Technology is consuming the world

Technology is consuming the world Laquantis A. Burton Malone University ABSTRACT This essay explores the abundant living in a consumer culture. In other words, it thoroughly explores the topic by drawing on my own experiences with current consumerism in its many forms, while also drawing upon the Malone University’s philosophy of values and determining what may constitute an “ abundant life” today, and realizing how technology aids us. By examining certain things like cell phones, internet, and television, we can easily see technology can easily interfere with or assists us in pursuing your version of an abundant and spiritual life. The only way to live abundantly and fully is to base our lives on spiritualty. God is the only one who fulfills us and defines us completely. When I sit back and look upon my life, I see that technology play a huge role in my everyday life. Checking my social media sites, doing on-line homework / research, and even carrying my hand held tablet explain the many ways I utilize technology. I currently have two cell phones, one Kindle Fire, a laptop and a flat screen television (until something new comes out). From experience, I can see how I fall into the addicting hands of consumerism, because people are constantly building and creating new versions of items that have better quality and features than the version before. Not only to mention how technology play a role in education, jobs, and communication outside of the struggle with consumerism. Before I was introduced to a free internet world, I thought there was nothing past the educational programs Fessenden Elementary School allowed their students to access in the computer lab. Before I got into seventh grade, I was all about going to school, going to sport practice afterwards, and coming home to do homework and then maybe a little bit of television before I call it a day. Our family owned game systems such as a Play Station One, Gameboy, Game Cube, Super Mario Dros, and Duck Hunt. You can see technology wasn’t well developed yet. These games got played out and after a while we didn’t play them anymore. Furthermore, I was not allowed to have a cell phone at the time because I wasn’t old enough, as my mom would say. In time I turned old enough to get my first pre-paid cell phone under the cell phone company ALLTEL (which isn’t around anymore). It wasn’t the nicest of phones, but I could expand the boundaries I was used to and call, text, and search the web. With this my eyes were opened and I saw that there was more to the world than my regular routine. Once I got my cell phone I got into a habit of texting numerous people which totaled up to fifteen different people a day and over five thousand text messages a month. Where was the time for schoolwork, sports, or family? It was all wasted connecting and bouncing off signals that transmitted data from one cell phone to another. Let’s just say I went to the extreme. Emailing, sending messages on MySpace, or texting in class substituted in for what children at my age wanted; having a boyfriend, wearing the latest fashions, and creating drama. The phone wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye in the technology world; cameras, tablets, and game systems also distracted me from being focused. As technology developed, I killed my interest in MySpace and got introduced to the now popular Facebook. Instead of doing homework I got distracted by the latest gossip on Facebook, had face time with friends on my phone, and even got hypnotized by my HD big screen TV. Whatever the new and improved gadget or thing that was on the market, I had to have it. I wouldn’t say I was spoiled, but once I got old enough to work tablets, the internet, and understand the technology world I began to ask “ mom can I get __ because it has an improved __”. That was my line for every new thing that came out. Once my dad got laid off his well-paying job, all the actions of getting spoiled stopped. Then I would have to work in order to get the new releases of anything that came out in the market. As Franzen (2011) says, our technology corresponds to a “ fantasy ideal of an erotic relationship, in which the beloved object asks for nothing and gives everything instantly”. In addition to Franzen also explained in “ Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts” (pg. 89), “ He gives an example of how he placed his old BlackBerry Pearl with a more powerful Blackberry Bold. He admitted he was impressed by how far the technology had advanced in three years. Even when he didn’t have anybody to call or text or e-mail, he wanted to keep fondling his new Bold and experiencing the marvelous clarity of its screen, the silky action of its track pad, the shocking speed of its responses, the beguiling elegance of its graphics. ” This shows how advertisers can be very manipulative into getting you to buy new and improved technology items, not because you need a new device but the simple fact the new items that are coming out have better capabilities. Then I began to see how technology plays a positive role in education, jobs, communication, but not as much in consumerism. For starters, education in this day and time is very fundamental in combined and school settings. Education or training is used to help students do work differently than they did before. On the other hand education is directed towards creating curiosities in the minds of students. In some cases, the use of technology can help students understand and grasp concepts better. According to ED Report The Costs and Effectiveness of Educational Technology (1995), “ that, properly used, technology can enhance the achievement of all students, increase families’ involvement in their children’s schooling, improve teachers’ skills and knowledge, and improve school administration and management. ” Technology is included as a part of the curriculum, as an instructional teaching system, aiding instructions and also as a tool to increase the entire learning process. Thanks to technology, education has gone from passive and reactive to interactive and aggressive. On the other hand people have professional jobs centered on technology. In the twenty-first century, technology