Throughout history, technological breakthroughs have greatly impacted and shaped the society of our ancestors. The goal of creating technology has always been to make work more efficient and to ultimately improve the standard of living. The plow was invented in order to farm more efficiently, the telegraph allowed for communication over long distances, the automobile provided a personal means of traveling long distances, and the washing machine made a task that previously took hours to be done at the push of a button. These developments in technology significantly shaped the society of their time and continue to impact our society, today.

Today, the technological advancements of our society revolve around computers and robots. The personal computer has become an essential item for many households as 73 percent of adults in the U.S. own computers. Cellphones have also become an essential item for most Americans. In 2015, 92% of adults in the United States own cellphones, where in 2001, less than 25 percent had a phone (Anderson). This trend shows how essential personal devices like computers and cell phones are to the average citizen. 

The age of technology has improved our society in many aspects of our lives including our health, our social well-being, and our economy. The advancement of technology has significantly impacted the health and medicine industry as it aids our nurses and doctors in saving lives, preventing disease, and treating patients with virtually any ailment. Hospitals possess a variety of machines that are vital to keeping the patients alive and well. Technological innovations have also transformed the way we interact with each other. Cell phones are incredible devices that provide a variety of ways to communicate with people all around the world. The development of robotics and computers has made the way we manufacture products and how we do business much more efficient and cost effective. The technology of this day-in-age certainly has a positive impact on our society. 

Technology is amazing and we are embracing it now more than ever. Too much of a good thing, however, can be detrimental. The frequent use of technological devices like cellphone, tablets, computers, video games, and television and can diminish our health, social ability, and economy. Frequent use of these devices can lead to eye damage, lack of sleep, obesity, and have many psychological effects. Despite technology's feats in communication, it is ripping us apart just as much as it is bringing us together. Although technology has the ability to increase efficiency, many jobs currently done by humans are going to be contested by robots and computers, potentially leaving many people without jobs. 

The development of technology as a society aims to make work more efficient and to improve our way of living. Despite this fact, our obsession and overuse of technology takes a toll on us physically, socially, and economically. This research paper will address both the positive and negative aspects of the technological advances of today, but prove that our society's dependence and over use of technology needs to be minimized for the sake of our future. 

Health

Throughout history, our knowledge of health practices and medicine has grown exponentially. As our understanding of the medical field increased, and the medical technology we have at our disposal advanced, the average lifespan began to increase. In the early 1900s, the average life span was approximately 40 years old. Today, the average American is expected to live to the age of 76, nearly doubling the life expectancy of a century ago (Rosner). David Cutler, Angus Deaton, and Adriana Lleras-Muney, authors of the journal "The Determinants of Mortality", claim that "Knowledge, science and technology are the keys to any coherent explanation" in regards to the sudden increase in life expectancy (Cutler). The development of technology and our progress in the medical field have gone hand in hand. 

Today, our technological innovations have reached new heights in the medical field. When you envision a hospital room, you see a patient, a bed, a doctor or a nurse, but then you also see monitors, computers, and wires connecting various machines which you have no idea the function of. Medical imaging machines (MRIs, x-rays, and PET scans), life support machines (ventilators, dialysis machines), and medical monitors (EEG, ECG, blood pressure) are all examples of technological machines that are used in medicine. It is clear that technology has integrated itself within the medical field. This partnership between technology and medicine has made great strides towards the helping of the sick and disabled. An example of this can be seen in those who are physically disabled and struggle to have the mobility that most people take for granted. Recently, however, assistive technologies including powered wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and wearable exoskeletons have been developed in order to give back patients the mobility that they desire (Cowan). 

Technology proves to have a positive impact on the health and medicine field as it is constantly being developed in order to save and improve the lives of many. Despite this fact, technology can also prove to be detrimental to our health in certain situations. Recently, research has been conducted to show that in 1970s only 25 percent of 12 to 54 year olds were nearsighted but in the early 2000s this number jumped to 42 percent (Radcliffe). This sudden change in the amount of people with an eyesight impairment can be attributed to the amount of time people spend staring at screens. Another issue that is caused by staring at a screen is the interruption of sleep cycles from that LED lights of devices. A disturbed internal clock can lead to serious long term consequences including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Health problems like these are likely to be developed by someone whose lifestyle revolves around technology  --  if you are playing videogames or on your cell phone it's more than likely you are not exercising or making healthy choices.   

Aside from physical health problems, technology can affect people's psychological health as well. According to Nora Volkow, a renowned brain scientist and director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, "technology is rewiring our brains" (Richtel). Technology stimulates the pleasure centers of our brains when it is being used. When you are off your device, however, it can make your mood swing and become uninterested in your offline life. The ability to access an unlimited amount of information at a time creates the illusion that we can multitask effectively, when in reality it undermines our ability to stay focused. This idea is also presented in Nicholas Carr's article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" Carr explains how he used to be able to fully immerse himself in a book, but now when he reads he finds it hard to concentrate. He attributes this lack of concentration to the fact that, recently, he has spent a lot of his time gathering information from the internet (Carr). The internet provides an easy way to find more information then we have ever had before. It is such a powerful tool that is has hindered our ability to focus and is beginning to change the way our brain works. 

Social

In this day in age we are connected to each other more than ever before through our technology. Worrying moms can call their kids to check in, friends can have conversations through group messaging as if they were all together, and people can have face to face conversations through FaceTime. It is so easy to contact someone now a days that distance no longer affects our ability to communicate with each other. 90% of cell phone owning adults take their phone with them where ever they go (Zeman). If you need to contact someone and you call or text them, it is very likely they will have their phone on them and will be able to pick up or text you back pretty quickly. Cell phones have brought our society closer than it has ever been.

