essay about technology makes life easier

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How technology can be part of a happy life, researchers are exploring what wellness looks like in a digital world..

Zoom Fatigue. Distraction. Burnout. For many of us, digital overwhelm is all around. The pressures of remote work are all too familiar.

When we think about how to solve these problems, conversations inevitably turn to disengaging from technology: limiting screen time, deleting apps, taking breaks from social media. But what if we approached these issues in a different way, thinking about how to create well-being while using technology? 

Over the past two years, the Digital Wellness Institute (which I cofounded) has partnered with a team of international researchers to study digital wellness . Digital wellness reflects the increasing need for more balance in how digital technologies are integrated into every aspect of human life. When you are digitally well, you can:

• Find focus and flow in work
• Live in harmony with both your physical and digital environments
• Connect in meaningful ways with others
• Enjoy strong relationships online and offline
• Build healthy physical and digital practices
• Embrace mindfulness and self-care through intentional technology use
• Understand how to manage your digital data and privacy
• Contribute to a positive digital community in your networks

When we think about technology this way, we can come up with more creative and realistic ways to pursue happiness in a digital world that go beyond decreasing how much time we spend online.

Assessing your digital wellness

How do you know if you are digitally flourishing? 

Assessing your digital wellness is not just a matter of adding up screen time; rather, it’s a holistic assessment that takes into consideration numerous factors. These include feelings of angst around constant connectivity, digital overwhelm, and computer-induced aches and pains, as well as positive emotions and experiences we might have around technology, like savoring pleasant experiences, connecting with others, and a sense of self-efficacy.

Finding this healthy balance for living with technology involves:

• Reflecting upon how, when, where, and how often we use our digital technologies.
• Examining what we pay attention to and the quality of that attention when we do.
• Aligning how we use our digital technologies with our values and motivations.

Our research at the Digital Wellness Institute has aimed to identify the components of digital wellness and figure out how to measure it. Building on Margaret Swarbrick’s research on the  eight dimensions of wellness , our team created a picture of what it would look like to flourish in the digital era across dimensions of life, including productivity, the environment, communication, relationships, mental health, physical health, the quantified self, and digital citizenship. We then partnered with 18 leading experts around the globe (including Harvard instructor Heidi Hana, New York Times bestselling author Nir Eyal , and adolescent medicine specialist Doctor Bobo) to survey research and develop actionable recommendations for each domain. 

This framework can help you identify potential areas of weakness and pathways to improving your wellness over time. For instance, perhaps you have been working long hours to complete a big project at work. Your productivity might be thriving, but your relationships or mental health might be lagging. By identifying this need, you can recalibrate in real time by leaning into more self-care or social support.

To identify your own target areas for growth, you can take our free Digital Flourishing survey .

How to boost your digital wellness

Once you have identified areas in which you want to improve, it’s time to make some changes to create a more positive digital culture in your life. Here are a few strategies to help you digitally flourish.

Productivity. Digital productivity requires us to minimize distractions, enhance our focus, and find work-life balance. If you’re working on a task and you stop to look at your phone, for example, it takes just two seconds to read a text message—but it makes you twice as likely to make an error on what you’re doing. Worse yet, it takes you an average of 11 minutes to get back into flow with your previous task. Minimize distractions by turning off any notifications on your phone from non-humans (for example, sports, stocks, news alerts, game prompts).

Environment. Having organized, comfortable spaces—both physical and digital—is important to our mental and physical health. Chaos in your home or work environment invites distraction into your life. To proactively set yourself up for success, establish some digital boundaries that work for you and clearly communicate them to family members and work contacts (for example, no work communication after a certain time in the day or week, specific locations where you will not engage in work-related tasks). Consider posting a list of your digital boundaries somewhere visible, both for others and for personal accountability.

Communication. Technology multiples our possibilities for social interaction but also brings with it new challenges. Have you ever been phubbed (phone-snubbed) by someone who interrupted an important conversation with you to check an incoming text? If so, brainstorm a nice way to signal how you feel about being phubbed. Humor is a wonderful way to disarm others but still get your point across. You could casually joke, “Did you just phub me?! You know, phone-snub me?” However, be prepared that, if you are going to hold others accountable, you might be held accountable, too!

Relationships. Social media can be the source of much angst and social comparison, particularly when relationships are shallow or flippant. Rather than focusing on the quantity of relationships, hone in on the quality of your connections online. Unfollow unnecessary people or groups who are not adding meaning to your life.

Mental health. Whether a certain technology enhances or detracts from our life is often dependent on how we use it . The temptation to endlessly scroll on social media or on news sites can be high, particularly when your brainpower is low (like late at night when you are already tired). Take a few minutes first thing in the morning to write down your intentions for the day. Consider including an intention for how long you want to be online, and use your screen-time settings to hold yourself to your limits.



Physical health. Connected device usage has increased 46% since the start of COVID, and, as a result, back aches and neck pain have risen by 50%. Pay attention to your posture when you are sitting at your desk and make sure that your screen is at a height level with your eyes to avoid squinting and hunching.

Quantified self. The “quantified self” is a method of seeking to understand yourself through technology, using sensors like wearables (think smart watches) or data trackers (like apps) to optimize health. While this concept sounds new, health providers have been tracking metrics like blood pressure, heart rate, and calories for decades; the quantified self movement simply empowers individuals to track and make sense of their own data. To try out this approach, pick one behavior to track (like step count) and focus on optimizing that one metric. Set a goal for yourself and celebrate when you achieve it!

Digital citizenship. Having a healthy online civic life means building competency in civil discourse, culturally sensitive communication, online etiquette, and information processing. A person with a high digital citizenship orientation knows about data privacy and its implications for the individual and society, is aware of how their online communication can affect others, has tools at hand to evaluate information obtained from the internet as truthful or biased, and understands how to communicate to different audiences in a way that is sensitive to diversity and inclusion. One of the best ways to gain awareness of your digital footprint in the world is to do a Google “selfie” to see what information about yourself is publicly available. Remove any online information that you no longer wish to share (check whitepages.com to see what might be listed publicly).

Digital Wellness Institute

Want to delve deeper? This 10-week certification program is designed to equip leaders and practitioners with research-based tools and strategies to foster digital flourishing.

These suggestions are just a starting place for boosting wellness in the digital era; to learn more strategies, consider enrolling in a program or course online. The ones that I’ve been involved in include the Digital Wellness 101 course co-created by PowerEd and Athabasca University and the Digital Wellness Institute’s 10-week certification program designed for coaches, learning officers, and educators.

While we know that technology will continue to be an integral and ever-present part of our everyday lives, we do have some control over how we use it to digitally flourish, rather than flail in the midst of distraction. By cultivating our own digital wellness, we can leverage technology for its best and highest purposes and begin to shape the future with the choices that we make today.

About the Author

Amy Blankson

Amy Blankson explores the modern challenges of finding balance in the digital era. A graduate of Harvard and Yale School of Management, Blankson is the cofounder of the Digital Wellness Institute and the bestselling author of The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies for Balancing Productivity and Well-Being in the Digital Era .

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How Innovation and Technology Makes Life Easier Essay

Introduction, works cited.

For the people living in the age of highly developed technological progress, it is rather hard to imagine life without all of the existing innovations. Contemporary society can hardly function on the proper level without machines. It is difficult to overestimate the input of modern technologies in making the life of common people easier and happier.

Some people believe that modern inventions contribute to our laziness and inability to communicate. In my opinion, the negative effects of technology overuse really exist, but they are mostly caused by our lack of education and irresponsibility. They can be easily avoided if people behave properly. The machines were created for making our life easy, and it is not their fault if we use them unduly.

Without innovations, our world would look different. It goes without saying that the invention of such widely used devices as the washing machine or a vacuum cleaner gave more free time to common people. However, the influence of technologies is not limited to this side of everyday life. On the contrary, all of the essential parts of the life of our society are based on the use of technology.

The technologies made the studying process easy and accessible for people with any income and location. Owing to modern gadgets and Internet, contemporary students have the possibility to find any scholarly source needed at any time. Without innovations, the work of firefighters, police officers, and rescuers would be much less productive. Thanks to the machines, our healthcare system is constantly making progress in finding solutions for different health problems. Without technologies, the level of medical services would be much lower. Besides, the adoption of technologies maximizes the independence of older adults and makes their life easier and safer (Adams et al. 1718). The use of technologies results in millions of lives and loads of time saved.

The efficacious use of technologies in all spheres of life is directly associated with the level of development of a country. It is a well-known fact that a permanent introduction of innovative technologies into the functioning of different systems results in providing better services and increasing the perception of quality of life. It leads to a higher standard of life for citizens and the elaboration of the country’s reputation all over the world. Therefore, the implantation of innovations is one of the main characteristics of the developed countries, recognized as leaders in the world community.

The United Arab Emirates is a country that has gained the reputation of the leader in implementing up-to-date innovations into life. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, has announced 2015 to be the year of innovations in the country. Within the framework of the project, plans for a major museum of the future in Dubai have been launched. The museum “will produce futuristic inventions” and support the UAE in reaching the object of being the most path-breaking country in the world (Sophia par. 2). Different sections will present the newest inventions and demonstrate simulations, enabling the visitors to see the future with the use of 3D printing techniques (Sophia par. 4). Besides, the museum will unite the most prominent specialists under one roof. It will create an opportunity for realizing the whole potential of the best inventors in constructing futuristic prototypes. It seems that this incredible institution will attract much attention from researchers and common people from the whole world.

Technologies and innovations are the main engines driving our society towards a happier future. The most developed countries support inventions and embody them into life. The UAE remains the leader in implementing innovations and strikes the world with its new projects.

Adams, Anne, Julie Boron, Neil Charness, Sara Czaja, Katinka Dijkstra, Cara Bailey Fausset, Arthur Fisk, Tracy Mitzner, Wendy Rogers, and Joseph Sharit. “Older Adults Talk Technology: Technology Usage and Attitudes.” Computers in Human Behavior 26.6 (2010): 1710-1721. Print.

Sophia, Mary. Sheikh Mohammed Launches Museum of the Future in Dubai . 2015. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). How Innovation and Technology Makes Life Easier. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-innovation-and-technology-makes-life-easier/

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Bibliography

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Table of Contents

Ways technology improves our daily life, influence of technology, improved quality of life , downsides to consider, positive and negative impact of technology on modern businesses, has technology improved our lives.

As it is rightly said that necessity is the mother of invention, all technologies that have emerged and thrived so far have been invented to meet the needs of society. As newer technology is introduced, it certainly reflects the very essence of a population’s needs and wants. Nowadays, technologies and societies are inseparable. It is like a cycle, where each one significantly affects the other. As humans evolve and their needs and wants change over time, advanced and modern technology come to the rescue to fulfill these needs. 

Technology is molding our society today. Following are some of the ways it is improving our daily lives. 

• Business Efficiency: A tidal wave of exponential technological progress is sweeping away the business world. Today’s marketplace offers more than different ways to improvise, adapt and leap forward by means of the available technology. To enhance the customer experience, the utilization of business analytics has proved to be beneficial. Such business tools, which are powered by technology, have taken the aspects of business to different heights. Personalized messaging and user behavior analysis has also helped businesses to mark their fruitful presence in the marketplace. 
• Expedited Communication: The only certain answer to how technology has improved our lives is, it has dramatically changed the way we communicated with each other. It has led to the birth of several modes of electronic communication such as smartphone communication and social media. We have reached a certain point in civilization where instant and glitch-free communication is easily available. Speed is undeniably the significant improvement that technology has brought forth for communication. Instant and easy communication is now possible from the comfort of our homes.      
• Advanced Lifestyle: With technology at its helm, societies have been reshaped throughout history. Technology has played a pivotal role in the way humans behave and operate in the world. Technological improvements around us are a continuous thing. New advancements are emerging and it is surely impacting our lifestyles. Our lives are now radically different compared to earlier decades, thanks to technology. The touch of technology and its presence is felt everywhere such as commuting, farming, education, etc. On the other hand, the Internet of Things (IoT) has made our lives super easy. Smart homes and advanced electronic gadgets, through the medium of IoT, have drastically improved our daily routines. It has made several aspects of life easier.  
• Information Accessibility: Technology has heavily influenced the way we transfer and access information. Nowadays, any information is available at the tip of our fingertips. We constantly find answers and gather information from the internet. Technology is readily accessible to us, both in terms of its authenticity and relevance, only if one knows how to browse better. To speak of the advantages of technology, information accessibility could be considered as the best one.   