is the foundation of most jobs. Jobs in general have thrown away pens, whiteout, or file cabinets. Now professions use computers. Either it’s to complete an application, record information, or retrieve information and many more features. As reported Tech jobs dominate the top 10 list of our 100 Best Jobs of 2013. For example, my personal story has a lifelong dependency on technology. I say this because the area of study that I’m going into is a Computer System Analysis. This profession can dissect the inner and outer workings of a desktop as easily as scientists do specimen will excel as computer systems analysts. This job entails designing and developing computer systems and knowing the ins and outs of hardware, software, and networks. Technology has become the prime facilitator for sharing products, information, and news. Things move at a faster pace and the unheard can become heard in a flash. For example, political scandals that would have taken days to unfold now do so within minutes of going viral. Yahoo, MSN, or ABC World News are some examples of how technology is utilized to broadcast or post the latest news. As Charles McGrath (2006) “ The Pleasures of the Text” (87) shares, “ This article discusses text-messaging and all its glory. McGrath points out how unconnected text-messaging makes us; it has made us not able to face each other in hard times. Sadly, as McGrath mentions, we like this. This article really hones in the fact that we have become consumed by technology in ways it was never meant to be used for. ” In addition, technology gives humans the option to either face a situation, problem, or state our opinion face to face or address any of these circumstances by emailing, calling, or texting. In consumerism technology can be very manipulative into getting you into buying new and improved items not only because you need a new device but the simple fact that the new items that are coming out will have better screens or size or capabilities. I also had to realize that the market discovers and respond to what consumers most want. People apparently assume that new releases or inventions are portrayed by advertisers as money hungry products that are useless to the buyers, but they market only respond to complaints and make it to where people are satisfied. Within these complaints what do people say about an improved home security or an improved or safer car? Do they still complain? Many people began to make it complicated and put certain stereotypes on technology and its role in our lives. Without technology stop lights would not be there to direct traffic, there will be no internet, or even cell phones. There are a lot of factors that will be affected if the technology would not be developing in new ways each day. For example iTunes not only powers music’s headline names but also push the rise of those from the underground. As technology seemingly advances its way into every little aspect of our society, the job market for individuals with vast knowledge of it is still expanding. Want more proof? As you can see music, cars, cell phones, networks, control at your fingertips all associate with technology of some sort. In order to record my music I need a mic, in order to make my hip beats I need software called Frooty Loops, and to finalize I need a computer. This has consumed me, but I had realized that my world doesn’t have to evolve round the latest technology or it doesn’t have to be mined thirsty to check my social media cites. I had to separate myself from the technology distraction. I began to close my laptop, turn my TV and iPod off, and even put away my online gaming tournament to wean myself off my addiction. I began to take walks, and really appreciate the many thing God placed on this earth for his people to be entertained by because in the end, technology is only materialistic but if you find something that God has giving us to explore and appreciate, we will never grow bored. As time began to go by I could really see myself talking more, interacting with people, and appreciating the finer things in life. One thing that did get my attention and I stayed motivated was reading the bible: and I found great curiosity into what was going to happen next and this kept me busy for a while. When I got to Malone University, I knew that I needed a laptop to do my work and write my papers. I told my parents that I needed a printer and a dependable laptop and they told me that they were already paying for my schooling and didn’t know how they could dish out more money for that also. So what I did was, 1st Peter 5: 7 cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. And that’s exactly what I did. In that manner, I had faith in God that he will provide my needs and he put people in my life to bless me to buy me a lab top and a printer and on top of that, paid for the gas money and a rental care to get Ohio from Florida. I’m learning some balance now. In order to accomplish the constant struggle with the addicting consumerism, I had to get real and give up some technology and actually spend time and talk, face-to-face, with people. When the world is telling me handle things the easy way. Don’t. “ In, Jesus is a Brand of Jeans”, by Jean Kilbourne, a writer for New Internationalist, also addresses this issue. Kilbourne writes the following, “ Advertising corrupts relationships and then offers us products, both as solace and as substitutes for the intimate human connection we all long for and need” (Kilbourne, 2006). This brings about the idea that commercialism destroys us, and then offers a solution to what it just destroyed. So my thoughts to say is, limit yourself with the time you spend on technology and don’t let it stop you from being focus on the positive stuff. In other words don’t abuse it. REFFERENCE PAGE Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5).  General format. Retrieved from http://owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/560/01/ Marc Andreessen (2011) “ Why Technology is eating the World” http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460. html Jonathan Franzen (2011) “ Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts” (pg. 89) Charles McGrath (2006) “ The Pleasures of the Text” (87)