Another product of the technology age is social media. The social media trend really took off with Facebook. Facebook allows you to see your friends' statuses, pictures, interests, education, jobs, relationships, and much more. Facebook, and other social media sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, provides a means of checking in with the people you know without having to be with them. The trend of social media has brought us a society closer together as we can keep in contact with the people we care about. Another online industry that was created through technology are dating sites. Dating sites use the power of technology to help people meet and to ultimately start dating. Social media and dating sites show technology's ability to bring people together, making our society more social.

Despite technology's ability to bring us together, it is tearing each other apart at the same rate. Many people are so invested in these social media sites and apps that they can be considered addicted. The irony of the situation is that it is called social media, but while you are using it, it is hard to be social. As a student on a college campus, I will walk to class and see groups of friends eating together in silence, all looking at their phones. How is that being social? The whole point of social media is to bring people together who aren't together. When you are with people and you are on social media, doesn't that show that you are more interested in what other people are doing, not the people you are with. And I believe we are all guilty of this sometimes, but this problem is getting to the point where it is worsening interpersonal skills. People don't know how to talk to others because instead of calling them, they can just text them. 

Attachment to technology can also play a role in diminishing family relationship. For me, family dinners were always a time for my family to discuss our days and what's going on in our lives. This doesn't seem to be the case for many other families, however. When I go out to eat a restaurant there will always be a family that sits on their phones in silence. And parents can be just as guilty of being attached to their technology as their children. Mobile email allows work to be a few clicks away. For workaholics it might be hard to ignore emails from work as they will constantly be checking their phone even when they are off work. An example of this can be found in Kirk Campbell's family. The Campbell's are your average American family, however, they realized how big of a role technology has played in their life. Kirk realizes how often he uses technology as he falls asleep with a laptop on his chest and constantly checking his work email whether he is on vacation or with his family. Kirk admits that it is hard for him to focus on his family as he is constantly distracted by his technology (Ritchel). Technology has the ability to connect people from all over the world, however, it can disconnect you from your family and the people you are with. 

Economics

Recent technology has completely changed production and the way we do business. Almost every occupation requires the use of a computer or some form of technology. As technology continues to advance, jobs become easier and people shift to become more like computer operators. The field of radiology is one example that has fallen victim to this. What used to be a very complex and highly skilled job is starting become more mundane with the assistance of technology. Radiologists have transformed into fact checker as the x-ray machine does most of the work (Nuwer). Technology is making jobs easier and aims to eliminate laborious tasks. As technology takes over many aspects of jobs, it strives to make a shorter work week. In Norway, the average workweek is only 33 hours and they have one of the highest gross domestic products (Nuwer). Having a shorter work week would allow for more free time to do the things we enjoy. 

Robots and computers are becoming smarter every day. As the intelligence of these machines become greater, production becomes more efficient and saves money. For example, the car production industry was launched when Henry Ford used the assembly line. When the Model T came out in 1908, Ford was able to produce just over 10,000 cars. With the help of robotic arms and automation, Ford is now capable of making over a million cars, a 100 times increase (Flammang). Automation has allowed for an increase in production and is limiting the need for low skill workers. 

Robotics and computers increase efficiency and lower costs which is good for businesses, but not good for the working class. The upcoming wave of technology endangers 47% the total employment in the United States (Nuwer). There are 702 jobs that can potentially be replaced by computers, including fast food workers, cashiers, telemarketers, accountants, and waiters (Frey). Technology is eliminating jobs faster than it is creating them, potentially leaving millions of people without a job. When jobs are taken over by technology, entire sectors can be eliminated. For example, in the not so distance future, it is expected for self-driving cars to rule the road. When this happens, not only will the truck driving industry die, but the businesses along highways that rely on truck drivers as their customers will also be in jeopardy. This could jeopardize the economy of entire towns. Despite technology's ability to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness, it poses the threat of replacing the jobs of hardworking Americans.

Conclusion

Technology proves to impact many aspects of our lives in both positive and negative ways. Our access to technology is one of the most powerful tools we have today  --  there is no wonder why our society is so obsessed with it. Instead of letting it consume us, we must use our technology to improve our society. We must be conscious of how often we use technology and make sure that we are using our technology to make this world a better place. No matter what, technology is going to continue to advance, so we must limit how much we use it so it doesn't take over our lives.

Many issues that technology presents won't occur until the future. We obviously don't know what the future holds or how a society dependent on technology will fare. But, we have to consider our future and make sure we do our best to make it the best we can. Ray Kurweil, a computer scientist and theorist has made 147 predictions regarding technology and the future and has had an 86% accuracy rate since the early 1990s. He predicts that automated cars will rule the road by the mid 2020s, artificial intelligence will become conscious by the 2030s, and in 2045 the singularity will happen  --  where AI surpasses humans as the most capable life forms on earth (The Dawn). Whether or not these predictions will become true, Ray's predictions show that the problems caused by technology may happen sooner than people realize. 

Despite the grim predictions of Kurzweil and the evidence that shows technology may pose a problem in the future, I choose to have faith in the human race. I believe humans will be able to adapt to a world of technology as we always have. The first step of dealing with this issue, is accepting that is an issue. We do not know the fate of our society in the future but it is important to step back and realize how our society has changed and ask ourselves: is our dependence on technology a good thing?