The influence of technology in our daily lives is far more widespread than we actually think. It is growing and progressing at a rapid pace. It has changed the way we access resources. It has also changed the way we learn new things. Nowadays, people tend to rely on technology for everything. Whenever we need to contact someone, we can just text that person instantly. Earlier, it was much slower with letters and meetings. This is the way technology has disrupted the way we communicate. Our requirements and technical demands continue to grow, which is eventually pushing the boundaries of technology and the way it influences us. 

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We have reached a point where it is difficult to imagine life without technology. It has considerably changed the quality of life. By seeping into every aspect of our life, technology has changed the way we behave and operate. From communication and transport to healthcare and connectivity, technology has enhanced our lives for the better. The best part is that it is ever-evolving by facilitating more advanced features. For instance, we have come far from traditional audio calls to instant messaging and facetime. Not to forget, technology has come to rescue during the pandemic. When the world was in lockdown mode, video calling and putting out words on the internet has paved the way for connecting with each other. Technology helped us stay together by living apart. Whilst the pandemic was fading away, work from home situation was possible only due to technology which further rolled the wheels of economy. 

Since the dotcom boom, over time, the world is increasingly getting access to the internet. It is disrupting many lives and the way they interact with their daily matters. It all started with industrial automation which made work easy and efficient, further it penetrated into every aspect of life. Ever since it is changing every dimension of life. 

Though technology has changed things up, there are some downsides to consider. There are some pros and cons of technology. Privacy is the foremost concern that technology has brought forth. Digital technology means that enormous quantities of data are being collected and stored. This includes private information with regards to individuals and organizations. It is a challenging task to keep this information safe and secure. A single mistake or voluntary breach of data means that the private information landing into the hands of hackers, terrorists, etc. 

On the other hand, real-life contact has been diminishing away since the advent of technology. People tend to meet and greet online rather than interacting in-person. This ultimately results in isolation and a sense of disconnect from society. Several studies have suggested that lesser interaction with the society has further brought forth various kinds of mental health issues such as depression and social anxiety. 

With a slew of benefits of technology, there are some other downsides to consider such as job insecurity due to increasing automation, addiction to gadgets, less experience to life events, etc.  

There are so many pros of technology. Technology is continuously redefining the way organizations conduct their businesses by being more visible over the internet, accessible to customers. It is dramatically enhancing internal modus operandi as well as services they offer. Strategies concerning the execution of digital technologies have gained some ground of immense popularity over the last decade owing to the perks that businesses have been privileged to enjoy as a result of adapting to such technologies. By incorporating digital solutions, avant-garde tools and technologies, organizations have seamlessly managed processes, expedited production cycles and have been able to offer high quality products and improved customer experience whilst cutting down cost and boosting productivity and profitability. Technology has made organizations competitive with its sweeping impact.  

Positive and negative impacts are two sides of the same coin. Face to face communication is decreased due to the availability of audio and video calls. This influences decision making and can lead to misunderstanding. Also, organizational data is sensitive. If someone hacks into the system, it can lead to irreparable loss. Dependency is another issue which can hamper productivity.   

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While technology has certainly increased our standard of living in numerous ways, it has also brought a whole host of new challenges and dangers that must be addressed. Our lives are now more interconnected than ever, yet this can come at the cost of our privacy and security. Cybersecurity threats are now commonplace and can cause serious disruption to our lives, while issues such as cyberstalking, sexting, and cyberbullying have all become issues that must be addressed by responsible adults and children alike.

Technology has changed our lives in countless ways, from the way we communicate with each other to the way we watch TV. As technology advances, more and more of our daily lives are being impacted.

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4. the internet will continue to make life better.

A large share of respondents predict enormous potential for improved quality of life over the next 50 years for most individuals thanks to internet connectivity, although many said the benefits of a wired world are not likely to be evenly distributed.

Andrew Tutt , an expert in law and author of “An FDA for Algorithms,” said, “We are still only about to enter the era of complex automation. It will revolutionize the world and lead to groundbreaking changes in transportation, industry, communication, education, energy, health care, communication, entertainment, government, warfare and even basic research. Self-driving cars, trains, semi-trucks, ships and airplanes will mean that goods and people can be transported farther, faster and with less energy and with massively fewer vehicles. Automated mining and manufacturing will further reduce the need for human workers to engage in rote work. Machine language translation will finally close the language barrier, while digital tutors, teachers and personal assistants with human qualities will make everything from learning new subjects to booking salon appointments faster and easier. For businesses, automated secretaries, salespeople, waiters, waitress, baristas and customer support personnel will lead to cost savings, efficiency gains and improved customer experiences. Socially, individuals will be able to find AI pets, friends and even therapists who can provide the love and emotional support that many people so desperately want. Entertainment will become far more interactive, as immersive AI experiences come to supplement traditional passive forms of media. Energy generation and health care will vastly improve with the addition of powerful AI tools that can take a systems-level view of operations and locate opportunities to gain efficiencies in design and operation. AI-driven robotics (e.g., drones) will revolutionize warfare. Finally, intelligent AI will contribute immensely to basic research and likely begin to create scientific discoveries of its own.”

Arthur Bushkin , an IT pioneer who worked with the precursors to ARPANET and Verizon, wrote, “Of course, the impact of the internet has been dramatic and largely positive. The devil is in the details and the distribution of the benefits.”

Mícheál Ó Foghlú , engineering director and DevOps Code Pillar at Google, Munich, said, “Despite the negatives I firmly believe that the main benefits have been positive, allowing economies and people to move up the value chain, ideally to more rewarding levels of endeavor.”

Perry Hewitt , a marketing, content and technology executive, wrote, “On an individual basis, we will think about our digital assets as much as our physical ones. Ideally, we will have more transparent control over our data, and the ability to understand where it resides and exchange it for value – negotiating with the platform companies that are now in a winner-take-all position. Some children born today are named with search engine-optimization in mind; we’ll be thinking more comprehensively about a set of rights and responsibilities of personal data that children are born with. Governments will have a higher level of regulation and protection of individual data. On an individual level, there will be greater integration of technology with our physical selves. For example, I can see devices that augment hearing and vision, and that enable greater access to data through our physical selves. Hard for me to picture what that looks like, but 50 years is a lot of time to figure it out. On a societal level, AI will have affected many jobs. Not only the truck drivers and the factory workers, but professions that have been largely unassailable – law, medicine – will have gone through a painful transformation. Overall I am bullish in our ingenuity to find a higher and better use for those humans, but it seems inevitable that we’ll struggle through a murky dip before we get there. By 2069, we’ll likely be out the other end. My biggest concern about the world 50 years out is the physical condition of the planet. It seems entirely reasonable that a great deal of our digital lives will be focused on habitable environments: identifying them, improving them, expanding them.”

David Cake , an active leader with Electronic Frontiers Australia and vice chair of the ICANN GNSO Council, wrote, “Significant, often highly communication and computation technologically driven, advances in day-to-day areas like health care, safety and human services, will continue to have a significant measurable improvement in many lives, often ‘invisible’ as an unnoticed reduction in bad outcomes, will continue to reduce the incidence of human-scale disasters. Advances in opportunities for self-actualisation through education, community and creative work will continue (though monetisation will continue to be problematic).”

Eugene H. Spafford , internet pioneer and professor of computing sciences at Purdue University, founder and executive director emeritus of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, commented, “New uses, information sources and paradigms will improve the lives of many. However, the abuses, dilution of privacy and crime will also make things worse.”

Jeff Jarvis, director of the Tow-Knight Center at City University of New York’s Craig Newmark School of Journalism, commented, “One need be fairly cynical about one’s fellow humans and somewhat hubristic about one’s own exceptional abilities to argue that most people will act against their own self-interest to adopt technologies that will be harmful to them. This is why I am driven nuts by the contentions that we have all become addicted to our devices against our will, that the internet has made us stupid in spite of our education, that social media has made us uncivil no matter our parenting, as if these technologies could, in a mere matter of a few years, change our very nature as human beings. Bull. This dystopian worldview gives people no credit for their agency, their good will, their common sense, their intelligence and their willingness to explore and experiment. We will figure out how to adopt technologies of benefit and reject technologies that harm. Of course, there will be exceptions to that rule – witness America’s inability to come to terms with an invention made a millennium ago: gunpowder. But much of the rest of the civilized world has figured that one out.”

Andrew Odlyzko , professor at the University of Minnesota and former head of its Digital Technology Center and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, said, “Assuming we avoid giant disasters, such as runaway climate change or huge pandemics, we should be able to overcome many of the problems that plague humanity, in health and freedom from physical wants, and from backbreaking or utterly boring jobs. This will bring in other problems, of course.”

Pedro U. Lima , an associate professor of computer science at Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal, said, “Most of the focus on technology and particularly AI and machine learning developments these days is limited to virtual systems (e.g., apps for travel booking, social networks, search engines, games). I expect this to move, in the next 50 years, into networking people with machines, remotely operating in a myriad of environments, such as homes, hospitals, factories, sport arenas and so on. This will change work as we know it today, as it will change medicine (increasing remote surgery), travel (autonomous and remotely-guided cars, trains, planes), entertainment (games where real robots, instead of virtual agents, evolve in real scenarios). These are just a few ideas/scenarios. Many more, difficult to anticipate today, will appear. They will bring further challenges on privacy, security and safety, which everyone should be closely watching and monitoring. Beyond current discussions on privacy problems concerning ‘virtual world’ apps, we need to consider that ‘real world’ apps may enhance many of those problems, as they interact physically and/or in proximity with humans.”

Timothy Leffel , research scientist, National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, predicted, “Future historians will observe that, in many ways, the rise of the internet over the next few decades will have improved the world, but it hasn’t been without its costs that were sometimes severe and disruptive to entire industries and nations.”

Dave Gusto , co-director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University, commented, “Fifty years is a terrifically long time for forecasting. A lot might be riding on, for example, what happens with the current conflict around net neutrality and the way that public or private interests get to shape the net from now forward. But within either pathway – public-interest dominated or private-interest dominated – the ability of some actors to enjoy the highest-end benefits and many actors to use what they can access or can manage to learn is a likely contour to the overall system. I think that a vast diversity of uses will characterize the future system, focusing on experience, entertainment and education, enhanced by AR and VR.”

A representative for a Middle Eastern telecommunication directorate wrote that online life will continue to be a plus in most individuals’ lives, adding, “As far as technological history is concerned, there has been no single case that the advance of technology and innovation has worsened the lives of individuals. This is similarly valid for AI.”

Living longer and better lives is the shining promise of the digital age

Many respondents to this canvassing agreed that internet advancement is likely to lead to better human-health outcomes, although perhaps not for everyone. As the following comments show, experts foresee new cures for chronic illnesses, rapid advancement in biotechnology and expanded access to care thanks to the development of better telehealth systems.

Steve Crocker , CEO and co-founder of Shinkuro Inc., internet pioneer and Internet Hall of Fame member, responded, “Life will improve in multiple ways. One in particular I think worth mentioning will be improvements in health care in three distinct ways. One is significantly better medical technology related to cancer and other major diseases. The second is significantly reduced cost of health care. The third is much higher and broader availability of high-quality health care, thereby reducing the differences in outcomes between wealthy and poor citizens.”

