefit you and society if used correctly. People can significantly better themselves just by learning on their own using the internet. It is whether or not people have the integrity to learn that will determine how disciplined they are on the internet. Today most people with access to the internet do not use it to their full beneficial needs because they are always distracted by something else that prevents them from truly utilizing the internet.

There are many more things apart from just being distracted that technology has made us, the fact we as humans interact less with one another is also another effect of technology development. As the author, Jeffrey S. McQuillen states, “...where once women gathered at the water's edge to do the laundry in social groups outside the home; men and women now go to the laundry room and turn on the washing machine, quickly returning to the comfort of the living room, kitchen, or den. The tools that were originally designed to aid in the execution of some activity have come to replace that activity. Human input goes from maximum to almost nonexistent. The telephone permits ordering food to be delivered to our front door, cable access provides the convenience of ordering recent-release movies for home viewing, Internet availability permits shopping for "almost anything" online. A consumer can take advantage of all of these services and never leave the comfort and isolation of home” (McQuillen 616). In other other words, McQuillen is stating that technology has now become a major third party in our social lives that deters us away from normal face to face interactions.

When it comes to situations like this I think back to when I went to go visit my home country, Nigeria. During the time I spent in Nigeria I was able to take note of their social interactions apart from our normal ones here in the U.S. During the evening people would gather together in one area and testify what they were grateful for to God. The huge difference in the way they conducted their social lives in comparison to the normal culture in the U.S. was hugely noticeable. Furthermore, given the evidence of how technology is not mandatory for survival we should use this country as a prime example of how we should act amongst ourselves.

McQuillen, Jeffrey S. "The influence of technology on the initiation of interpersonal relationships (1)." Education 123.3 (2003): 616+. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.howardcc.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA100806953&v=2.1&u=colu91149&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>

(Ethical perspective 440)

Newer Generations

Many children nowadays feel as though they are obligated to get the latest and greatest new gadgets, despite some things that are already created are still capable of doing the same type of work the new devices may have. When children feel they are entitled to these new things, mainly because of the generation they were born into, they develop different types of behaviors as a result of their constant interaction with technology. This is a very noticeable change in generations now, as in the past children interactions were more face to face and physical. The kids of these new generations now use technology as a median or third party to gain interactions with other people. Traditional interactions for children has been drastically altered, “When I was a child, I socialized at the playground. "Tag! You're it!" a boy would scream, and children dispersed like ants fleeing from bug spray, trying to find the most surreptitious hiding spots. We played jacks, marbles, jump rope, dodge ball, and other outdoor games. Today's generation of children is different. They are more likely to spend their leisure time using technology” (Casas 80).

The amount of time spent on things like computers and video for a child can really determine their social behaviors for better or for worse, in most cases the worst. One prime example of this is the world renowned video game called "Call of Duty", I myself have played this and come across adolescent children who are on their mics screaming, cursing, and just displaying inappropriate behaviors. I also feel like this is a result of the lack of proper parental guidance. Given the time children can learn a whole lot on the internet by just exploring through the net. They pick up things quickly and thus start applying them towards their own behaviors. In doing so many children can grow up to be malformed and misguided socially in life. This can ultimately lead to the downfall of our own society because future generations are not apprehending the proper uses of technology. Thus, why I feel proper care for a child can result in better usage or regulations on technology and in turn can help them grow up to be a better person.

Casas, Dianne de Las. "'Tag! You're it!' Playing on the digital playground." Knowledge Quest 39.1 (2010): 80+. Academic OneFile. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.howardcc.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA239272689&v=2.1&u=colu91149&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>

(Supporting perspective 420)

Technology's Grasp On Us

 Technology has always been idolized as a mean to give us support in life but not to become co-dependent on it. Along with the luxurious lifestyle that comes with technology there are also issue as to how it affects us psychologically. As Robert E. Prasch, a professor of economics states,“...Not everyone needs a high-definition television set or an iPod, for example. Yet there are technologies that have so woven their way into the fabric of civilization that few people can do without them” (Prasch). Children nowadays are being exposed to technology prematurely which at the time hasn't allowed them to fully understand the beneficial needs of the purpose of how they can truly utilize technology. Adolescent children today just use technology for just sheer entertainment as opposed to them being regulated on proper uses of technology to further develop their knowledge.

There is no doubt that technology has significantly altered our course of history, although whether or not it is currently now changing for the better is questionable for the well-being of society. The ineffectiveness of our actual need for technology comes from the insufficiency in the new inventions of technology today compared towards the previous ones that have actually had more quality purpose in them. For example, things developed during the Industrial Revolution had a greater significant purpose than the small little gadgets today that are more directed towards entertainment use. 

Transportation development back in the day was something huge and out of the general thinking paths of most people, when we developed cars, trains, planes, etc, it provided drastic change towards living for the greater good. Now, today’s usual inventions are what inclines to us becoming lazier and less reliant on our own natural abilities. Things such as creativity are what helps us develop more useful inventions and better shape the future of society. If these luxurious products continue to hinder our natural progress of development we may be in some serious trouble in the future. 

Therefore, I believe for one we should be focused more on health safety than things like the latest iPhone, sure they are nice and all, but how will they contribute to general well-being of society?

"Introduction to Technology and Society: Opposing Viewpoints." Techology and Society. Ed. David Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. <http://ic.galegroup.com.libproxy.howardcc.edu/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=true&search_within_results=&prodId=OVIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010234130&userGroupName=colu91149&jsid=17605f7e7567f6ec777feebe394052e3>

(Central argument 418)

About Me

            I love cookies as the first picture represents, but the need to be made in a way I will enjoy them; not too hard or too soft. Second picture shows a soccer ball, my first and favorite sport I play, I also play tennis as well, I usually try to play them for fun and not too competitive wise. Third picture has my Dr. Dre Beats which brings a whole other atmosphere when I am listening and enjoying my music. Fourth picture shows my PS3 and controller, I love playing video games, and I have so much fun playing against other people and with friends, at times I may even end up playing games throughout the day. Last  picture just represents my usual procrastination habit that I always loathe but wind up subcoming to it.