Technological Advancements and Its Impact on Humanity

Technological advancements have shown a substantial growth concerned with each and every field of humanity whether it be the communication systems, astronomy, nuclear powers, medical fields, automobiles, devices of daily usage or the computers. Everything of the technology has its uses and abuses over humanity. The word technology, comes from the Greek word 'technologia', techno meaning 'art, skill, craft, and logia meaning 'the study of'. Technology can be defined as the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area. As the old saying states, "Necessity is the mother of invention", i.e. necessities tend to generate inventions and each invention is annexed with the need of betterment. Newer and newer advances are happening by the day. Technological change is in large parts responsible for many of the secular trends in such basic parameters of human condition as the size of the world population, life expectancy, education levels, material standards of living and the nature of work, communication, health care, war and the effects of human activities on the natural environment. Other aspects of society and our individual lives are also influenced by technology in many direct and indirect ways. Technological development has provided human history with a kind of directionality. Problems and potentials often go hand in hand; problems can be turned into opportunities. Every element of the universe exhibits two faces, one is constructive and the other is destructive side. Society has become more and more dependent on technology. So much so that we sometimes lack the willingness to think before we act. We becomes impatient if it takes more than a few seconds to download a copy of the morning newspaper. We expect immediate responses to out messages and emails, and we expect someone to answer their cell phones whenever and wherever we call. Technology is making us so busy that we can't even find time to spend with out close one's. It would e surprising to know that people are in contact through chat and online messaging though they are in the same city as they think it is more effective and faster but they are forgetting that meeting personally can never replace online chatting. As said by Mr. R. Buckminster Fuller, 'Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons.' So the question here is, Modern Technology : Is it leading mankind to a better or a lethargic future? Time will tell.