Technological Advancement in a Modernized Society
Today, the world is continually changing, adapting to the advances brought by age. We have been
in the process of transitioning from old to new methods of doing things. It refers to modernization. It is
powerful. It both builds and ruins. It has the potential to be weaponized. In modernization, therefore, what
is appropriate is the best. As society progresses, modernization encompasses the remarkable transformation
and the all-around advancement of human beings and adequate safeguarding of the natural environment.
One notable example of modernization is the advancement in technology, which includes the development
of robots and machines. They have become an indispensable component of modern society, having purposes
far beyond the industrial and manufacturing sectors. While the benefits are undeniable, there are concerns
about their adverse impacts on the environment; nonetheless, these negative effects are not intended, the
bad effect does not cause the good effect, and the good outweighs the harmful effect.
One of the many significant advantages of machinery development is robots and machines can do
jobs more quickly and precisely than people through automated tasks and procedures. This advantage
increases productivity, reduced cost, and higher-quality goods and services. Furthermore, it enables
individuals to focus on more innovative, demanding, and rewarding work, resulting in higher satisfaction
with work and career growth. It has also enhanced health and security in potentially hazardous areas.
Machines can carry out operations in dangerous locations for people, like nuclear power plants, chemical
facilities, and disaster-prone areas. This advantage results in reduced incidents, injuries, and deaths,
lowering the human cost of these sectors. Moreover, by lowering the consumption of energy, waste
materials, and carbon emissions, waste may be reduced in various sectors, yielding a more sustainable and
ecologically sound approach. This advantage helps to create a greener future by mitigating the negative
consequences of climate change. And the use of machines in numerous industries creates new employment
prospects, notably in fields like engineering and software development. Also, technological innovations
allow the production of once-inconceivable goods, services, and business models, resulting in increased
innovation and economic expansion.
While the benefits of robots and machines are undeniable, their negative environmental
implications are sometimes disregarded. Among the significant ways robots damage the environment
occurs in their manufacturing, which necessitates the consumption of energy, water, and raw materials. It
also produces waste and hazardous pollutants, harmful to the surroundings. Many of the minerals used are
mined in environmentally sensitive locations, resulting in damage to habitat, water contamination, and soil
deterioration. They also require energy to function, frequently derived from fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases
are emitted into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are used, resulting in climate change and global warming.
They also have a limited lifespan, and as they approach the peak of their intended use, they degrade into
hazardous electronic debris, creating pollutants and health risks. Proper e-waste disposal necessitates
specialized machinery and facilities that are not always accessible, resulting in improper disposal and
further harm to nature. Moreover, as machines and robots advance, they can do tasks formerly carried out
by humans, leading to job losses and economic turmoil. Worker displacement can also result in
environmental and social problems such as poverty and homelessness.
However, it is crucial to emphasize that these negative impacts are unanticipated results of using
robots and machines in various sectors and are not intentional. Technological advances are two-edged
swords that can produce a variety of consequences depending on the intents and capabilities of those who
utilize them (Dusik & Sadler, 2019). According to Isaac Newton, there is a reaction for every action.
Whatever occurs, such as the technology we develop, has implications and outcomes, including those that
are unanticipated. It is due to the complexity, dynamics, ignorance, and every other factor that makes the
negative impacts inescapable. In modernization, we cannot accomplish anything without consequences;
thus, we must accept them as an integral part of the process. It is not to say that technological advancements
should be halted. Particularly as numerous advances benefit society in a variety of ways, instead, businesses,
users, and government agencies must recognize that unintended effects are bound to happen, and therefore
we must find measures that can prevent and manage them as effectively as possible.
Furthermore, the gains that society reaps from technological breakthroughs are not the result of
their drawbacks. Machines, for example, can contribute to economic development and innovation. The
widespread use of robots and machines in numerous industries might lead to the creation of new job
opportunities, notably in engineering and software development. This advantage stems from the increased
innovativeness and economic progress that machines offer the world, rather than the negative consequence
of job loss, in the sense that those other workers with different expertise are dismissed in exchange. It is
just that it is in the nature of progress to sacrifice something for the sake of the greater entirety.
Lastly, the positive impacts surpass the negative consequences. It has been claimed that humans
have always been concerned about losing jobs to automated machinery. Technology declined the population
of craftspeople, agricultural producers, and textile employees. While these jobs decreased, numerous new
employments were created (Robinson, 2018). With that, improved productivity and efficiency, better
security, sustainability, a boost to the economy, and other benefits that robots and machines offer to many
sectors result in substantial societal benefits. While there are concerns about the potential adverse impacts
of robots, like job displacement and environmental damage, these issues may be addressed by training,
education, and policies that promote responsible utilization. We should embrace the beneficial effects of
robots and machines and strive to maximize their potential to benefit society overall.
In conclusion, many positive effects of machines and technological advances have profoundly
impacted society. Increased productivity, efficiency, greater safety, sustainability, and economic
development and innovation are among them. However, this has drawbacks that harm the environment due
to its manufacturing, use, and disposal. This nevertheless does not imply that the bad impacts are intended,
as they are inextricably linked to it. The advantages are not what we benefit from at the expense of other
things, and they outweigh the disadvantages. Indeed, the modernization process is both unavoidable and,
overall, beneficial. But getting the best out of modernization necessitates a more precise grasp of its nature
and mechanisms that presently prevails. We must guarantee that machines and technological innovation are
used responsibly while addressing concerns about job displacement and environmental impact. Societies
that can grab the opportunity of modernization imperative will have a greater likelihood of reaping its many
rewards while avoiding the inevitable drawbacks. Although flawless effectiveness is inconceivable, there
is no clear end to the journey of improving efficiency and technological advancement. As long as
improvement in efficiency can continue, so can modernization despite its negative implications.
References
Dusik, J., & Sadler, B. (2019). What Effect Will Automation Have on the Environment?
International Institute for Sustainable Development.
https://www.iisd.org/articles/automation-environment
Robinson, I. (2018, September 21). Robotics Taking Over Human Jobs - Pros and Cons.
AZoRobotics.com.
https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=263#:~:text=Cons%3A,Loss%20of
%20human%20jobs