first draft

Monica Rivera                                                                                                             Rivera 1

Professor Brown

English 1B

20, February 2013

How Technology Has Changed Us

            It is completely aware to most of human kind how we are living in a new world now, a world that is revolved and relied on technology such as; computers, internet, tablets, iPods, phones, etc. Therefore, I must bring up the controversial topic of is all our advanced technology actually helping us or hurting us? Technology is helping us by opening our minds to any information we need or want to know in a matter of a click, we are able to get things done faster and more efficient, we’re able to communicate with loved ones that don’t live within a close distance, and it helps us save lives.

            There are many ways that technology is helping us and one of the major reasons why is that anything we need to know or are just curious about is at our fingertips, by a click or push of a button our question is answered. It definitely has made us smarter beings because all of the knowledge we are available to from our desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones. Some might say that this in fact is actually making us “stupid” because of how easy it is to know something about a topic and that we’re not retaining or storing it in our brains. I can understand where someone would get that idea from, but technology in no way is making us less knowledgeable. One negative thing I do have to say with having so much technology available to us is that it might be making us lazier. That is because we do not have to physically get up and go to the library to

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pick out a book and do research on a certain homework assignment or project, but being physically lazy from time to time, does not make us less intelligent. It is so much easier and proficient to get research done with the internet; we are able to look up articles from journals and newspapers, books, and blogs in a matter of seconds. Just the internet alone cuts in half, if not more, the time it takes to complete a certain task at work or at school. From just typing this paper the technology of Microsoft Word has corrected me on my spelling or grammar, which without I might not have noticed and got docked down a few points on. It is also available to more people because before computers may have cost a thousand dollars or more, but now you can buy a reliable and trust worthy computer for five hundred dollars or less, so now it is easier for the majority of people to own their own computers or other electronics. Technology is not only making us more knowledgeable, but it is also making things easier and proficient to get things done in a certain amount of time.

             With all the advancements in technology we are able to keep in touch with our loved ones and friends that we would otherwise not be able to. This has all become available to us with the invention of the telephone in the 1870’s, now we are able to see the other person’s face through video chatting. Without technology we would never have the chance to keep in touch as much as we would like to with our family and friends that live in different states, countries, or even continents. Business’s even use video chatting for meetings now with different companies or workers that are in different areas of the world, this is another example of how technology is helping us be more proficient and achieve our goals at a more realistic time. We are also able communicate with our loved ones over sea at war and keep families and relationship strong because of this.

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A very important way technology has helped the world as a whole is our advancements in medicine. There is nothing to argue with here because through technology we are able to further people’s life expectancy and help them through illness or injury. For example, scientists are now doing an experiment that can actually make the blind see again and have succeeded in the latest experiment. “Blindness first began creeping up on Barbara Campbell when she was a teenager, and by her late 30s, her eye disease had stolen what was left of her sight. Now, as part of a striking experiment, she can see again. So far, she can detect burners on her stove when making a grilled cheese, her mirror frame, and whether her computer monitor is on. She is beginning an intensive three-year research project involving electrodes surgically implanted in her eye, a camera on the bridge of her nose and a video processor strapped to her waist. The project, involving patients in the United States, Mexico and Europe, is part of a burst of recent research aimed at one of science’s most-sought-after holy grails: making the blind see,” (Belluck, A1). I bring this example up of how technology is very crucial in the medical world because it is a topic that is close to my heart because my grandpa is legally blind through his diagnosis of mackerel degeneration and he is currently seeking assistance through a research experiment at UCLA. Without the technology that allows scientists to uncover such a discovery than my grandpa wouldn’t even have the hope to see again. With more time and advances in technology the hope of curing diseases and illnesses doesn’t seem like such a far fetch idea anymore because we are aware of everything technology can do for us now. I am sure that many people can relate to a time where technology has saved, cured, or bettered someone close to them, so how technology ever be a bad thing to us? Without it we might have to see the ones we care about go.

           

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Through technology we are able to receive information about anything we need to know from a click away, communicate with our friends and family at any time no matter where they might be, and save and better lives of the ones we care about. We live in a world surrounded by technology and electronic devices and by no means is it ever going to go away. If anything we are only going to become more technology advanced, where it’s going to be coming mandatory that you know how to work the newest electronic. It has already become mandatory in schools that you have or have access to the internet to complete your homework, assignments, and projects that are due through the use of the internet. All of my classes have a certain amount of time that is required to spend on the computer and internet. In fact most of my homework is done on the internet and must be turned in through the internet. It is the way we live our lives now from communications, school, work, to entertainment. Even if some still disagree that technology is helping us, doesn’t mean that it’s going to go anywhere anytime soon. And if it were to somehow vanish, I’m sure the world would panic and wouldn’t know what to do because of how reliant we are to it now.