Technology - Bane Or A Boon For A Society
It is often said that nothing is good or bad, it is its use or misuse that determines whether it is a bane or a boon. Could it be the case with technology?
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes , especially in industries. It is one of the greatest invention of mankind. It is a tool invented and sharpened to it's full capacity by humans to make their life easier. In consensus, technology is ever evolving. It is the driving force behind our advanced lifestyle. In this day and age, technology is everywhere and is being used in almost everything. Be it communicating across the globe with the help of our smart phones or carrying out the simplest things such as heating our food using a microwave. While there are huge benefits of moving ahead with technological developments, there are some equally adverse effects of it as well.
Thus we ultimately arrive at a bigger question, ‘Is technology a bane or a boon for the planet ?‘ I believe that technology is a boon for the planet. Since the last twenty years, the world has seen a tremendous amount of development in the technological front. As a result, technology has now become an indispensable part of our lives. Technology, thus offers many advantages, in both scientific and environmental fronts. Commencing with the impact of technology in the environmental field, I would like to state that new technological advancements are helping the world in ways that we have only imagined.
Plastic contains harmful chemicals and doesn’t biodegrade, yet we continue to see it everywhere. With few solutions to properly dispose of it, plastic is damaging the environment and our planet. But where man fails, technology succeeds.
Instead of using non-disposable plastic utensils, we can use edible & disposable cutlery made from wheat millet and rice. Narayana, who founded Bakeys Edible Cutlery said the idea of his invention was to replace plastic utensils with a more convenient alternative. Not only can the edible cutlery be eaten as great source of food, but it also decomposes within five days. Another company called Precious Plastic is transforming plastic waste from the fundamental idea of reusing and recycling. They’re providing people with the tools they need to become their own ‘plastic craftsman. ’ With the vision to make anything out of this precious material that is currently wasted, the company aims to turn plastic waste into something valuable.
Technology is booming, and as Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming more affordable as an industry, there are many uses that were only dreamed about. VR shuts out the world around you so you can completely become immersed in a new environment. With the help of VR we can experience various landscapes virtually simply by sitting at our homes without trampling or damaging the existing natural environment.
Drones are quickly gaining popularity and being used for different purposes. As a way to quickly find and source information without harming the natural environment below them, drones are also being used to track and observe wildlife.
Electric cars, like the Tesla Model 3, do not rely on fuel. Instead, they run on rechargeable batteries. Thanks to technology, these cars are far more energy efficient. They convert up to 62% of their battery charge to power the wheels, while traditional vehicles only use up to 21% of the energy to power the wheels.
Renewable energy provides reliable energy from a variety of sources, such as the wind and sun. This type of environmental technology is helping the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions that damage the atmosphere. It is also worth mentioning that there is also an environmental philosophy known as Environmental Modernism (also called Ecological Modernism) which believes technology is the solution and not the problem. Ecological Modernists theorize that harnessing innovation and entrepreneurship can save the planet in many ways.
Aside from the benefits technology offers to the environment, it is truly a force to be reckoned with in our day-to-day lives. It increases communication. Gone are the days when we relied on pigeons to deliver our messages in the ancient times. Now we can communicate with anyone present in any part of the world merely in the blink of an eye because of our technologically advanced cell phones.
Research has also showed that businesses which embrace technological advancements and use technology such as social media to expand their businesses have a larger reach to customers. Having access to any information is yet another benefit. From basic math and complex trigonometry to the compilations of Mozart’s compositions, everything is available on the internet and it is literally and figuratively, only a click away.
Technology is also responsible for increased social awareness among the citizens. Today, we are aware of what is happening around us only because of the day-to-day updates that we can get online. Technology is also responsible for self-learning among the people. If you cannot afford professional guitar lessons just look for online tutorials.
