If you were to show someone from the year 1900 what the world looks like in 2022, they wouldn’t think they were even living on the same planet. Technology has advanced to the point that it appears as if it has been ripped straight out of a science-fiction film.
Cars no longer run on just gasoline. You can use a computer from the palm of your hand, and even from the top of your wrist. Social media allows the entire world to communicate with each other within seconds. We are truly connected in a way that used to take a huge imagination to fathom.
This leads to some questions about whether all of the new technologies we have are positive outcomes for society. Many people from older generations yearn for the days of simpler devices and less novel concepts. Sometimes it feels like the world is trying to invent a technological solution to problems that may not exist all that much.
There needs to be more education on technology topics. Not ever knows what these new devices are. What is a vehicle recovery system? It’s important to think about how technology is helping people drive safer.
Why are companies using artificial intelligence to hire employees now? It seems that we are using computers to replace tasks that used to be performed just fine by people.
Innovations can cut corners to the point that we lose sight of the original goal or intention that comes with creativity. This is where tech becomes a hassle more than a convenience. Let’s discuss this further.
Smart Technology and Social Media
The most relevant advancement in technology in the past two decades is the use of smart technology, especially in the phone industry. When smartphones first started circulating in the mid-2000s, hardly anyone believed that they would reach a point where the majority of the population had them.
In many ways, they have been a godsend for even the most technologically ignorant folks on the planet. Smartphones have allowed people to tap in to the internet in countless ways from whatever location they are in. This makes life easier on so many levels.
We track all of our events on our phone’s calendar. We shop online at the drop of a hat no matter where we are. We can take pictures of anything and have them be professional photographer quality. And we can video chat with family and friends who are across the country and in a different time zone when we haven’t seen them in months or years.
These are not only helpful for routine errands and our tasks at work, but it also keeps us connected during times when in-person communication is lacking. Can you imagine what the pandemic of the last two years would have looked like without smartphones and similar technology?
That doesn’t mean everything is peachy when it comes to smart technology. People become so involved in their virtual world that they lose sight of what is happening right in front of them. Look at a picture from a concert in the 1990s and you’ll see thousands of spectators enjoying the show without a cellphone.
Look at a similar event now and everyone is more concerned with capturing the show on video than they are seeing the spectacle and amazement with their own two eyes.
The same thing applies when we are eating dinner with our friends and family. The folks we love might be sitting right across from us, but we are entrenched in a conversation with a Twitter troll or a Facebook bot.
This means humans have to decide whether the amount of time they spend on their phones is doing more harm than good. Use your own discretion. Stay engaged with those in your actual circle. Use your virtual world sparingly and only to enhance your real relationships.
Car Technology
The automotive space is one of the industries in which the use of technology has definitely helped society become more safe and efficient. Driving is one of the most dangerous tasks we can do. Technology has tried to make it safer and more secure to drive your car. You could also potentially use tracking devices on a teen driver, which could be helpful if you need to add a teen driver to your insurance.
Many cars now have self-driving technology and self-parking assistants. These self-driving controls correct your mistakes when you leave lanes. They put on the brakes when you are getting too close to another vehicle or object. They also can show you every angle that you may miss, like a blind spot, with extra cameras that display images right from your dashboard.
Technology has also helped people recover their vehicles when they get stolen. Anti-theft technology uses GPS and other tracking devices to notify you and the police when your car has been stolen. Sometimes the car will even lock up and not work if someone drives it beyond the distance you requested in your anti-theft system.
The only negative is that not every person can afford to have all of these amenities attached to their vehicles. Most of these features cost extra money, but hopefully, we’ll get to a point where all of the above technology is installed automatically in baseline models.
Business Technology
We already referenced the ways technology has helped during the COVID-19 pandemic, but let’s dive a little deeper. People lost their jobs at record rates when quarantines were enacted by governments. With the communicative technologies available, many businesses have kept more workers than they would have otherwise.
Video conferencing, Slack, and other methods of communication helped with workers’ well-being during the pandemic. They knew they could still do their jobs and be around their co-workers if that was what was needed for success.
We all know how vital professional aspects of our lives are in relation to personal aspects. They feed off each other. As business technology continues to make the jobs of millions of workers easier in the years to come, personal lives will also become less stressful and more fulfilling.
This is all part of the reason why technology feels like it is way more helpful than hurtful. As is typical, some people make a good thing into a negative because of how they use it. If you know how to use technology in moderation, there is no reason why it should be anything but helpful.
About the Author
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com. He wants to help people see how insurance and technology have interacted in modern times.
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