Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Reliance on Technology AOL article
A few days ago I read an article on aol.com titled "Huge Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S." which I feel relates what we have talked about in class. This article discussed how the U.S. and other nations are threatened by the possibility of a massive solar storm. These storms are formed when bursts of plasma explode off the surface of the sun which creates what is called a coronal mass ejection. These coronal mass ejections can cause electromagnetic interferences which would mess up the electric technology on earth. These CMEs could cause failures with transportation, communication, and financial systems. This article goes on to say that we would not be ready for something like this because we rely so heavily on technology. I feel that humans are too dependent on technology. This is an incident in which humans are not respectful of the power of nature and not always aware of its impact on us. We take for granted the beauty of nature while ignoring the potential destruction it can create.
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I agree that, too often, humans heavily rely on technology. It's pathetic really. I mean, have you ever been at a grocery store or department store or gas station when the power goes out? The clerks don't know how to function when the cash register doesn't work! It'd be simple just to write down the transaction, let me pay for my stuff and give me change, but for some reason, without the magical cash register, they can't do it! I was actually pretty impressed when we had the computers go down at the library (that's where I work) and the librarians all pulled out legal pads and were writing down card numbers and check-outs like nothing happened. There are too many people who can't do that. We've handicapped ourselves with our dependence on technology and no longer know how to do things without it. I mean, when our microwave broke, my brother didn't know how to make popcorn. People have been making popcorn for years without a microwave, and yet my brother can't see eating popcorn without a microwave involved.
ReplyDeleteWhat's really scary is when we create functions for technology that cannot be replaced when that technology fails. Too many people don't have a back up plan for the inevitable crash at one point or another and that's when technology becomes a true handicap.
When I read these, and I think about our current situation of overdependence on technology, verses a return to nature, I see a lose-lose situation. On the one hand, as the article and Penny suggest, our society has become so reliant on technology and its conveniences, that many lose basic functioning skills when these enablers fail. However, the reality is that you need to familiar with these technologies in order to function in our world and current society. Can we look at the fact that we are discussing all of these issues on the internet through blogs?! I do think a lot is lost when this communication is all done electronically—physical and emotional reactions involved in discussing issues with a group of people—but it also opens to door to a wider forum. Could we potentially, lose the ability to communicate effectively without using a computer? I think there is evidence that many already have. However, if we were to eliminate the technology we are so dependent on, our society would become stagnant and eliminate itself. So often people who are not familiar with current technologies can not communicate their ideas and cannot function at a job so they are either forced to conform or are left behind. The reality is that we cannot return to the days of Emerson and living in tune with nature, because that “nature” has become warped by our presence. Though we should not become so completely dependent on technology, we cannot survive without it. And how else can we ensure that we could survive a blackout besides developing more and different technologies?....and so on. My head hurts.
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