Drive my car - please don't wreck ... Thank you Lord - for all the tech ... (Blog #1)

              What's the big deal about technology, that makes everyone freak out and buy the newest and most exciting piece of technology out there.  In my own opinion, during today's society, it is like a competition to be the first one to walk around and show off their newest piece of technology.  This often draws red flags in my mind to those people that they are so dependent on technology.  I love technology but at the same time, I cannot stand it.

So I ask myself, Jeremy Hays, what do really like about this thing so called technology?  The first thing that comes to mind is communication.  Ever since I was born in 1992, technology has dramatically changed in the way people communicate.  I can remember writing letters to one of my friends and not hearing from them until several days later.  That was then, and this is now.  I can whip out my cell phone, send a quick text message, and receive a response within seconds of sending it.  Also, using a telephone to call and talk to someone has always been in my life.  I used to have to look up a telephone number and dial it in then call.  Now with a cell phone, scroll right to that persons name and call.  In this aspect, technology has made things quicker, faster, and easier for people today. I especially like how you can use the modern form of a letter and write an email through a computer.  In this newer age, technology has been an important part in the every day life for most people in the world.  Technology can be a great tool for research and finding new interesting information.  I love finding new things and picking up new resources.  Technology can be extremely helpful in lots of ways.  When working properly, technology is very fast and can connect you where you need to be.  I find it fascinating to watch a piece of technology work.  

              You got to hear about all the good stuff as to why I like technology, but the world isn't always sunshine and rainbows.  There are plenty of things I could complain about as well.  My ultimate, number one, dislike about technology came about as of recent.  Iphone’s are a wonderful piece of technology and would be great to have.  But, I cannot stand when I am having a conversation face to face with someone and the other person sits there on his or her phone and does not really pay attention to me.  I find that to be very annoying and disrespectful.  To sum up that rant, I guess I don't like how technology has changed our everyday face-to-face talk.  A major dislike I have for technology is how expensive they are becoming.  The new iPhone comes out and is retailed at $400.00 dollars or so, I find that a little much to be spending on a cell phone.  But what is the sad thing?  People just need to have it, so tons of people rush out and spend the money on the new phone.  So who really hurts here the company that made the phone or people that would like one but cannot afford it?  The company does not care because they are still making their money regardless.  So they can keep bumping up their prices because people will still buy the item.  I found an article asking, "Can Technology Save the Economy?"  This article discusses spending about technology in our world today.  This piece is about the federal stimulus bill about discoveries and technologies:

               "By any measure, $100 Billion is a staggering amount of money.  That's how much the federal stimulus bill devotes to the discovery, development, and implementation of various technologies.  Some $20 Billion will fund the increased use of electronic medical records; another $7.2 Billion will support the extension of broadband Internet access to areas currently without such service.  Most impressive, roughly $60 Billion will be spent on energy, funding everything from energy- efficiency programs to loan guarantees for the construction of large facilities that use biofuel and solar technologies."

Rotman, D. Can technology save the economy? The Journal of Technology Review, 112(3), 44 – 52.

         

              To me, I think we have plenty of money going into technology.  Now what happens if this technology that we are spending billions of dollars on doesn't work or needs fixed?  That is more money that will come from us, the people.  That’s another thing, your computer crashes, you have to pay money to have someone fix it.  Because technology is not perfect and always needs some repairs.

                 I find technology fascinating and frustrating to say the least.  Overall, technology has come a great way since I can remember and I am thankful for what it has done for me.