Susan Etlinger , an industry analyst for Altimeter Group expert in data, analytics and digital strategy, commented, “Many of the technologies we see commercialized today began in government and university research labs. Fifty years ago, computers were the size of walk-in closets, and the notion of personal computers was laughable to most people. Today we’re facing another shift, from personal and mobile to ambient computing. We’re also seeing a huge amount of research in the areas of prosthetics, neuroscience and other technologies intended to translate brain activity into physical form. All discussion of transhumanism aside, there are very real current and future applications for technology ‘implants’ and prosthetics that will be able to aid mobility, memory, even intelligence, and other physical and neurological functions. And, as nearly always happens, the technology is far ahead of our understanding of the human implications. Will these technologies be available to all, or just to a privileged class? What happens to the data? Will it be protected during a person’s lifespan? What happens to it after death? Will it be ‘willed’ as a digital legacy to future generations? What are the ethical (and for some, religious and spiritual) implications of changing the human body with technology? In many ways, these are not new questions. We’ve used technology to augment the physical form since the first caveman picked up a walking stick. But the key here will be to focus as much (or more) on the way we use these technologies as we do on inventing them.”

Bernie Hogan , senior research fellow at Oxford Internet Institute, wrote, “Tech will make life better for individuals but not for societies. Life-saving drugs, genetic medicine, effective talk therapy, better recommender systems will all serve individuals in a satisfying way. I am concerned, however, that these will create increased dependency and passivity. We already have trends toward better-behaved, less-experimental and less-sexually-active youth. The increased sense that one’s entire life is marked from cradle to grave will create a safer and more productive life, but perhaps one that is a little less low-risk and constrained.”

Kenneth Grady , futurist and founding author of The Algorithmic Society blog, responded, “Fifty years from now today’s notions of privacy will feel as out of date as horse and buggy transportation feels to us. Our homes, transportation, appliances, communication devices and even our clothes will be constantly communicating as part of a digital network. We have enough pieces of this today that we can somewhat imagine what it will be like. Through our clothes, doctors can monitor in real time our vital signs, metabolic condition and markers relevant to specific diseases. Parents will have real-time information about young children. The difference in the future will be the constant sharing of information, data updates and responses of all these interconnected devices. The things we create will interact with us to protect us. Our notions of privacy and even liability will be redefined. Lowering the cost and increasing the effectiveness of health care will require sharing information about how our bodies are functioning. Those who opt out may have to accept palliative hospice care over active treatment. Not keeping track of children real-time may be considered a form of child neglect. Digital will do more than connect our things to each other – it will invade our bodies. Advances in prosthetics, replacement organs and implants will turn our bodies into digital devices. This will create a host of new issues, including defining ‘human’ and where the line exists between that human and the digital universe – if people are always connected, always on are humans now part of the internet?”

Martin Geddes , a consultant specializing in telecommunications strategies, said, “I am optimistic that we will find a new harmony with technology, having been in dissonance for a long time. This will not be due to newfound wisdom or virtue, but due to the collapse of longstanding cultures and structures that are psychopathic in nature, including today’s central banking systems and mass-surveillance systems. The digital and nano/biotech renaissance is only just beginning, and it will in particular transform health care. Our ‘satnav for live’ will help us navigate all daily choices that impact well-being.”

Danil Mikhailov , head of data and innovation for Wellcome Trust, responded, “My view is that the internet and related digital tech such as AI 50 years from now will have mostly positive effects, but only if we manage its development wisely. In health, the pervasiveness of powerful algorithms embedded in mobile tech doing things like monitoring our vitals and cross-referencing with our genetic information, will mean longer and healthier lives and the disappearance of many diseases. Similarly, AI embedded in devices or wearables can be applied to predict and ameliorate many mental health illnesses. However, there is potential for there to be huge inequalities in our societies in the ability of individuals to access such technologies, causing both social disruption and new causes for mental health diseases, such as depression and anxiety. On balance, I am an optimist about the ability of human beings to adjust and develop new ethical norms for dealing with such issues.”

Dan Robitzski , a reporter covering science and technology for Futurism.com, commented, “The powers that be are not the powers that should be. Surveillance technology, especially that powered by AI algorithms, is becoming more powerful and all-present than ever before. But to look at that and say that technology won’t help people is absurd. Medical technology, technology to help people with disabilities, technology that will increase our comfort and abilities as humans will continue to appear and develop.”

Emanuele Torti , a research professor in the computer science department at the University of Pavia, Italy, responded, “The digital revolution will bring benefits in particular for health, providing personalized monitoring through Internet of Things and wearable devices. The AI will analyze those data in order to provide personalized medicine solutions.”

João Pedro Taveira , embedded systems researcher and smart grids architect for INOV INESC Inovação, Portugal, wrote, “The most noticeable change for better in the next 50 years will be in health and average life expectancy. At this pace, and, taking into account the developments in digital technologies, I hope that several discoveries will reduce the risk of death, such as cancer or even death by road accident. New drugs could be developed, increasing the active work age and possibility maintaining the sustainability of countries’ social health care and retirement funds.”

José Estabil , director of entrepreneurship and innovation at MIT’s Skoltech Initiative, commented, “AI, like the electric engine, will affect society in ways that are not linearly forecastable. (For example, the unification of villages through electric engines in subways has created what we know as Paris, London, Moscow and Manhattan). Another area AI can have impact is in creating the framework within genomics, epigenomics and metabolomics can be used to keep people healthy and to intervene when we start to deviate from health. Indeed, with AI we may be able to hack the brain and other secreting cells so that we can auto-generate lifesaving medicines, block unwanted biological processes (e.g., cancer), and coupled to understanding the brain, be able to hack at neurological disorders.”

Jay Sanders , president and CEO of the Global Telemedicine Group, responded, “Haptics will afford the ability to touch/feel at a distance so that in the medical space a physician at one location will literally be able to examine a patient at a distance.”

A director of marketing for a major technology platform company commented, “I was an early user of ARPANET at Carnegie Mellon University, and even then we were able to utilize internet technology to solve human health problems to make citizens’ lives better and improve their access to care and services to improve their health outcomes. The benefits of the internet in the health care industry have continued to improve access to care and services, particularly for elderly, disabled or rural citizens. Digital tools will continue to be integrated into daily life to help the most vulnerable and isolated who need services, care and support. With laws supporting these groups, benefits in these areas will continue and expand to include behavioral health and resources for this group and for others. In the area of behavioral health in particular, digital tools will provide far-reaching benefits to citizens who need services but do not access them directly in person. Access to behavioral health will increase significantly in the next 50 years as a result of more enhanced and widely available digital tools made available to practitioners for delivering care to vulnerable populations, and by minimizing the stigma of accessing this type of care in person. It is a more affordable, personalized and continuous way of providing this type of care that is also more likely to attain adherence.”

The cyborg generation: Humans will partner more directly with technology

Many experts foresaw a future where the integration of technology and the human body would lead to a hybridization of humanity and technology.

Barry Chudakov , founder and principal of Sertain Research and author of “Metalifestream,” commented, “In 50 years the internet will not be a place to access through a device; it will be the all-surrounding ether of actions and intentions as machine intelligence and learning merge with human intelligence. This will be a natural evolution of adopting the logic of our tools and adjusting our lives accordingly. Pathways to digital life will be neural pathways inside our bodies and brains. We will eat our technology. What is now external mediated through devices will become neural, mediated through neural triggers along neural pathways. Having gone (and living) inside us, the merger with our tools and devices will continue to accelerate due to advances in machine learning. Human identity will morph into an open question, an ongoing discussion.”

Sam Lehman-Wilzig , associate professor and former chair of the School of Communication, Bar-Ilan University, Israel, wrote, “Given the huge (and completely unpredicted) changes of the ‘internet’ over the past 50 years, this question demands out-of-the-box thinking, which I will do here. Literally. In my estimation, within the next 50 years the internet will mainly become the platform for brain-to-brain communication, i.e., no keyboard, no voice, no screen, no text or pictures – merely ‘neuronic’ communication (thought transmission) at the speed of light, with internet speeds reaching terabytes per second, if not more than that. This also means that the main ‘content’ will be various forms of full-experience VR, fed directly to our brains by professional content providers – and perhaps (a bit science-fictiony at this stage) from our brains to other brains as well. The consequences of such a ‘hive mind’ communication are difficult (if not impossible) to predict, but certainly it will constitute a radical break with past human society.”

Joaquin Vanschoren , assistant professor of machine learning at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, responded, “We will be able to interact with each other and the world’s information more directly, without going through web interfaces, maybe using a brain-internet interface. A lot more content will be generated automatically, by AI systems that help us fill in the holes in our knowledge and make it more easily accessible.”

Frank Kaufmann , president of Filial Projects and founder and director of the Values in Knowledge Foundation, said, “Virtually nothing from today’s internet will be recognizable 50 years from now. Connectivity will become ever more ethereal and divorced from devices. Speeds will have exceeded what can any longer be sensed by the human organism. Storage will seem limitless, as it will exceed all possible need. Most connectivity will be integrated into the biological organism.… Tech will enable creative people to create more. It will enable good people to do more good. It will enable lazy people to be more lazy. It will enable bad people to do more bad. It will enable family and social people to be closer and more loving. It will enable lonely and isolated people to become more isolated. It will enable radical advances in all things people do – sports, arts, medicine, science, literature, nature exploration, etc.”

Karen Oates , director of workforce development for La Casea de Esperanza, commented, “At the rate at which technology is evolving, the internet as we currently know it and interact with it will have morphed into something very different. I can see people allowing implants in their bodies so they can connect to whatever the internet becomes – leveraging it as an auxiliary brain. This also, however, opens the door for manipulation and potential control of people. Like anything, technology can be used for good or evil. Much will be dependent on to what extent an individual is willing to sacrifice independence for comfort, security, etc.”

Several other respondents voiced concerns about this future. A law professor based at a U.S. university said, “The book ‘Re-Engineering Humanity’ provides a reasonable description of the slippery, sloped path we’re on and where we seem likely to be heading. The authors’ big concern is that humans will outsource so much of what matters about being human to supposedly smart technical systems that the humans will be little more than satiated automatons.”

David J. Krieger , co-director of the Institute for Communication & Leadership in Lucerne, Switzerland, wrote, “Everything will be ‘personalized’ but not individualized. The European Western paradigm of the free and autonomous individual will no longer be a major cultural force. Network collectivism will be the form in which human existence, now no longer ‘humanist’ will play itself out. There will be no other life than digital life and no one will really have the opportunity to live offline. And if so, then there will probably be a three-class society consisting of the cyborgs, the hybrids and the naturals. This will of course generate new forms of social inequality and conflict.”

Despite the likely drawbacks many respondents see the hybrid future as a strong possibility.

Mike Meyer , a futurist and administrator at Honolulu Community College, commented, “The world in 50 years is likely to be very difficult to imagine or understand in today’s language. The options available will be contingent on many layers of both technology and human adaption that will occur over the next 50 years. This will be true as the steady acceleration of the rate of change continues based loosely on Moore’s Law leading to true quantum computing. Genetic engineering combined with nano components that may also be bioelectronic in nature will allow planetary network communication with implants or, perhaps, full neural lace. The primary distinction will be between those people with full communication plus memory and sensor augmentation versus those who choose not to use artificial components in their bodies. Everyone will use a planetwide network for all communication and process activity whether through augmentation or very small headbands or other options that are not implanted.”

Ray Schroeder , an associate vice chancellor at the University of Illinois, Springfield, wrote, “Connected technologies and applications will become much more seamlessly integrated into people’s lives. Technologies are emerging, such as MIT’s AlterEgo, that point to practical telepathy in which human thought will directly connect with supercomputers – and through those computers with other people. This kind of thought-based communication will become ubiquitous through always-on, omnipresent networks. Personal devices will fade away as direct connectivity becomes ubiquitous. These advances will enable instant virtual ‘learning’ of new ideas and the whole range of literature. One will be able to ‘recall’ a novel or a treatise as if one had studied it for years. Such will be the state of augmented memory. There will be attempts to apply new rules/laws, but technological capability will most often trump artificial restrictions. This will further empower people, by the power of their purchases and choice-to-use to set standards of acceptability and preference.”

