Final Post: Our Relationship with Technology

 

Like many relationships, my relationship with technology is a complex one. I use technology to educate myself, connect with friends, and stay up to date on current events. However, I can also admit that I probably spend too much time on my electronics, and technology can become a source of anxiety. Of all the things I do with technology, I spend the most time consuming media, like YouTube videos, podcasts, TV shows, or audiobooks. Personally, these forms of entertainment have always served as my way to escape everyday stresses. While I do spend a lot of time consuming this media, I am also fortunately capable of listening to one thing while doing another without losing the immersion of the experience. As a result, I can use this technology to make boring activities, like cleaning or washing dishes, an enjoyable experience that isn't a source of dread. That said, the same forms of entertainment can become a problem when I need to be able to focus on a single activity. I'm sure we've all said "Just on more episode...", then one turns into two turns into half a season. Unfortunately, my sources of stress relief can also became the cause of my anxiety when I realize I've procrastinated the other work I have to do. 

Based on my observations, I believe my relationship to technology is quite similar to that of my friends and family. In our daily lives, technology is a bit of a double-edged sword. I think most people can agree that it would be almost impossible to function efficiently in today's world without utilizing some technology. Indeed, my friends and I rely heavily on the Internet to complete school work, conduct research, and find entertainment. Likewise, my parents depend on technology in their jobs, especially since both of them work on teams with people based in different parts of the world. In this regard, technology is a wonderful tool that allows people to broaden their perspectives, educate themselves, and communicate with a diverse group of people.

That said, technology certainly takes its toll. As suggested in the Moby video, some would argue that technology has taken over our lives. In my own life and the lives of those around me, I can certainly say that this claim is not unfounded. Whether it's video games, television, or social media, most people I know overindulge in at least one form of technology. Naturally, overindulging in technology has ripple effects. For example, people may feel unproductive because they spend so much time consuming media via technology. In turn, these feelings of unproductiveness may impact mental health as a whole, such as triggering feelings of anxiety or depression. 

On a societal level, technology can have much broader impacts on general health. While it is true that technological advancements are allowing for great strides to be made in many industries, including medicine and mental health, research has also linked technology use negative health effects. For instance, the use of social media and mobile devices can cause strain on the eyes, difficulty focusing, sleep problems, issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle, and a host of mental health issues. These issues associated with technology overuse are particularly troubling when it comes to children, who may also suffer a variety of developmental delays. 

Ultimately, our relationship(s) with technology are incredibly nuanced. On one hand, technology permits us to do and learn a lot very efficiently. On the other hand, an argument can be made that technology has made us a lazier society, and it undoubtedly has adverse health consequences. The issue becomes even more complex when you try to consider what life would be like if we didn't have the technology that is available to us today. To part, I leave you with this question: how can you work to improve your own relationship with technology?

Post #11: The Age of AI

As with any technology, artificial intelligence has the potential to be hugely beneficial to society, but it is also an innovation ripe for exploitation. Among the benefits of AI are consumer convenience it can create, improvements in medicine, and safer work environments. As explained in the video, AI technologies like facial recognition software are already being employed around the world to change the consumer experience. For example, Apple Pay and similar systems allow users to make purchases using a mobile device that scans their faces to approve the payment. Moreover, companies can utilize AI-based algorithms to learn a lot about their consumer bases. Naturally, this also has benefits and drawbacks, but it certainly has the potential to optimize the consumer experience. 

In my opinion, the most important benefit of AI technologies comes in the form of medical advancements. Because AI is "data-driven" and based on pattern recognition, there are hopes that it can be used to streamline the diagnostic and treatment processes. In the documentary, Dr. Connie Lehman explains that these technologies could be particularly useful in the detection of cancers, like breast cancer. Since early detection is key in being able to effectively treat most cancers, AI would serve as an incredibly powerful tool in recognizing abnormalities before a human might be capable of registering such changes. The same capabilities could also be put to use in the lab, where AI can be used to help run and analyze experiments. Thus, incorporating AI technology into the medical field could save lives and hasten the rate at which innovations occur.  

The final area in which artificial intelligence has already begun to make significant changes is in the workplace. In particular, the transportation and manufacturing industries are seeing operational shifts because of AI. On one hand, using technologies like self-driving vehicles and AI-operated machinery can make these industries safer. In the trucking industry, for instance, the use of self-driving vehicles would undoubtedly reduce the risk of injury resulting from human error. Likewise, the use of AI-operated machinery in factories reduces the need to expose humans to potentially dangerous substances or hazardous parts of the production process. 

On the other hand, however, these changes are not entirely beneficial to workers in these industries. After all, the introduction of AI reduces the need for human labor, which results in a lowered demand for blue-collar workers. Consequently, many people who previously found work in these industries will find themselves without work or needing to transfer their skills into other industries. Moreover, AI technologies are increasingly being exploited by companies and governments to keep tabs on everyday citizens. One particularly concerning use of AI has been China's use of AI and facial recognition technologies to support their "social credit" system. Under this system, AI is used to track the movements and online activities of Chinese citizens. This information is then used to assign individuals a social credit score, which can either come with benefits or punishments. Regardless of the intent behind this system, most can agree that the constant tracking of of citizens, both in public and in private, constitutes an invasion of privacy. Finally, as these technologies advance, we must consider the risks posed by cybersecurity attacks that have the potential to expose much of the confidential data that can be discerned using AI. Ultimately, I am of the belief that AI technology can be used for immense good in society, but a significant risk-benefit analysis must be performed before such technologies become the norm.