MIS 322 - Fall 2012




Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Consciousness of Technology by Nigel Burnett


When you were younger have you ever been told, “Listen to the good guy on your shoulder and not the bad one, in reference to your conscience?” Is it hard to do because the bad is constantly in your ear? Technology has so many good resources.

 For an example the easily accessibility of great amount information, “how to videos” on YouTube, the ability to shop for less online, mobile phones allowing people to get in contact with someone whenever it is needed. It is easier to work at home through the use of today’s technology. Technology allows us to get around anywhere in the world in a reasonable amount of time. We are often faced with the bad side of technology, more often than the good. It is incredible that a person can pick up a laptop and virtually have a face to face conversation with someone who is anywhere in the world. Ironically people do not know his or her neighbor that lives less than 100 feet from them. I remember going riding around town with my granddaddy when I was younger thinking to myself, “Wow this man knows a lot of people!” I now understand why that was possible. His primary source of communication was physical interaction, not a telephone or anything else. Well, I guess my virtual social networking can compete with his physical social network. That’s sad isn’t it? Mark Twain said it is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage (every man and brother of us all throughout the whole earth), may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone. Did he foresee the negativity technology would have on the growth of humanity or was he like some people say, a hater? We are so connected with our phones these days that someone’s boss can call them during their child’s little league championship and persuade him or her to come to work with the selling point that their job is more important to that child than a stupid game, really? It actually has a negative effect upon the relationship between parent and child and between spouses. I am an adult; I still cherish the memories of my parents being at my games when I was a child. I still get a certain high when my mom comes to support me in any of my accomplishments.

People that are able to reach the masses abuse technology the most. I cannot watch the news because of all the negativity it broadcasts and it shows that people whom watch the news daily can become paranoid. Music is another dangerous medium that is being abused. It is rare to hear lyrics with context of having good family values, being faithful in a relationship, and how to increase one’s net worth. Through the use of technology, it is possible to receive good information that will help someone prosper in life but it is rarely in the forefront where one can easily access it. For an example; Bloomberg TV, MNBC, Fox Business Network, and Current channels are all in the late 300s on DIRECTV passed all of the other channels that will appeal to one’s senses of instant gratification. How many times has there been a positive trending topic on twitter? I love technology and all that it offers but I believe that it should have a more balanced structure to where one’s success becomes the focal point; put the business channels and channels that talk about being successful, politics, and current issues upfront and put the negative channels in the back is all I am saying. Let’s give the “good guy on your shoulder” a chance for once. Thank you for taking the time out to read my blog and I will love to read your feedback on the subject.

5 comments:

  1. I agree with this post 100%. It is rare that when I have nothing to do, I talk to someone standing next to me. I typically pick up my phone and browse my twitter timeline or look at something on the internet. I find it ironic that they created technology to bring the world closer together yet it divides us in everyday life. - Anthony Kinsey

    ReplyDelete
  2. Day by day, through this course, I realize the importance of technology and the need of being a part of it. Currently, I am not actively engaged in social media. I have created accounts, but I rarely check them or post anything. For the most part, like Nigel said, I have witnessed people abuse technology to publish nonsense. However, through this course, I see the importance of me being part of this transition between the industrial age and the information/technology age. It is a necessity for me if I would like to thrive in the coming years. So, thanks Nigel for reminding me of the positive benefits that technology offers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree this article on so many levels because it is evident in are society every day. The evolution of technology is very valuable and makes our ways of life easier however, it takes away from our values as human beings. Younger children in our generation don't know to talk and communicate with others because there eyes are always glued to some device. This article show us that we have to find a way to bridge the gap between technology and being involved with people.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow this post is something I totally agree with. Its funny because my father always says that technology is becoming my ruin. I defiantly think technology is wonderful and helpful but it has defiantly caused our generation not to be able to communicate with one another like we should.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think this was a very insightful article because people really are starting to lose the art of communication. People text each other more than anything. When it comes to texting it builds bad habits. People can begin to struggle with spelling and simply knowing how to talk a person face to face.

    ReplyDelete