David Klann , consultant and software developer at Broadcast Tool & Die, responded, “Further integration of humans and machines is inevitable. More devices will be implanted in us, and more of our minds will be ‘implanted’ in devices. The inevitable ‘Singularity’ will result in changes to humans and will increase the rate of our evolution toward hybrid ‘machines.’ I also believe that new and modified materials will become ‘smart.’ For instance, new materials will be ‘self-aware’ and will be able to communicate problems in order to avoid failure. Ultimately, these materials will become ‘self-healing’ and will be able to harness raw materials to manufacture replacement parts in situ. All these materials, and the things built with them will participate in the connected world. We will see continued blurring of the line between ‘real’ and ‘virtual’ life.”

Anonymous respondents predicted:

• “Artificial general intelligence and quantum computing available in a future version of the cloud connected to individual brain augmentation could make us augmented geniuses, inventing our daily lives in a self-actualization economy as the conscious-technology civilization evolves.”
• “There is a probability of technological singularity. So far all the trends lead to it; it is hard to imagine a future in which this does not happen.”
• “Connective symbiosis – human-human, machine-human, human-machine – will continue to thicken.”
• “Implants in humans that continuously connect them to the web will lead to a loss of privacy and the potential for thought control, decline in autonomy.”

Everyone agrees that the world will be putting AI to work

The technology visionaries surveyed described a much different work environment from the current one. They say remote work arrangements are likely to be the rule, rather than the exception, and virtual assistants will handle many of the mundane and unpleasant tasks currently performed by humans.

Ed Lyell , longtime internet strategist and professor at Adams State University, wrote, “If we can change the governance of technology to focus on common good growth and not a division of winner/loser then we can see people having more control over their lives. Imagine that the tough, hard work, dangerous jobs are done by machines guided by computers and AI. We can see the prototype of these in how the U.S. is now fighting wars. The shooting is done by a drone guided by a smart guy/gal working a 9-to-5 job in an air-conditioned office in a nice town. Garbage could be picked up, sorted, recycled, all by robots with AI. Tedious surgery completed by robots and teaching via YouTube would leave the humans to the interesting and exciting cases, not the redoing of same lessons to yet more patients/students. Humans could live well on a 20-hour work week with many weeks of paid vacation. Having a job/career could become a positive, not just a necessity. With 24/7 learning and just-in-time capacity, people could change areas or careers many times with ease whenever they become bored. This positive outcome is possible if we collectively manage the creation and distribution of the tools and access to the use of new emerging tools.”

Jim Spohrer , director of the Cognitive OpenTech Group at IBM Research-Almaden, commented, “Everyone will have hundreds of digital workers working for them. Our cognitive mediators will know us in some ways better than we know ourselves. Better episodic memories and large numbers of digital workers will allow expanded entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and focus on transformation.”

Kyle Rose , principal architect, Akamai Technologies, wrote, “As telepresence and VR become more than research projects or toys, the already small world will shrink further as remote collaboration becomes the norm, resulting in major social changes, among them allowing the recent concentration of expertise in major cities to relax and reducing the relevance of national borders. Furthermore, deep learning and AI-assisted technologies for software development and verification, combined with more abstract primitives for executing software in the cloud, will enable even those not trained as software engineers to precisely describe and solve complex problems. I strongly suspect there will be other, unpredictable disruptive social changes analogous to the freer movement of capital enabled by cryptocurrencies in the last decade.”

David Schlangen , a professor of applied computational linguistics at Bielefeld University, Germany, said, “Physical presence will matter less, as high-bandwidth transmissions will make telepresence (in medicine, in the workplace, in in-person interactions) more viable.”

Ken Goldberg , distinguished chair in engineering, director of AUTOLAB and CITRIS at the University of California, Berkeley, said, “I believe the question we’re facing is not ‘When will machines surpass human intelligence?’ but instead ‘How can humans work together with machines in new ways?’ Rather than worrying about an impending Singularity, I propose the concept of Multiplicity: where diverse combinations of people and machines work together to solve problems and innovate. In analogy with the 1910 High School Movement that was spurred by advances in farm automation, I propose a ‘Multiplicity Movement’ to evolve the way we learn to emphasize the uniquely human skills that AI and robots cannot replicate: creativity, curiosity, imagination, empathy, human communication, diversity and innovation. AI systems can provide universal access to sophisticated adaptive testing and exercises to discover the unique strengths of each student and to help each student amplify his or her strengths. AI systems could support continuous learning for students of all ages and abilities. Rather than discouraging the human workers of the world with threats of an impending Singularity, let’s focus on Multiplicity where advances in AI and robots can inspire us to think deeply about the kind of work we really want to do, how we can change the way we learn and how we might embrace diversity to create myriad new partnerships.”

Kristin Jenkins , executive director of BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium, said, “Access to information is enormously powerful, and the internet has provided access to people in a way we have never before experienced. This means that people can learn new skills (how to patch your roof or make bread), assess situations and make informed decisions (learn about a political candidate’s voting record, plan a trip), and teach themselves whatever they want to know from knowledgeable sources. Information that was once accessed through print materials that were not available to everyone and often out of date is now much more readily available to many more people. Ensuring access is another huge issue with internet 2.0/AI. Access to these tools is not guaranteed even within the U.S. – presumably one of the best places in the world to be wired. In many cases, access to current technology in developing areas of the world allows populations to skip expensive intermediate steps and use tools in a way that improves their quality of life.  Ensuring that people all over the world have access to tools that can improve their lives is an important social justice issue.”

Rich Ling , a professor of media technology at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, responded, “In the next 50 years there will be significant changes in the way that we work. The disruption of that will play through to the way people identify themselves and can also be turned into political movements. AI is on the point of eliminating a wide variety of jobs and professions (taxi driver, accountant, law clerk, etc.). At the same time a large portion of our identity often comes from an idealized sense of our work. Witness the notion of being a cowboy. This is a real job for a small number of people, but it is an identity for many. In the same way, there is an identity in being a truck driver, an insurance adjuster, etc. It often does not have the same panache as the idealized version of being a cowboy, but it’s nonetheless an identity. If that is taken away from people it can, in the worst case, lead to populist political movements. I answered that the general trend will be positive, but I expect that it is not a simple path to better lives through the application of IT. There are many social and eventually political issues that will be played out.”

Divina Frau-Meigs , professor of media sociology at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, France, and UNESCO chair for sustainable digital development, responded, “The most important trend to follow is the way game/play will become the new work. Convergence of virtual reality and immersive devices will modify the rules determining how we interact with each other and with knowledge and information in the future. These ‘alternative’ realities will enable more simulations of situations in real life and will be necessary in decision-making every step of our daily lives. We will need to be conscious of the distinction between game and play, to allow for leisure time away from rule-bound game-as-the-new-work. This will be particularly necessary for environmental issues to be solved creatively.”

Estee Beck , assistant professor at the University of Texas and author of “A Theory of Persuasive Computer Algorithms for Rhetorical Code Studies,” responded, “Society will shift toward educating the public on reading and writing code at an accelerated rate. Coding literacy will become part of K-12 curricula to prepare citizens for both STEM-related careers and consumer-oriented DIY solutions of tech problems. On the latter, because of the mass coding literacy spread in primary and secondary schooling, the ‘handyman’ will evolve into a tech tinkerer or handyman 2.0. Already acquainted with basic and intermediate home maintenance of basic lighting, plumbing and painting, the handyman 2.0 will fix code in home appliances, run software updates to modify and personalize processes in the home. The handyman 2.0 might run their own server and develop a self-contained smartphone and security system to protect against internet-related attacks. For those unable or uninterested in being a handyman 2.0, they can hire general and specialized contractors from a new industry of handymen 2.0. This industry – with public and private certifications – will employ hundreds of thousands of laborers and enjoy revenues in the billions.”

Hume Winzar , associate professor and director of the business analytics undergraduate program at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, wrote, “Working and study at a distance will be normalized, so lifestyle options will be wider. We won’t need to live/work/study in a major city to enjoy the best of what is available. Done right, it will expand opportunity for many, too.”

Barrack Otieno , general manager at the Africa Top-Level Internet Domains Organization, wrote, “I expect technology to enhance the work environment. The internet will mostly be used to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration.”

Benjamin Kuipers , a professor of computer science at the University of Michigan, wrote, “In the post-World War II era, many people believed that American society was essentially benevolent, providing opportunities for political, economic and social advancement for individuals and families over decades and generations. This was somewhat true for the majority, but dramatically untrue for many minorities. We may have the opportunity to provide this societal benevolence for everyone in our society. The technological, often digital, tools we are creating have the promise of greatly increasing the resources available in society. While it may be possible to automate some current jobs, people have an intrinsic need for meaningful work. If we can use these new resources to support them, many jobs can be created to provide meaningful work for many people, and to improve the environment for everyone in society. Some examples of such jobs are child and elder care, and creation and maintenance of green spaces ranging from urban parks to rural farms to wilderness environments and many others. A national service requirement for young people gets certain kinds of work done, but also provides training in practical skills and practical responsibility, and also exposes individuals to the diversity of our society. Technological change produces resources that allow new things to be done and reduces certain constraints on what can be done. But we need to learn which goals we should pursue.”

Lane Jennings , a recent retiree who served as managing editor for the World Future Review from 2009 to 2015, wrote, “Entire classes of humans (drivers, construction workers, editors, medical technicians, etc.) are likely to be replaced by AI systems within the next 50 years. Whether individual members of such groups feel their lives have been improved or made worse will vary depending on many factors. Suffice it to say that public support of some kind to give displaced workers the means to live in relative security and comfort is essential. Moreover, this support must be provided in a way that preserves self-respect and promotes optimism and ambition. A world of former workers who perceive themselves as having been prematurely retired while machines provide the goods and services they once supplied seems to me highly unstable. To be happy, or at least contented, people need a purpose beyond simply amusing themselves and passing time pleasantly. One of the major functions of the internet in 2069 may be to facilitate contact between people with skills who want to work and jobs that still need doing in spite of high-tech robots and ubiquitous AI.”

Mark Crowley , an assistant professor expert in machine learning and core member of the Institute for Complexity and Innovation at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, wrote, “Technology affects people asymmetrically. Diseases will be cured with machine learning, profits will rise with automation and artists, engineers and scientists will be able to do more with less time and resources than ever before. However, many people will lose the only jobs they’ve ever known, and many others will feel alienated and left behind. Will society take steps to adapt its social standards? Will education adapt to prepare each generation for the reality ahead rather than focusing on the past? Will we allow people to live, with dignity, their own life, even if rapid technological changes leave them without a job that we would traditionally call ‘useful’ or productive? That depends on politics.”

Josh Calder , a partner at the Foresight Alliance, commented, “Changes will be for the better if the wealth generated by automation is spread equitably, and this will likely require significant changes to economic systems. If wealth concentration is accelerated by automation, the average person could be worse off.”

In 2069 the ‘new normal’ will be …

If the future is to change as dramatically and rapidly as many of the survey respondents believe, the world will see seismic shifts in norms and in what might be considered “normal” life.

Cliff Lynch , director of the Coalition for Networked Information, responded, “Over the next 20 to 30 years I expect to see enormous renegotiation of the social, cultural and political norms involving the digital environment.”

