Technology is advancing in the wrong direction

Ava Memarzadeh, Staff Writer

Flying cars, Siri, machines able to do anything a human can; as years go by, our country continues to advance in technology. What’s coming next? It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come in regards to technology. Gadgets such as iPhones are the norm during this day and age, and advancements such as self-driving cars are what’s coming next for our world. While advancements such as these are always seen in a positive light and applauded, is there such a thing as too much technological advancement? 

It is important to draw the line between necessity and convenience when it comes to these advancements. Many new innovations are not imperative for humans’ day to day lives. For instance, in recent years, there has been attention given to the idea of replacing access cards or credit cards with microchip implants in the hand of an individual. While this may eliminate both the small inconvenience of having to carry a card around and the possibility of losing it, this invention seems to be unimportant in a world with a sea of problems. 

Many of the inventions aimed to increase human convenience simply take the joy out of normal human activity. Take the new push for inventing flying cars as an example. Many companies are working towards having flying cars open for the public in the distant future. This may seem like a cool idea and cutting edge technology. However, it’s important to think of the effect it will have on the Earth. We have already occupied so many parts of the world that are meant to be untouched. Many look out their windows and only see roads or buildings that were once nature and beautiful scenery. With flying cars, we will be polluting the image of a clear blue sky that was never intended to be covered with flying machines.

With these recent advancements, companies choose to replace their employees with machines that can do work quickly and efficiently. Many blue-collar workers have been affected by this change and lost their jobs. This means unemployment will rise when in reality, this field can be used to create more job opportunities.   

Furthermore, many modern technologies such as Alexa, new phone updates and other voice activated gadgets create reliance on technology and an out of touch society. For example, in the new Apple iOS 15 update, a photo of a homework question can instantly be answered on the internet. In addition, many new apps eliminate the need to go out and get groceries because they can deliver them to you. Again, its convenience is undeniable, but it leads to many not leaving their homes and losing touch with reality.

It is important to clarify that this excludes technology that provides solutions to important issues facing the planet and the human race. Medical technological advances, for example, should be heavily funded. It is necessary to improve the quality of life for citizens, therefore worthy of the funding and resources. Another example could be technology that offers solutions for climate change and ways to preserve the Earth. 

Overall, imagining a world filled with these new inventions seems to be very distant and unrecognizable compared to what the world once looked like, and it is not preserving the world we have and appreciate. Some parts of the world should be left alone, and while advancements in technology may seem pleasing now, the thought of a completely industrial and technologically based society seems like a horror movie.