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A Rogerian Essay on the Influence of Technology

Introduction

Technology is said to have changed the lives of human beings by increasing the speed of

time. Humans have gone ahead and invented developed technologies with the intention of making

the best out of our lives. Robots have been invented to be human models of which they are said to

control the world in the future. However, technological developments have impacted human lives

both positively and negatively. New inventions and technologies are the result of human curiosity,

problems solving techniques and creativity. Generally, technology has changed education, ways

in which humans communicate, life style changes health standards and the positive and negative

impacts on productivity in the workplace. Among the common challenges of technological

developments includes the loss of jobs for employees. The introduction of computers resulted to a

number of people losing jobs since they could perform any task that they were programmed to

perform. The human creativity has been over the years replaced by technology a situation that will

bring about effects in the long run.

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Background

Majority of people are perplexed by what they assume their children are learning as they

interact with technology. Generally, children need physical play in order to be able to develop and

grow accordingly. Currently, majority of parents are encouraging their children to adopt

technology at an early age in order for them to develop techno logy creativity. it is through

interaction with nature and people, that engineers and scientists learn about social problems and in

the process use technology tom develop technology to solve the problems.

Claims for Technology

Technology is taking over the world since almost everything today is made with some kind

of technology. Children tend to be more attracted to platting video games as opposed to the

traditional ways of playing outside. Claims that technology has improved human life cannot be

refuted although it can be dangerous to some extent considering the extent to which humans are

adopting it. When much of playing by children is technological, their emotional and physical

development id generally affected resulting to emotionally unstable children (Graff et al, pg.5).

Majority of children currently spend most of their time watching movies and playing video games

hence having less or no time to interact with people and nature to learn and develop.

Opposition

The supporters of technology argue that its developments have solved problems related to

inefficiencies in the world. Learning among students has been improved due to the fact that

students can access learning materials from anywhere by the use of internet. According to
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neuroscience, everybody is born with a certain level of creativity although some people keep their

creativity active while others keep it innate.

Technology has seen massive progress over the past few decades. As a result of this

massive progress, digital technology is currently applied in almost every aspect of human life.

Computers, smartphones, and other digital gadgets are found and extensively used in nearly every

activity. This is because digital technology has the capacity to improve the speed, accuracy, and

the overall efficiency of human beings (Graff et al, pg.8). However, despite the unquestionable

contribution of digital technology in schools and the workplace, it can also affect the productivity

of individuals owing to digital innovations such as social media that waste time and cause

distractions. Hence, it can be said that digital technology is instrumental in schools and the

workplace, but if misused, it can cause a censurable reduction in the productivity of individuals.

One of the ways in which digital technology contributes to time wastage is due to that fact

that smart phones and computers are equipped with social media platforms that are easily

accessible. Almost every student or employee can access these social platforms even when they

are supposed to be working. This means that individuals can spend valuable time accessing social

media networks such as Facebook and Twitter even when they are supposed to be working

(Newman, pg. 3). For example, an employee can spend significant amounts of time on social

media instead of working on the required tasks. As a result, the time spent on social platforms

leads to the wastage of valuable time which in turn affects productivity.

Digital technology is also known to cause distraction. The use of social media and other

digital applications reduces the focus and the attention span of both students and employees in the

workplace. In fact, studies have shown that the use of social media can be addictive hence resulting
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to its overuse. This means that individuals who tend to overuse social media and the internet, in

general, find it challenging to focus on real tasks that they are expected to accomplish either at

school or at the workplace (Peter & Paula, pg. 140). It is this distraction that leads to a reduction

in the productivity of individuals. It does not mean that students or individuals in the workplace

should be prevented from taking breaks or surfing the internet, but if this is done uncontrollably,

it can affect the individual productivity.

There is no doubt that digital technology has revolutionized almost every aspect of human

life. Currently, computers, smartphones, and other digital technology tools are used in healthcare,

education, business, and many other fields owing to their numerous benefits such as speed,

accuracy, and efficiency. However, as much as digital technology has facilitated the progress of

such areas, it can also affect the productivity of individuals. This is especially because of some of

its innovations such as social media platforms. The accessibility of social media platforms both in

the workplace and at school has increased time wastage, distractions, and poor monitoring which

in turn affect the productivity of individuals (Newman, pg. 5). In conclusion, digital technology is

appropriate for the improvement in speed, communication, and efficiency while at the same time

making people less productive if used inappropriately.