Alistair Nolan a senior policy analyst in the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, wrote, “I speculate that individuals’ interaction with digital technologies will become much more pervasive and intimate than it is already. Digital technology will be used to counter some of the stresses created by economic development and a digital culture. Digital avatars, for example, might provide intelligent company for the old and lonely, coaching those subject to psychological disorders, encouraging and guiding the sedentary to adopt healthier lifestyles, and so on. But changes and societal stresses brought by digital technologies may require a fundamental overhaul of the social contract. A new digital social contract will likely be needed, the specifics of which we cannot be sure now, but the contours of which we see suggested today in proposals ranging from universal basic income to institutionally mandated time free from digital distraction. The hope is that political processes allow our social arrangements to adjust at a pace commensurate with broader technological change, and that dysfunction in political processes is not aggravated by digital technologies. It has been commented that when humankind attempts to take astronauts to Mars the primary challenge will not be technological. Instead, it will be social: namely, the ability of unrelated individuals to live in close confinement for long periods of time. At the level of entire polities, in a similar way, our primary challenge may be living together in civil ways, attending to the full range of human needs, while the technology brings opportunities to carry us forward, or carry us off course.”

Greg Shannon , chief scientist for the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute, said, “Pervasive/complete/competing memories – capture/network/storage tech will allow complete digital records of each life, with fast recall for discussion, disagreements and manipulation. What will it mean to not have to remember, that you can recall the video with higher fidelity than one could ever remember? This will disrupt social norms. Communities specified by degrees of anonymity and other variable social norms. With pervasive sensing/monitoring, communities can define and enforce norms. From everyone wears green on April 20 to verbal violence is OK (or not) to which laws are well-defined and must be followed 100% of the time (what does it mean to really stop at a stop sign?). AI and IT (information technology) can define, enforce and update norms at scale and quickly…. No one is perfect and social norms in communities will vary with AI/IT helping ensure/permit the varied norms. Non-locality of communities. We already see this today with the various groups – mailing lists, conference calls, website, hashtags, etc. – that define communities that can be very tight/loose, small/large local/global. This might impact happiness; if everyone physically around you is a stranger (not in one of your communities), what will that mean for the physiological aspects of happiness – touch, smell, tastes, complex sounds and sights? At a technical level, the RF (radio frequency) signature of [an] individual will become increasingly important as the wired last mile disappears. Social norms will include RF – peaceful or aggressive/harmful. And you won’t be able to hide it [any] more than you can hide walking down the street.”

Betsy Williams , a researcher at the Center for Digital Society and Data Studies at the University of Arizona, wrote, “Free internet-connected devices will be available to the poor in exchange for carrying around a sensor that records traffic speed, environmental quality, detailed usage logs, and video and audio recordings (depending on state law). There will be secure vote-by-internet capabilities, through credit card or passport verification, with other secure kiosks available at public facilities (police stations, libraries, fire stations and post offices, should those continue to exist in their current form). There will be a movement online to require real-name verification to comment on more reputable sites; however, this will skew participation tremendously toward men, and the requirements will be reversed after a woman is assaulted or killed based on what she typed in a public-interest discussion.”

Pamela Rutledge , director of the Media Psychology Center, responded, “Starting with Generation Z and going forward, internet and 24/7 real-time connectivity will no longer be viewed as a ‘thing’ independent from daily life, but integral, like electricity. This has profound psychological implications about what people assume as normal and establishes baseline expectations for access, response times and personalization of functions and information. Contrary to many concerns, as technology becomes more sophisticated, it will ultimately support the primary human drives of social connectedness and agency. As we have seen with social media, first adoption is noncritical – it is a shiny penny for exploration. Then people start making judgments about the value-add based on their own goals and technology companies adapt by designing for more value to the user – we see that now in privacy settings and the concerns about information quality…. Technology is going to change whether we like it or not – expecting it to be worse for individuals means that we look for what’s wrong. Expecting it to be better means we look for the strengths and what works and work toward that goal. Technology gives individuals more control – a fundamental human need and a prerequisite to participatory citizenship and collective agency. The danger is that we are so distracted by technology that we forget that digital life is an extension of the offline world and demands the same critical, moral and ethical thinking.”

Geoff Livingston , author and futurist, commented, “Technology will become a seamless experience for most people. Only the very poor who cannot afford technology and the very rich who can choose to separate themselves from it will be free from connectedness. When I consider the current AI conversation, I often think the real evolution of sentient beings will be a hybrid connectedness between human and machine. Our very existence and day-to-day experience will be through an augmented experience that features faster thinking and more ethereal pleasures. This brings a question of what is human? Since most of us will be living in a machine-enhanced world, the perspective of human reality will always be in doubt. Most will simply move through their existence without a thought, able to change and alter it with new software packages and algorithms, accepting their reality as the new normal. Indeed, perception will become reality. There will be those who decry the movement forward and wish for yesteryear’s unplugged mind. The counter movement against the internet of 2070 will be significant, and yet much like today’s Luddite, it will find itself in the deep minority. For though the cultural implications will be significant, the internet of 2070 offers the world a much more prosperous and easier life. Most will choose comfort over independence from devices.”

Meryl Alper , an assistant professor of communication at Northeastern University and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, wrote, “Parents will be inundated by non-intuitive, AI-sourced information about their children (e.g., their moods, their behaviors) through the data collected about them in their everyday lives. Parents will face a choice about knowing too much about every single aspect of what their child does and says (be it with them or without them) or not knowing all the details – while being aware that someone else (teachers, doctors, law enforcement) is compiling this information for later determinations of some kind about their child. Parents will ultimately be encouraged to automate this data-intensive parenting, but this itself will create more work for parents (and thus more work for parents to outsource).”

Uta Russmann , professor in the Department of Communication at FHWien der WKW University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication, warned, “In 50 years every aspect of our life will be connected, organized and hence, partly controlled, as technology platform and applications businesses will take this opportunity. A few global players will dominate the business; smaller companies (startups) will mostly have a chance in the development sector. Many institutions, such as libraries, will disappear – there might be one or two libraries that function as museums to show how it used to be. People who experienced today’s world will definitely value the benefits and amenities they have through technology (human-machine/AI collaboration). If technology becomes part of every aspect of our lives we will have to give up some power and control. People thinking in today’s terms will lose a certain amount of freedom, independency and control over their lives. People born after 2030 will probably just think these technologies produced changes that are mostly for the better. It has always been like this – people have always thought/said ‘in the old days everything was better.’”

Danny Gillane , a netizen from Lafayette, Louisiana, commented, “The content owners will become the platform companies (Disney, Time Warner, etc.), and the platform companies will become the content owners (Comcast, Netflix, etc.). In the U.S., we will give up more privacy to gain more convenience. We will have to choose between paying with our wallets or paying with our personal information in order to keep up with the Joneses. Collaboration and communication will become less personal as more of it will be done through virtual reality and through our devices. The promise of worldwide connection will lessen as Europe places restrictions on tech companies to protect its citizens’ rights, but the U.S. will pass laws to protect shareholders even at the expense of its citizens’ rights. Unless the focus of technology innovation moves away from consumer entertainment and communication products (such as social networks) and more toward medical and scientific advances, we will see fewer people truly benefiting from the internet. The money that fuels America’s politics already fuels its legislative efforts, or lack of, with regard to technology. So, I actually don’t think we’ll see any actual change, unless one considers for-profit companies having an even larger presence in more parts of our lives more often and in more ways.”

Justin Reich , executive director of MIT Teaching Systems Lab and research scientist in the MIT Office of Digital Learning, responded, “The trends toward centralization and monopolization will persist. The free, open internet that represented a set of decentralized connections between idiosyncratic actors will be recognized as an aberration in the history of the internet. Today’s internet giants will probably be the internet giants of 50 years from now. In recent years, they’ve made substantial progress in curtailing innovation through acquisitions and copying. As the industry matures, they will add regulatory capture to their skill sets. For many people around the world, the internet will be a set of narrow portals where they exchange their data for a curtailed set of communication, information and consumer services.”

Michael R. Nelson , a technology policy expert for a leading network services provider who worked as a technology policy aide in the Clinton administration, commented, “We will see more change and disruption in the next 10 years than we have seen in the last 20. If governments and incumbents allow it, we could see twice as much. All we know about 2069 is that data storage, network capacity and tools to turn data into knowledge will be basically unlimited and cost almost nothing. But, we also know that the wisdom needed to use the power of technology will not be available to everyone. And we also know that political forces will try to create scarcity and favor some groups over others. Let us hope that the engineers innovate so fast that consumers have the tools and choices they need to overcome such constraints.”

Guy Levi , chief innovation officer for the Center for Educational Technology, based in Israel, wrote, “Digital tools will be part of our body inside and remotely, and will assist us in decision- making constantly, so it will become second nature. Nonetheless, physical feelings will still be exclusively ‘physical,’ i.e., there will be a significant difference between the ‘sensor-based feelings’ and real body feelings, so human beings will still have some advantages over technology. This, I believe, will last forever. Considering this, physical encounters among people will become more and more important and thus relationships, especially between couples, will prosper. It will be the return of LOVE.”

No need to give it orders – your digital assistant already knows what you want

Many of these experts expect that – despite some people’s worries over privacy issues – digital experiences will be far more personalized in 2069. One likely trend: Instead of having to directly communicate requests to a device, AI-enabled, database-fed digital technologies will anticipate individuals’ needs and provide customized solutions.

Michael Wollowski , associate professor of computer science and software engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, expert in the Internet of Things, diagrammatic systems and artificial intelligence, wrote, “Much of our lives will be automated. Better yet, we will be in control of the degree of automation. Technology will assume the role of a polite personal assistant who will seamlessly bow in and out. Technology based on learned patterns of behavior will arrange many things in our lives and suggest additional options.”

Peter Reiner , professor and co-founder of the National Core for Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia, Canada, commented, “The internet will remain a conduit for information about us as well as a tool for us to access information about the world. Whilst many commentators rightly worry about the degree to which apps can know about us today, we are only at the early stages of corporate and governmental surveillance of our inner lives. In 50 years’ time, apps will be remarkably more sophisticated in terms of their knowledge about us as agents – our wants and desires, our objectives and goals. Using that information, they will be able make decisions that align with our personal goals much better than they can do today, and as this happens they will become bona fide extensions of our minds – digital (or as seems likely, quantum-based) information-processing interfaces that are always available and seamlessly integrate with the human cognitive toolkit. These cognitive prostheses will be so much a part of our everyday lives that we will barely notice their existence. Our reliance upon them will be both a strength and a weakness. Our cognitive prowess will substantially expand, but we will feel diminished in their absence.”

David Zubrow , associate director of empirical research at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute, said, “Networked devices, data collection and information on demand will become even more ubiquitous. I would hope that better curation of information along with its provenance occurs. The trend of digital assistants that learn your preferences and habits from all the devices that you interact with will become integrated with each other and take on a persona. They may even act on your behalf with a degree of independence in the digital and physical worlds. As AI advances and becomes more independent and the internet becomes the world in which people live and work, laws for responsibility and accountability of the actions of AI will need to be made.”

Daniel Siewiorek , a professor with the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, predicted, “We will all have virtual coaches that learn and grow with us. They will be in communication with the virtual coaches of others, allowing us to learn from the experience of others. For example, my grandfather could teach me how to swing a baseball bat through his virtual coach even though my grandfather passed away before I was born.”

Gary Kreps , distinguished professor of communication and director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication at George Mason University, wrote, “Future computing systems will be fully integrated into everyday life, easy to access and use, and adaptable to meeting individual preferences and needs. These devices will serve as integrated personal assistants that can intuitively provide users with relevant information and support. There will be no need for typing in requests, since systems will be voice- and perhaps even thought-activated. These systems will adapt to user communication styles and competencies, using familiar and easy to understand messages to users. These messages will be presented both verbally and visually, with the ability to incorporate vivid examples and relevant interesting stories for users. Information content will build upon user preferences, experiences and needs. These personal computing systems will learn about users and adapt to changing user needs, assisting users in accomplishing important tasks and making important decisions. These systems will also automatically network users to relevant personal and professional contacts to facilitate communication as desired by users. The systems will also help users control other forms of technology, such as transportation, communication, health care, educational, occupational, financial, recreational and commercial applications. Care must be taken to program these systems to be responsive to user preferences and needs, easy to use, adaptive to changing conditions and easy for users to control.”

