LEO ART DIOSEP E. BORRES MAB-I WELCOME TO THE NEW AGE A Reflection Paper “Technology and Me: Past, Present and Future” “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” – Albert Einstein Evolution. This is what technology has always signified. Throughout the ages and centuries, technology has always represented the boundless and limitless capabilities of humanity. Advancements and developments in technology are always the manifestation of how far a human mind could become imaginative, creative and passionate. Amidst the uncertain plethora of theories regarding the origin of humanity and civilization, one can never refute the fact that technology has always played a crucial part on humanity’s survival. We have witness how technology changed the world – how it cured diseases and prolonged lives; established infrastructures and brought up skyscrapers; opened easier access towards communication and enriched information technology; and made lives easier and more comfortable in just a click. True enough, technology initiated change, and most of us believe that it has invigorated the world and made it more dynamic. Contrastingly, this change has also brought a compromise, not only to the world, but also to our individual selves as well. Technology refers to methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes (Collins English Dictionary). It is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes, and the like, LEO ART DIOSEP E. BORRES MAB-I or it can be embedded in machines to allow for operation without detailed knowledge of their workings (Lidell; Scott, 1980). With the rapid development of microcomputer technology, increased research on instructional procedures, and the invention of new devices and equipment to aid those with health problems, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, the latter third of the 20th century has borne witness to a very dramatic evolution. The current perspective is a broad one in which six types of technology are recognized: the technology of teaching, instructional technology, assistive technology, medical technology, technology productivity tools, and information technology (Blackhurst & Edyburn, 2000). In my 22 years of existence, I have witnessed how technology became more advanced as years go by. It is very evident when it comes to communication and information technology. Before, snail mail is a trend, with people sending handwritten letters to their own respective recipient. I grew up in an age where the phones used are only good for calling and sending messages. Computers are already a thing, yet their functions are still limited and some are still used for entertainment and games only. Internet, social networking sites and search browsers are starting to develop and rise, but people still find time to watch television or read hardbound novels and printed newspapers and children still play with their friends games that involve physical activities such as running and tagging. It was a generation where old soul and modern technology blends perfectly because albeit the rise of technology is evident and people seem to purchase products and goods either for comfort or bandwagon fascination, traditions are still kept alive and the values and culture are still kept intact in the family. LEO ART DIOSEP E. BORRES MAB-I There is still an essence of human connection embedded within the family or the circle of friends and colleagues. Cue in today where advancement of technology has become more inevitably rapid. Phones are now upgraded with built in cameras, music player and file storage device. Computers are phased out with the more compact laptops and netbooks. You are called old soul or vintage once you send snail mails and handwritten letters to a friend. Internet has suddenly become a need and commodity in every household because everything seems to be solved in just a search and click. Want to video call a friend? Search and click. Want the recipe for the latest variation of adobo? Search and click. Want to watch a horror movie to kill time? Search and click. Want to connect with friends? Search and click. Internet and social media has taken up most of the time of people nowadays, and I do not want to sound hypocrite because I am guilty of it as well. We have now entered the information technology age and changes are very much noticeable when compared to before. Aside from these small-scale changes, progress and development can also be found if we compare the structure and landscape of our cities. Roxas City, Capiz before is very famous for its quiet and serene atmosphere aside from its abundant seafood. Today, buildings and skyscrapers were on the rise and urbanization is becoming more and more progressive each year. I see it as a development for my city because it means that business is going well for investors here and a lot of job opportunities will be opened for the people. I admit, change is good. Change is the only constant thing in the world since it will never stop. There will always be room for improvement and development. However, with change, we also have to deal with compromise and effects. With the medication of LEO ART DIOSEP E. BORRES MAB-I almost everything, we seem to forget who we truly are. It is very evident on children who were born in this new generation as they seem to lose interest on the values and traditions that made us millennial (1980-1996) who we are. The old school flame that we had within ourselves is slowly burning out and changed with software programs, binary codes and wireless connection. Human communication has indeed become easier and more accessible. However, it was personal human interaction that is compromised because we seem to know everyone virtually but we do not make efforts to know them by heart and soul. Everyone is very dependent on their gadgets as if we could not live a minute or a day without them. We tend to use things in excessive extent and without moderation and that sounds alarming. In a large scale setting, the rise of modern day technology has also brought several environmental impacts and sustainability issues even though efforts are made to combat this. A study of my students in my research subject found out that younger generation nowadays tend to be more aware and informed about the internet as they have high level of knowledge towards yet this does not correlate with their usage. It means that no matter how much they know, they will still use the internet in their own convenience with no limitations or moderation. Interestingly, negative relationship was found with internet awareness and online risk behavior or the dangers imposed with using the internet. This means that the more they are aware and informed, the less they will be put at risk. This is attributed to the importance of awareness and education as well as inclusion of internet ethics on the curriculum of students in this generation (Vedasto, Diaz, et al., 2019). In connection to this, the world has also become open and receptive to certain social issues and concerns that are often neglected in the past because of easier LEO ART DIOSEP E. BORRES MAB-I access to information and network. It is with no doubt that people became more enlightened and awakened to fight for the conservation of their values and principles – may it be for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental awareness and so much more. It is inevitable that technology will continue to rise and progress on the near future. Possibilities of artificial intelligence, reproductive technologies, holograms and flying automobiles are not vague since the human mind is boundless and limitless. However, as much as we utilize these advancements and incorporate them in our daily living, we need to entail responsibility and accountability as well. We are also the creators as much as we are the consumers of technology. Technology would be nonexistent if not for the humans that research and apply it. As time goes by, it seems that we are becoming submissive to something that we have created in the first place and it should not be that way. We should take responsibility and accountability to all of our actions because technology, as much as we think it produce the comfort and luxury we are feeling right now, is basically still a product of the human mind who has evolved throughout the ages. Indeed, we have evolved in a new era and adapted to a lot of changes but it is still up to us on how to continue advancing towards development without compromising everything that is naturally given to us – our environmental resources, values and principles, ethics, morality and human consciousness and effective interaction with one another. References: 1. Vedasto, Diaz, et al. (2019). Internet Awareness, Internet Usage and Online Risk Behavior of Senior High School Students of Filamer Christian University 2. Collins English Dictionary retrieved from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/technology 3. Blackhurts, E. (2002) Types of Technology. Retrieved from http://tam.uky.edu/basics/techtypes.html 4. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1980). A Greek-English Lexicon (Abridged Edition). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-910207-5.