Common Ground

The role of technology in shaping up relationships between individuals in contemporary

society cannot be gainsaid. Platforms like social media have made it easy for people to connect

with another. Apps like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are used by a vast majority of across the

world to connect and socialize with others within their locality and other parts of the world (Turner,

pg. 105). Dating apps like Bumble and Tinder are becoming increasingly popular as a means of
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finding love and companionship in the society. The busy schedule that riddles many people in the

world especially leaves them with little or no time to socialize face-to-face with their potential

companions. Dating apps, therefore, has grown popularity among such individuals as means of

getting soulmates. Technology is also playing A critical role in how individuals spend their time

with friends. Video streaming services like Netflix and video games can easily be shared among

friends, thereby encouraging socialization and interaction among people (Graff et al, pg.7).

Technology has equally revolutionized entertainment industry which has made merry-making

easier between friends.

Technology has also tremendously improved the quality of education. Technology is

being used extensively in modern learning institutions to promote active engagement with students

that enable more learning and retention of academic information. Implementation of technology

in schools is done in myriad ways; one among them is the use of tablets, interactive whiteboards,

and boards, especially in kindergartens for young learners. Use of such proactive technological

modalities in imparting knowledge among the learners not only make the process of acquiring

knowledge exciting but also memorable (The Importance of Technology, pg.2). Technology also

motivates students during the learning process (Turner, pg. 107). The learning process for students

become more stimulating and easier for students primarily through direct interception with hands-

on material equipment and tools that are provided for by technology used in education. Technology

also enables the students to have more considerable latitude of control in their learning as well as

having the ability to do academic work at their own pace.

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Conclusion

A painstaking review of both the merits and shortcomings of the influence of technology

unravel very crucial information as far as the topic is concerned. Drawing collateral between the

advantages and demerits indicate a deep contrast between the two facets of the issue, although

beneficial lessons can be acquired through the striking of compromise and adopting some aspects

of the opposing arguments. It is a consensus that technology has tremendously improved the

expression of creativity but has, on the contrary, undermined the enhancement of creativity in

itself. Most individuals utilize technology to promote simulated creativity in their minds. However,

a good percentage of this group use technology in socializing and for entertainment purposes rather

than enhancing and cultivating natural creativity. There is reduced use of innovation to manage

and solve social problems because of excessive consumption and dependence on technology.

There is a need for individuals to interact directly with nature to develop real-time and pragmatic

solutions to problems which are greatly hampered by continued use of technology, thereby

reducing traditional creativity.

Technology is a vast entity that cannot be reduced to merely being a bad or good

influence on the lives of human beings. By weighing carefully, the benefits and the side effects, a

more cogent and accurate consensus can be built on the narrow points upon which technological

use can be branded as having a negative or positive influence. Excessive use of technology can

harm an individual, but lack of use can also make life very difficult for an individual. A synergy

of both sides is, therefore, very crucial. The underlying point is that technology should be utilized

in a manner that enhances efficiency but not allowed to curtail traditional creativity.
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Work Cited

Graff, Gerald, Jenna Wortham. “They Say/I Say”: I Had a Nice Time with You Tonight.On the

App with Readings. 3 rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2014. Print.

Graff, Gerald, Clive Thompson. “They Say/I Say”: How Technology Is Changing Our

Minds for the Better with Readings. 3 rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2014. Print.

Newnam, Jared. “Technology's Influence on Education.” South

University,www.southuniversity.edu/whoweare/newsroom/blog/technologys-influence-

on education-76874.

Peter, Paula C., and Heather Honea. "Emotional Intelligence, Behavioral Procrastination, and

Online (Over) consumption." The Dark Side of Social Media. Routledge, 2017. 133-146.

Turner, Anthony. "Generation Z: Technology and social interest." The Journal of Individual

Psychology 71.2 (2015): 103-113.

“The Impact of Technology in Our Lives and The Future of Technology.” Total

Phase Blog, 24 Aug. 2018, www.totalphase.com/blog/2017/05/impact-

technology-lives-future-technology/.