Mike Meyer , futurist and administrator at Honolulu Community College, commented, “It is becoming clear that, as human numbers increase to 10 billion and beyond in the next 50 years, diversity will be more and more valuable. The very nature of the technology that will become part of our bodies … [It] will shape the very nature of our communities and the natural result will be homogenization of the species. The nature of [the] planet will become predominantly urban with constant instantaneous communication. We are already well on the way to a planetary culture based on current metropolitan areas. This is a tremendous benefit allowing the move to AI-based management following universally defined and expanded rights. The desire will be for change and difference, innovation and originality to counter the growing sameness. This may, finally, eliminate the problem of irrational bigotry, racism and xenophobia. But that will lead to personal augmentation and, probably, genetic engineering to regain diversity under our individual control. A major challenge that I see is the management of virtual worlds for people with specific ideas or ideals who wish to and could live in the world as they want it to be. How will this be handled physically (‘The Matrix’ model) and morally? Living as master of a slave plantation may be desired by some. Should that be an option with no ‘real’ people involved? Overall the tremendous expansion of options will be good. But more questions will arise from this and answers may be difficult.”

Ian Rumbles , a quality-assurance specialist at North Carolina State University, said, “Fifty years from now the internet will be available to us through us thinking, versus using a keyboard or speaking. The display of data will be visible only to the user and how that display is shown will be totally customized for that user. The ability to obtain answers to questions and look up information in a format that is defined by the user will greatly improve the lives of people.”

More leisure time expected in ‘real life’ and virtual worlds

Could it be true that technology will finally create more free time? Some respondents in this study expect that the evolution of digital technologies will allow for more leisure activities and less “work.” Some predict people may choose to live most of their lives in a virtual reality that lacks the messy authenticity of real life. They also predict that in the widening global media marketplace of the future individuals will have access to a wider range of entertainment options than ever before.

Dan Schultz , senior creative technologist at the Internet Archive, said, “The world is about to have a LOT more time on its hands, a culture-redefining level of newfound time. Governments will need to figure out how to ensure people are compensated for that time in ways that don’t correlate to capitalistic value, and people are going to need creative outlets for their free time. We’re going to need better mental health services; we’re going to need to finally redefine the public education system to shift away from the 19th century factory model. It will either be a golden age for invention, leisure, entertainment and civic involvement, or it will be a dystopia of boredom and unemployment.”

James Gannon , global head of e-compliance for emerging technology, cloud and cybersecurity at Novartis, responded, “In 50 years machine-to-machine communication will have reduced a lot of menial decision-making for the average person. Smart-home technology manages the basic functions of the household, negating the need for many manual labor roles such as cleaners and gardeners. Many services are now delivered remotely such as telehealth and digital therapeutics…. Technology and the internet have already dramatically increased the standard of living for billions of people; this trend will not cease.”

Chao-Lin Liu , a professor at National Chengchi University, Taiwan, commented, “If we can handle the income and work problems, lives will be easier for most due to automation.”

Paola Perez , vice president of the Internet Society chapter in Venezuela and chair of the LACNIC Public Policy Forum, responded, “Technology will make everything in our lives. We won’t drive, we won’t cook. Apps are going to be adapted to all our needs. From the moment we wake up we are going to have technology that cooks for us, drives for us, works for us and suggests ideas for our work. Problems are going to be solved. But all our data is going to be known by everybody, so we won’t have private lives.”

Alex Smith , partner relationship manager at Monster Worldwide, said, “Everything will be centered around saving us time – giving us back more time in our days.”

A professor of communications said, “Simple, mundane tasks will be taken care of by AI, allowing more time for creative thinking, arts, music and literature.”

David Wells , the chief financial officer at Netflix at the time of this canvassing, has an idea for how to fill all of that free time. He predicted, “Continued global connectedness with our entertainment, music and news will mean global popularity of some media with a backdrop of local flavor that may be regional and/or hyper local. 3D visual (virtual) rendering will evolve and become integrated into user interfaces, discovery interfaces along with AI assistants, and will heavily define learning and entertainment.”

Gabor Melli , senior director of engineering for AI and machine learning for Sony PlayStation, responded, “By 2070, most people will willingly spend most of their lives in an augmented virtual reality. The internet and digital life will be extraordinary and partially extraplanetary. Innovations that will dramatically amplify this trajectory are unsupervised machine learning, fusion power and the wildcard of quantum computing.”

Valarie Bell , a computational social scientist at the University of North Texas, commented, “While the gadgets and tools we may have in the future may result in more conveniences, like when ovens turned into microwaves, we find with technology that we trade quality and uniqueness for convenience and uniformity. What tastes better and provides a better experience? The homemade chocolate cake Grandma made from scratch with attention to great ingredients and to baking the cake until it’s perfectly moist OR the microwaved chocolate-cake-for-one? The microwave cake takes less than 10 minutes and you simply add water, but Grandma’s cake is not over-processed, and you taste the real butter, real vanilla, real chocolate instead of powdered butter flavoring and powdered chocolate substitute. Technology will bring us things faster, perhaps even cheaper, but not necessarily better.”

Michel Grossetti , a sociologist expert in systems and director of research at CNRS, the French national science research center, wrote, “The boundaries between private life and work or public life will continue to blur.”

Social connections, community and collaboration will be improved

Some experts expect that digital advances will lead to better communication among disparate groups, resulting in stronger interpersonal relationships and positive community development. A number of respondents said that physical barriers to communication and community building will mostly disappear over the next half century. They are hopeful that greater connectivity will lead to better collaboration in response to major world problems, more equitable distributions of wealth and power and easier access to information and resources.

Tomas Ohlin , longtime professor at Linköping and Stockholm universities in Sweden, predicted, “AI will exist everywhere. The internet will, after a few decades, be replaced by a more value-added surface on top of our present system. Its governing will be truly decentralized, with participation from many. Cultural differences will exist on this surface, with borders that will differ from the present. However, there will not be as many borders as today; this new information society is a society with flexible borders. Human beings are friendly, and the world we create reflects this. Communication and contact between everybody is a fundamental and positive resource that will lead to fewer conflicts.”

Bryan Alexander , futurist and president of Bryan Anderson Consulting, responded, “I’m convinced we’ll see individuals learn how to use technologies more effectively, and that collectively we’ll learn how to reduce harm.”

Charles Zheng , a researcher into machine learning and AI with the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, commented, “Life will not qualitatively change much for people in the middle and upper classes of society. The biggest impact will be to the lower classes, and will mostly be positive. The increase in information gathering in all levels of society will also improve the efficiency of social welfare programs. Access to information becomes democratized as cities start offering free, basic Wi-Fi and the government hosts AI educational programs which can teach young people how to find jobs and access public resources. The increase in networking also makes … social nonprofits more effective at helping the disadvantaged. Government accountability is also improved now that people at all levels of society can leave reviews about government services online.”

Craig Mathias , principal at Farpoint Group, an advisory firm specializing in wireless networking and mobile computing, commented, “Civilization itself centers on and thus depends upon communication of all forms. The more we communicate, the better the opportunities for peace and prosperity on a global basis. It would be difficult to imagine communications without the internet, now and especially in the future.”

Gene Crick , director of the Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network and longtime U.S. community telecommunications expert, wrote, “Genuine universal technology access has become a vital issue for every community. AI/IT can make powerful tools, resources and opportunities available to anyone interested. To help rhetoric become reality, we could adopt and insist on a few fundamental principles, including standards for openness and accountability. How? Just a notion but perhaps a modernized version of the National Science Foundation internet administration transfer two decades ago.  Though the outcome was far from pretty, those who participated felt we got the job done. Today’s improved communications tools could make possible a much simpler, more widespread ‘grassroots’ discussion and decision process.”

Jean-Daniel Fekete , researcher in information visualization, visual analytics and human-computer interaction at INRIA, France, said, “The connected world will become even more integrated in our life and appliances, as a virtual extension of our physical world. Physical location [will] become less important, blurring the notion of workplace, home, vacation, traveling. In that world, humans will have easy access to mostly all intellectual resources, but companies will be fighting for human attention. Advertising is already too efficient, diverting attention already. Mitigating these threats will become essential to maintain a healthy humanity.”

Liz Rykert , president at Meta Strategies, a consultancy that works with technology and complex organizational change, responded, “We will see more and more integration of tools that support accountability. An early example of this is the use of body cams by police. The internet will let us both monitor and share data and images about what is happening, whether it is a devastating impact of climate change or an eventful incident of racism. Continued access to tools of accountability and access to knowledge and collaborative opportunities will support people to be both bold and collaborative as they seek new solutions. The internet will be the base to support these efforts as well as the platform that will continue to serve as the means for how we will work together to respond to problems either urgent (like a flood or fire) or longer-term like solving problems like affordable housing.”

Matt Belge , founder and president of Vision & Logic, said, “Humanity has always strived to be connected to other humans, and writing, publishing, art and education were all efforts to serve this desire. This desire is so deeply seated, this desire for connection, that it will drive everything we do. Privacy will become less of a concern and transparency will become more of the norm in the next 50 years. Therefore, I expect technology to enable deeper and more personal connections with fewer secrets and greater openness. Specifically, AI will help people with like interests work together, form deeper relationships and collaborate on advancing our entire species. I believe humans are always striving for more and more connection with other humans and technology is evolving in ways to facilitated this.”

Sam Ladner , a former UX researcher for Amazon and Microsoft, now an adjunct professor at Ontario College of Art & Design, wrote, “We will continue to see a melding of digital and analog ‘selves,’ in which humans will now consider their digital experiences less and less divorced from their face-to-face experiences. Face-to-face social connections will become ever more precious, and ever more elusive. Having an ‘in real life’ relationship will be a commodity to be exploited and a challenge to keep. Physical experiences will increasingly be infused with digital ‘backchannel’ experiences, such as an ongoing digital conversation either in text, images or VR, while the physical event carries on. Likewise, IRL (in real-life) events will become even more exclusive, expensive and a source of cultural capital. Isolated people will fail to see their isolation before it reaches a desperate point, because collectively, we will fail to see physical connections as a key ingredient to ward off loneliness. Loneliness will take on a new meaning; digital friends will assist some isolated people, but loneliness will focus more on lack of human touch, and face-to-face eye contact. New medical disorders will emerge, based on this social withdrawal, and given the aging demographic, a public policy crisis will overwhelm nation-states’ budgets and capabilities. Lonely, aging, physically infirm people may find relief in online forums of all sorts, but we will be surprised to learn what a total absence of IRL interaction will yield.”

Peggy Lahammer , director of health/life sciences at Robins Kaplan LLP and legal market analyst, commented, “Historically access to natural resources, with limited intelligence on how to best use those resources, provided the means to survive and prosper. As we continue to become more specialized in our expertise and less skilled in many tasks required to survive, we are more dependent on others with specialized talents. I believe the internet and a connected world have fueled this transformation and will continue to do so in the next 50 years. The internet will continue to connect people around the globe and cause instability in areas where people have limited resources, information or specialized skills necessary to thrive.”

Bert Huang , an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech focused on machine learning, wrote, “I believe the internet can meet the promise of helping people connect to all of humanity. The main concern I see with the internet is that it plays counter to human intuitions about scale. When humans see thousands of like-minded individuals on the internet, it is too easy to believe that those thousands of people represent all of humanity. One promise of the internet is that it would allow people to interact with, and learn from, individuals with widely different backgrounds, unifying the human species in way that was previously impossible. Unfortunately, the more recent effect has apparently been that people are further entrenched in their own narrow views because they are surrounded on the internet with inconceivably large numbers of people sharing their own views. These large numbers make it difficult for people to fathom that other valid views exist. I believe technology can and will help alleviate this problem.”

