Technology in Everyday Life
Modern technology has changed our lives in countless ways – revolutionizing how we work, live, and play. As recently as the 1990s, televisions were the height of technology in many American homes. According to the Census Bureau, a mere 15% of residences had a personal computer in 1989. By 2011, that number had climbed to 75%. Modern offices would be unrecognizable to workers of the past, due to the proliferation of emails, video conferencing, smartphones, and laptops.
Communication. One of the areas where technology has made the biggest impact is in the realm of communication. Conversing with people outside of your immediate vicinity was once a difficult process, requiring physical letters and a lot of patience. For most of the last century, professional communication involved letter writing, faxing, or spending hours on the telephone. No longer. Email is now the primary mode of business communication in today’s workplace.
Education. Computers and the Internet have transformed education. Computers store huge amounts of data in a very small space, shrinking shelves of reference books down to a single flash drive. They enable better presentation of information, making the process of teaching easier and more effective. Online education has provided unprecedented learning opportunities to people all over the world. Lectures and lessons can be uploaded to websites in written or video form, making information more accessible. All of the information you want is available and accessible 24 hours per day, thanks to the World Wide Web.
Health. Technology has had a huge impact on the healthcare industry. Advancements in diagnostic tools permit doctors to identify health problems early, improving the odds of successful life-saving treatments. Vaccines have been incredibly effective, practically eradicating diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and smallpox – which once caused massive epidemics. Modern medicine allows patients to manage chronic conditions that were once debilitating and life-threatening, such as diabetes and hypertension. Advancements in medical technology have increased lifespans and improved the quality of life for people worldwide.
Productivity. Technology has vastly increased productivity, since the ability of computers to solve complex mathematical equations has allowed them to speed up practically every task. Computer modeling permits engineers to simulate structures, vehicles, and materials to provide information on performance prior to prototyping. In the office, the ability of networked computers to share and manipulate data can speed up a variety of tasks – permitting employees to work more efficiently and maximize productivity. Technological advancements in agriculture have increased food production. In so many areas of our lives, critical time-consuming processes can now be executed with ease – and in a fraction of the time they once required.
Advancements in technology have improved virtually every aspect of our lives, and the best is yet to come.