A quick look at our world and the way it functions, and you can quickly arrive at two conclusions (among other conclusions, I’m sure). First, the world is void of love and peace. Wherever you go, there are incidences of murder, rapes, and other acts of vicious violence. It’s hard to believe that people can be so capable of committing such atrocious crimes on their fellow brethren, but it happens nonetheless.

Second, the world has made significant strides in technology. There are many kinds of technology, and it seems the world is headed in the right direction when it comes to making new and updated products to improve people’s quality of life. Without any technology, many things that we use in our day to day lives would simply cease to exist. Televisions, cell phones, and even household appliances, such as the blender and the vacuum, would not be. Even vehicles or the subway system you frequent to commute to and from work would not exist if people had not thought outside of the box.

There is no doubt that technology has greatly improved our quality of life. The methods in which we communicate today are phenomenal and what many thought while watching an 80’s sci-fi movie could never be achieved is becoming a reality. Touchscreen cell phones and computers and holographic video used for medical, research, and personal use already exist, so could you imagine what else could soon be available? In just a couple of decades, we could very well witness the first ever flying vehicle. The possibilities, at this point, are endless, and engineers and developers are working hard to invent the next best technological device.

Technology, however, has affected people and society in general. For example, the way we communicate with one another through electronic methods, such as email, IM, and text messaging, has had an effect on how well we communicate with one another in person. It is easy to type out a quick message on the QWERTY keypad on the phone, but when in contact with another person face-to-face, the negative side effects, such as stuttering or the inability to carry out a decent conversation, of communicating electronically rears its ugly head.

Another negative result of technology is people have become to lose their sense of self-worth. Just a century ago, people earned a living to survive, but as new products are hurtled at us in lightning speeds, we seemingly have lost all sense of our self-worth and earn a living to buy products. Simply put, we live in the age of consumerism, and everything is handed to us on a silver plate.

Although technology has had some negative side effects, all in all the positive outweigh the negative, in my opinion. Without technology, advancements in the medical field to help keep patients in critical condition alive. Without technology, we would not have as many outlets for entertainment as we do now. The best thing anyone, and all of society, can do, is to maintain a balance.