A technical information science professional commented, “The daily living ‘operations’ will change drastically from today – how we work, how we take care of family, how we ‘commute’ from place to place, how we entertain and so on. However, the fundamental of living, creating and maintaining meaningful relationships with others will be more dominant focus of our lives, and those concerns and efforts will not change.”

Several of the expert respondents who said they believe humanity will be better off in the future thanks to digital life said that in 50 years individuals will have greater autonomy and more control over their personal data.

Eileen Donahoe , executive director of the Global Digital Policy Incubator at Stanford University, commented, “I envision a dramatic change in terms of how we think about people’s ownership and control of their own data. People’s data will be seen as a valuable commodity and platforms will arise to facilitate data sovereignty for individuals. If we move toward development and deployment of platforms and systems that allow individuals autonomy to choose when and where they exchange their data for goods and services, this will constitute an important positive step toward wider distribution of the benefits of a data-driven society.”

Greg Lloyd , president and co-founder at Traction Software, responded, “The next 50 years will see performance of hardware, storage and bandwidth increase and cost decrease at a rate no less than the past 50 years. This means that the resources available to any person – at the cost of a current smartphone and network subscription – will be close to the resources supporting a Google regional center. This will turn the advertising supported and privacy invasive economic model of the current internet on its head, making it possible for anyone to afford dedicated, private and secure resources to support a Prospero and Ariel-like world of certified and secure services. That people agreed to grant access to their most private resources and actions to platform companies in order to support use of subsidized internet services will become as oddly amusing as the fact that people once earned their living as flagpole sitters. Your smartphone and its personal AI services will be exactly that: your property, which you pay for and use with confidence. When you use certified agents or services, you’ll have choices ranging from free (routine commerce, public library or government services) to fabulously expensive (the best legal minds, most famous pop stars, bespoke design and manufacturing of any artifacts, membership in the most exclusive ‘places’). In all cases your personal smartphone (or whatever it turns into) will help you negotiate enforceable contracts for these services, monitor performance and provide evidence any case of dispute. Think Apple with a smart lawyer, accountant, friend and adviser in your smartphone, not Facebook becoming Silicon Valley’s version of Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil.’”

James Scofield O’Rourke , a professor of management at the University of Notre Dame specializing in reputation management, commented, “I foresee two large applications of digital connections such as the internet over the next half century. First, I see access to information, processes and expertise that would either be delayed or inaccessible today. Second, I see a much larger degree of autonomy for the individual. This could mean everything from driverless trucks, automobiles and other vehicles to individual control over our immediate environment, our assets and possessions, and our ability to choose. In exchange, of course, the notion of privacy will virtually disappear.”

R “Ray” Wang , founder and principal analyst at Silicon Valley-based Constellation Research, said, “The new internet can also be a place where we decentralize human rights, enabling an individual to protect their data privacy and stay free. Keep in mind privacy is not dead. It’s up to us as a society to enforce these human rights.”

Susan Aaronson , a research professor of international affairs and cross-disciplinary fellow at George Washington University, responded, “I admit to being a techno optimist. I believe that true entrepreneurs ‘see’ areas/functions that need improvements and will utilize technologies in ways that make it easier for, as an example, the blind to see.”

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Josephine Wolff; How Is Technology Changing the World, and How Should the World Change Technology?. Global Perspectives 1 February 2021; 2 (1): 27353. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2021.27353

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Technologies are becoming increasingly complicated and increasingly interconnected. Cars, airplanes, medical devices, financial transactions, and electricity systems all rely on more computer software than they ever have before, making them seem both harder to understand and, in some cases, harder to control. Government and corporate surveillance of individuals and information processing relies largely on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and therefore involves less human-to-human contact than ever before and more opportunities for biases to be embedded and codified in our technological systems in ways we may not even be able to identify or recognize. Bioengineering advances are opening up new terrain for challenging philosophical, political, and economic questions regarding human-natural relations. Additionally, the management of these large and small devices and systems is increasingly done through the cloud, so that control over them is both very remote and removed from direct human or social control. The study of how to make technologies like artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things “explainable” has become its own area of research because it is so difficult to understand how they work or what is at fault when something goes wrong (Gunning and Aha 2019) .

This growing complexity makes it more difficult than ever—and more imperative than ever—for scholars to probe how technological advancements are altering life around the world in both positive and negative ways and what social, political, and legal tools are needed to help shape the development and design of technology in beneficial directions. This can seem like an impossible task in light of the rapid pace of technological change and the sense that its continued advancement is inevitable, but many countries around the world are only just beginning to take significant steps toward regulating computer technologies and are still in the process of radically rethinking the rules governing global data flows and exchange of technology across borders.

These are exciting times not just for technological development but also for technology policy—our technologies may be more advanced and complicated than ever but so, too, are our understandings of how they can best be leveraged, protected, and even constrained. The structures of technological systems as determined largely by government and institutional policies and those structures have tremendous implications for social organization and agency, ranging from open source, open systems that are highly distributed and decentralized, to those that are tightly controlled and closed, structured according to stricter and more hierarchical models. And just as our understanding of the governance of technology is developing in new and interesting ways, so, too, is our understanding of the social, cultural, environmental, and political dimensions of emerging technologies. We are realizing both the challenges and the importance of mapping out the full range of ways that technology is changing our society, what we want those changes to look like, and what tools we have to try to influence and guide those shifts.

Technology can be a source of tremendous optimism. It can help overcome some of the greatest challenges our society faces, including climate change, famine, and disease. For those who believe in the power of innovation and the promise of creative destruction to advance economic development and lead to better quality of life, technology is a vital economic driver (Schumpeter 1942) . But it can also be a tool of tremendous fear and oppression, embedding biases in automated decision-making processes and information-processing algorithms, exacerbating economic and social inequalities within and between countries to a staggering degree, or creating new weapons and avenues for attack unlike any we have had to face in the past. Scholars have even contended that the emergence of the term technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries marked a shift from viewing individual pieces of machinery as a means to achieving political and social progress to the more dangerous, or hazardous, view that larger-scale, more complex technological systems were a semiautonomous form of progress in and of themselves (Marx 2010) . More recently, technologists have sharply criticized what they view as a wave of new Luddites, people intent on slowing the development of technology and turning back the clock on innovation as a means of mitigating the societal impacts of technological change (Marlowe 1970) .

At the heart of fights over new technologies and their resulting global changes are often two conflicting visions of technology: a fundamentally optimistic one that believes humans use it as a tool to achieve greater goals, and a fundamentally pessimistic one that holds that technological systems have reached a point beyond our control. Technology philosophers have argued that neither of these views is wholly accurate and that a purely optimistic or pessimistic view of technology is insufficient to capture the nuances and complexity of our relationship to technology (Oberdiek and Tiles 1995) . Understanding technology and how we can make better decisions about designing, deploying, and refining it requires capturing that nuance and complexity through in-depth analysis of the impacts of different technological advancements and the ways they have played out in all their complicated and controversial messiness across the world.

These impacts are often unpredictable as technologies are adopted in new contexts and come to be used in ways that sometimes diverge significantly from the use cases envisioned by their designers. The internet, designed to help transmit information between computer networks, became a crucial vehicle for commerce, introducing unexpected avenues for crime and financial fraud. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, designed to connect friends and families through sharing photographs and life updates, became focal points of election controversies and political influence. Cryptocurrencies, originally intended as a means of decentralized digital cash, have become a significant environmental hazard as more and more computing resources are devoted to mining these forms of virtual money. One of the crucial challenges in this area is therefore recognizing, documenting, and even anticipating some of these unexpected consequences and providing mechanisms to technologists for how to think through the impacts of their work, as well as possible other paths to different outcomes (Verbeek 2006) . And just as technological innovations can cause unexpected harm, they can also bring about extraordinary benefits—new vaccines and medicines to address global pandemics and save thousands of lives, new sources of energy that can drastically reduce emissions and help combat climate change, new modes of education that can reach people who would otherwise have no access to schooling. Regulating technology therefore requires a careful balance of mitigating risks without overly restricting potentially beneficial innovations.

Nations around the world have taken very different approaches to governing emerging technologies and have adopted a range of different technologies themselves in pursuit of more modern governance structures and processes (Braman 2009) . In Europe, the precautionary principle has guided much more anticipatory regulation aimed at addressing the risks presented by technologies even before they are fully realized. For instance, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation focuses on the responsibilities of data controllers and processors to provide individuals with access to their data and information about how that data is being used not just as a means of addressing existing security and privacy threats, such as data breaches, but also to protect against future developments and uses of that data for artificial intelligence and automated decision-making purposes. In Germany, Technische Überwachungsvereine, or TÜVs, perform regular tests and inspections of technological systems to assess and minimize risks over time, as the tech landscape evolves. In the United States, by contrast, there is much greater reliance on litigation and liability regimes to address safety and security failings after-the-fact. These different approaches reflect not just the different legal and regulatory mechanisms and philosophies of different nations but also the different ways those nations prioritize rapid development of the technology industry versus safety, security, and individual control. Typically, governance innovations move much more slowly than technological innovations, and regulations can lag years, or even decades, behind the technologies they aim to govern.

In addition to this varied set of national regulatory approaches, a variety of international and nongovernmental organizations also contribute to the process of developing standards, rules, and norms for new technologies, including the International Organization for Standardization­ and the International Telecommunication Union. These multilateral and NGO actors play an especially important role in trying to define appropriate boundaries for the use of new technologies by governments as instruments of control for the state.

At the same time that policymakers are under scrutiny both for their decisions about how to regulate technology as well as their decisions about how and when to adopt technologies like facial recognition themselves, technology firms and designers have also come under increasing criticism. Growing recognition that the design of technologies can have far-reaching social and political implications means that there is more pressure on technologists to take into consideration the consequences of their decisions early on in the design process (Vincenti 1993; Winner 1980) . The question of how technologists should incorporate these social dimensions into their design and development processes is an old one, and debate on these issues dates back to the 1970s, but it remains an urgent and often overlooked part of the puzzle because so many of the supposedly systematic mechanisms for assessing the impacts of new technologies in both the private and public sectors are primarily bureaucratic, symbolic processes rather than carrying any real weight or influence.

Technologists are often ill-equipped or unwilling to respond to the sorts of social problems that their creations have—often unwittingly—exacerbated, and instead point to governments and lawmakers to address those problems (Zuckerberg 2019) . But governments often have few incentives to engage in this area. This is because setting clear standards and rules for an ever-evolving technological landscape can be extremely challenging, because enforcement of those rules can be a significant undertaking requiring considerable expertise, and because the tech sector is a major source of jobs and revenue for many countries that may fear losing those benefits if they constrain companies too much. This indicates not just a need for clearer incentives and better policies for both private- and public-sector entities but also a need for new mechanisms whereby the technology development and design process can be influenced and assessed by people with a wider range of experiences and expertise. If we want technologies to be designed with an eye to their impacts, who is responsible for predicting, measuring, and mitigating those impacts throughout the design process? Involving policymakers in that process in a more meaningful way will also require training them to have the analytic and technical capacity to more fully engage with technologists and understand more fully the implications of their decisions.

At the same time that tech companies seem unwilling or unable to rein in their creations, many also fear they wield too much power, in some cases all but replacing governments and international organizations in their ability to make decisions that affect millions of people worldwide and control access to information, platforms, and audiences (Kilovaty 2020) . Regulators around the world have begun considering whether some of these companies have become so powerful that they violate the tenets of antitrust laws, but it can be difficult for governments to identify exactly what those violations are, especially in the context of an industry where the largest players often provide their customers with free services. And the platforms and services developed by tech companies are often wielded most powerfully and dangerously not directly by their private-sector creators and operators but instead by states themselves for widespread misinformation campaigns that serve political purposes (Nye 2018) .

