Let’s face it: technology is a blessing. We are incredibly fortunate to be living in a world where everything is right at our fingertips. And yes, I’ll admit that sometimes I’m a bit too dependent on it; I cannot imagine being a student without a laptop. How would I write research papers? How would I keep in constant contact with my professors? How would I find the cheapest textbooks? Technology is incredible, it truly is.
Except when it doesn’t work.
It’s happened to all of us. Those times when the internet just won’t connect. Or when that deadly virus eats away at our computers. Or the signal is dropped on a call. Or when all you want to do is turn on your phone and it just won’t. This happens to me almost everyday. And then I moan, and I groan, and I get all frustrated and all I want to do is chuck my laptop at the wall because it won’t let me google pictures of cats.
But that’s just when it happens to us, the everyday folk. What about when it happens in huge companies? Think about those fateful days at, say, the Johnson & Johnson headquarters. They provide hundreds of products that we use everyday. What about those days, or even that 1 hour, where the internet just won’t connect. Everything is halted. Deadlines are pushed, products aren’t going where they need to go, and everyone is going crazy because they’re losing money by the second. In the end, technology had more harm than good that day.
Or what about a place like NASA? I’m sure everyone’s very cranky when their systems crash.
Technology is wonderful, yes. And could we live without it at this stage? Probably not. It’s become the way the world functions. But with so many ways of messing up and breaking and setting us back, is it really as great as we think it is? As stated in one of the “Observer” articles of the UK’s “Guardian”: “The technology of our everyday lives is only one design flaw away from collapse.”
I suppose that this is the more trivial downside of technology. But it is a downside nonetheless. Technology is a part of our lives, and it probably always will be, but when it gets us to that point of anger, panic, and overall setbacks, we really need to take a step back and reevaluate our relationship with it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/16/observer-editorial-blackberry-crash
I love the humor in your blog. Your argument is very valid and I liked how you connected your frustrations to businesses who might have similar problems. It does make you think of how this could have a drastic effect on a greater scale.
ReplyDeleteI also very much enjoyed the humor and wit in your blog! It made enjoyable to read. It's kind of fascinating to think of how the problems we have with our little computers can happen anywhere like NASA. It really gets you thinking at times.
ReplyDeleteYou mention a lot about how technology simply doesn't always work the way you want it. This is true, everyone that has access to some electronic device on a regular basis has had to deal with some sort of technical difficulty. Speaking from my perspective though, these difficulties are due to simple reasons and I simply don't blame the technology (most of the time). I feel if everyone would have a better understanding of how these things worked, then people would have a better time working with the technology.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, throwing your computer. I do agree with you, Skibz. Your argument is very valid, especially the realization you have when technology fails on you. It's this constant frustration and need for it-- which can be dangerous, because look around what we're blessed with. I remember having the "ticking virus" on my XP. Every time I would sign online, a one minute virus would appear and would count down and shut off my computer. It took me two hours to search a picture.
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