Evolution of Technology

Technology is not something that is new. It is a process that has been around for as long as human civilization. It is what has led us to modern civilization and is propelling us into the future. 2.5 million years ago, humans started using stone tools. They were crude but proved quite helpful. 5,500 years ago, humans came up with the wheel and it changed the course of history forever.

But now? Technology is viewed as screens. According to research by South University students, owning the latest tech products has symbolic value in society. The program director for Information Technology at South University, Columbia, James Anthos stated “ You are definitely not ‘cool’ if you don’t have the latest technology in cell phones, one or more iPads, and an e-book reader,”. High schoolers are known to try hard to be the “cool” kid at school by possessing the latest gadgets.

The definition of technology as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is that it is “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area” suggesting that technology is actually applying theoretical information practically, in order to achieve a difficult task. The wheel is an example of technology. It made life easier by enabling better transport. Technology is not limited to screens, it is any development that aims to decrease the human workload. Nowadays, the term modern technology simply implies connectivity to/and the internet.

For purposes of education, the National Research Council, chaired by Kleinrock released a report entitled “Realizing The Information Future: The Internet and Beyond” in 1994. This report discussed critical issues regarding education. One of the main points stated was, “Unmotivated students are “turning on”; teachers are networking to share ideas and resources; collaboration among students across the world is taking place; and new modes of learning and of seeking information are developing.” This report although slightly outdated, does give insight into how the internet was meant to be used, when it was first released for educational purposes.

Helle Mathiasen, a professor at the Natural Sciences Didactics at the University of Copenhagen conducted a survey among Danish high school students regarding the use of the internet during classes. Two thousand four hundred students participated in the survey and half of them wanted authority to regulate the use of the internet so they weren’t tempted to go online, getting distracted from schoolwork. Peer pressure also plays an important role, according to a report titled “How can peer groups influence the behavior of adolescents” submitted by the Global Journal of Health Science, the report aimed to study peer group influence on adolescent behavior, which resulted and concluded, in the basic terms of a teenager’s excuse; “My friends did it, so I did it.”.

In a news article, by Jeff Dunn on July 11, 2011 suggested how social media has impacted education. The first point ascribed how many students rely on the easy access of information extremely, that it reduces focus on learning and remembering. A second point, that students who check social media sites, while studying, show reduced academic performance on how social media affects students.

The advances in communication technology were meant to speed up the process. They were conceptualized and invented as a catalytic means to better communication. In an article from the UCLA newsroom an author by the name of Wolpert, Stuart determined that modern communication technology has affected the ability to read human emotions:

“Decreased sensitivity to emotional cues- losing the ability to understand the emotions of other people- is one of the costs. The displacement of in-person social interaction by screen interaction seems to be reducing social skills.”

UCLA scientists conducted experiments to determine and support this statement. One of their experiments included studying groups of children at a camp where electronic devices were prohibited and comparing them with children who did not attend the camp. They then tested the children after five days to recognize human emotions from videos and photos. The children in the camp responded more significantly than those who didn’t. Their ability to read nonverbal cues and human facial expressions, emotions had drastically improved than the other group of children.

Originally published at https://internautofgenz.blogspot.com on July 9, 2020.