Since the largest private entities in the tech sector operate in many countries, they are often better poised to implement global changes to the technological ecosystem than individual states or regulatory bodies, creating new challenges to existing governance structures and hierarchies. Just as it can be challenging to provide oversight for government use of technologies, so, too, oversight of the biggest tech companies, which have more resources, reach, and power than many nations, can prove to be a daunting task. The rise of network forms of organization and the growing gig economy have added to these challenges, making it even harder for regulators to fully address the breadth of these companies’ operations (Powell 1990) . The private-public partnerships that have emerged around energy, transportation, medical, and cyber technologies further complicate this picture, blurring the line between the public and private sectors and raising critical questions about the role of each in providing critical infrastructure, health care, and security. How can and should private tech companies operating in these different sectors be governed, and what types of influence do they exert over regulators? How feasible are different policy proposals aimed at technological innovation, and what potential unintended consequences might they have?

Conflict between countries has also spilled over significantly into the private sector in recent years, most notably in the case of tensions between the United States and China over which technologies developed in each country will be permitted by the other and which will be purchased by other customers, outside those two countries. Countries competing to develop the best technology is not a new phenomenon, but the current conflicts have major international ramifications and will influence the infrastructure that is installed and used around the world for years to come. Untangling the different factors that feed into these tussles as well as whom they benefit and whom they leave at a disadvantage is crucial for understanding how governments can most effectively foster technological innovation and invention domestically as well as the global consequences of those efforts. As much of the world is forced to choose between buying technology from the United States or from China, how should we understand the long-term impacts of those choices and the options available to people in countries without robust domestic tech industries? Does the global spread of technologies help fuel further innovation in countries with smaller tech markets, or does it reinforce the dominance of the states that are already most prominent in this sector? How can research universities maintain global collaborations and research communities in light of these national competitions, and what role does government research and development spending play in fostering innovation within its own borders and worldwide? How should intellectual property protections evolve to meet the demands of the technology industry, and how can those protections be enforced globally?

These conflicts between countries sometimes appear to challenge the feasibility of truly global technologies and networks that operate across all countries through standardized protocols and design features. Organizations like the International Organization for Standardization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and many others have tried to harmonize these policies and protocols across different countries for years, but have met with limited success when it comes to resolving the issues of greatest tension and disagreement among nations. For technology to operate in a global environment, there is a need for a much greater degree of coordination among countries and the development of common standards and norms, but governments continue to struggle to agree not just on those norms themselves but even the appropriate venue and processes for developing them. Without greater global cooperation, is it possible to maintain a global network like the internet or to promote the spread of new technologies around the world to address challenges of sustainability? What might help incentivize that cooperation moving forward, and what could new structures and process for governance of global technologies look like? Why has the tech industry’s self-regulation culture persisted? Do the same traditional drivers for public policy, such as politics of harmonization and path dependency in policy-making, still sufficiently explain policy outcomes in this space? As new technologies and their applications spread across the globe in uneven ways, how and when do they create forces of change from unexpected places?

These are some of the questions that we hope to address in the Technology and Global Change section through articles that tackle new dimensions of the global landscape of designing, developing, deploying, and assessing new technologies to address major challenges the world faces. Understanding these processes requires synthesizing knowledge from a range of different fields, including sociology, political science, economics, and history, as well as technical fields such as engineering, climate science, and computer science. A crucial part of understanding how technology has created global change and, in turn, how global changes have influenced the development of new technologies is understanding the technologies themselves in all their richness and complexity—how they work, the limits of what they can do, what they were designed to do, how they are actually used. Just as technologies themselves are becoming more complicated, so are their embeddings and relationships to the larger social, political, and legal contexts in which they exist. Scholars across all disciplines are encouraged to join us in untangling those complexities.

Josephine Wolff is an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Her book You’ll See This Message When It Is Too Late: The Legal and Economic Aftermath of Cybersecurity Breaches was published by MIT Press in 2018.

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Argumentative Essay

Argumentative Essay About Technology

Last updated on: Apr 8, 2024

Make Your Argumentative Essay About Technology Unbeatable: Examples and Tips

By: Barbara P.

15 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 9, 2023

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the task of writing an argumentative essay about technology? Don't worry – you're not alone. 

Technology is a vast and rapidly evolving field, making it a challenging topic to tackle. But fear not!  With the right structure, examples, and tips, you'll be equipped to create a persuasive and captivating essay that will impress your readers.

In this blog, we're here to guide you through the process, providing you with engaging examples and essential guidelines. With our help, you'll be able to create an argument that is both persuasive and well-supported by evidence.

So read on and make sure your argumentative essay about technology is unbeatable! 

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay About Technology?

Now you know what argumentative essays about technology are and why they're important? 

Let's look at how to write a compelling argument. 

Pick a Title

The title of your essay should capture the attention of your reader and summarize the main points of your argument. 

Think carefully about how you want to frame your argument in order to create an effective title. It should be short and catchy, but also accurately reflect the main arguments or ideas in your essay. 

Form an Outline 

After deciding on a title for your essay, it’s important to form an outline of the key points and arguments you will make in each paragraph. This will help keep you organized during the writing process and ensure that all of your ideas are connected. 

Make sure there is good flow between each section so that readers can follow along easily. 

Here is an outline template for argumentative essay about technology:

Write an Introduction 

Your introduction is where you set up the context for your essay and explain what it is that you will be arguing throughout the rest of the text. 

Include relevant background information, as well as any interesting facts or anecdotes that could help engage readers from the beginning. 

Be sure to end with a thesis statement that clearly lays out which side you are taking in this debate and what evidence will be used to support it.

Write Body Paragraphs 

Your body paragraphs are where most of your research comes into play! 

Ensure these paragraphs contain detailed evidence from reliable sources that supports each point being made in each paragraph. 

Additionally, be sure to use transition words throughout these sections so that readers can follow along easily from one point to another.  

Write a Conclusion

Your conclusion should briefly outline the key points and evidence used throughout your paper. While reiterating why this particular topic is so important and relevant today. 

Your conclusion should leave readers with something thought-provoking! 

Perhaps something they hadn’t considered before rather than just summarizing everything they have already read in previous paragraphs.

Looking for guidance on crafting powerful arguments? Look no further than our argumentative essay guide! 

Check out this informative video to learn how to construct a persuasive argumentative essay!

Examples of Argumentative Essay About Technology

Now that you know how to write an argumentative essay about technology, let's look at some examples.

These examples will help you get a better understanding of the argumentative essay structure and what types of arguments you can make. 

Argumentative Essay About Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology

Let’s take a look:

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Argumentative Essay On Technology And Society

Here is a short argumentative essay on technology and society: 

Example of a Research-Based Argumentative Essay About Technology

Argumentative essay examples are a great way to gain a better understanding of how technology is affecting our lives - both positively and negatively. 

To help illustrate this argument, this essay will look at the evidence for an argumentative essay about technology.

Here are some additional examples for you to get inspired!

Argumentative Essay About Technology And Social Media

Argumentative Essay About Technology In Education

Argumentative Essay About Technology A Friend Or A Foe

Argumentative Essay About Technology Make Us Alone

Is Technology Good Or Bad Argumentative Essay

5 Paragraph Argumentative Essay About Technology

If you're searching for the determination to create a persuasive essay, our blog of argumentative essay examples is just what you need!

Good Argumentative Essay About Technology Topics

When writing argumentative essays about technology, it's important to identify a topic that is relevant and argumentative.

The following are some good argumentative essay topics related to technology: 

• Will AI bring more benefits or risks to society?
• Is social media a positive or negative influence on society?
• How can individuals and organizations better protect themselves from cyber threats?
• Should individuals have more control over their personal data online?
• Will automation lead to mass unemployment or create new job opportunities?
• Is VR technology more beneficial for entertainment or educational purposes?
• Should governments have the authority to regulate and censor online content?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of widespread 5G implementation?
• Is the use of biometric data for identification and security purposes ethical?
• How can technology be effectively integrated into classrooms to enhance learning outcomes?

Want to write an essay that will grab your readers' attention? Explore our blog for more thrilling argumentative essay topics !

Summarizing it all,  argumentative essay examples about technology can help to illustrate the argument for or against its use in our lives. By exploring various argumentative essay topics related to technology, you can gain a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of its use. 

So, take a look at the argumentative essay topics provided above and create your argumentative essay today! 

And if you are still seeking help with your argumentative essay, contact our essay writer today!

Our argumentative essay writer has the knowledge and experience to write the best argumentative essay for you. 

So request “ write my paper ” today and we guarantee that your essay will be well-structured, argumentative, and insightful. 

So don't hesitate - to contact our argumentative essay writing service today! 

Literature, Marketing

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Essay on Technology – A Boon or Bane for Students

500+ words essay on technology for students.

In this essay on technology, we are going to discuss what technology is, what are its uses, and also what technology can do? First of all, technology refers to the use of technical and scientific knowledge to create, monitor, and design machinery. Also, technology helps in making other goods that aid mankind.

Essay on Technology – A Boon or Bane?

Experts are debating on this topic for years. Also, the technology covered a long way to make human life easier but the negative aspect of it can’t be ignored. Over the years technological advancement has caused a severe rise in pollution . Also, pollution has become a major cause of many health issues. Besides, it has cut off people from society rather than connecting them. Above all, it has taken away many jobs from the workers class.

Familiarity between Technology and Science

As they are completely different fields but they are interdependent on each other. Also, it is due to science contribution we can create new innovation and build new technological tools. Apart from that, the research conducted in laboratories contributes a lot to the development of technologies. On the other hand, technology extends the agenda of science.

Vital Part of our Life

Regularly evolving technology has become an important part of our lives. Also, newer technologies are taking the market by storm and the people are getting used to them in no time. Above all, technological advancement has led to the growth and development of nations.

Negative Aspect of Technology

Although technology is a good thing, everything has two sides. Technology also has two sides one is good and the other is bad. Here are some negative aspects of technology that we are going to discuss.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

With new technology the industrialization increases which give birth to many pollutions like air, water, soil, and noise. Also, they cause many health-related issues in animals, birds, and human beings.

Exhaustion of Natural Resources

New technology requires new resources for which the balance is disturbed. Eventually, this will lead to over-exploitation of natural resources which ultimately disturbs the balance of nature.

Unemployment

A single machine can replace many workers. Also, machines can do work at a constant pace for several hours or days without stopping. Due to this, many workers lost their job which ultimately increases unemployment .

Types of Technology

Generally, we judge technology on the same scale but in reality, technology is divided into various types. This includes information technology, industrial technology , architectural technology, creative technology and many more. Let’s discuss these technologies in brief.

Industrial Technology

This technology organizes engineering and manufacturing technology for the manufacturing of machines. Also, this makes the production process easier and convenient.

Creative Technology

This process includes art, advertising, and product design which are made with the help of software. Also, it comprises of 3D printers , virtual reality, computer graphics, and other wearable technologies.

Information Technology

This technology involves the use of telecommunication and computer to send, receive and store information. Internet is the best example of Information technology.

FAQs on Essay on Technology

Q.1 What is Information technology?

A –  It is a form of technology that uses telecommunication and computer systems for study. Also, they send, retrieve, and store data.

Q.2 Is technology harmful to humans?

 A – No, technology is not harmful to human beings until it is used properly. But, misuses of technology can be harmful and deadly.

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Has Technology Made Our Life Easier or More Complicated

Technology has undoubtedly changed the world. Some people say that technology has complicated our lifestyle, but in most cases, it has been beneficial in terms of making life convenient. So obviously, the advantages of technology are more than the disadvantages.

Firstly, it has made human life very easy, especially related to connecting with friends and their loved ones and sharing content and info around the world easily. The first thing you do when you want to get information about something is googling it .

Secondly, it is evident that using advanced technology in the medical field has a positive impact on making people have a healthy and comfortable life.

Algorithms can help doctors assess patients and their health risks , while surgery simulators use machine intelligence in training medical professionals.

Third, it has made most of the areas easier, more effective and available because of the use of the internet .

The general areas where technology has improved our quality of life are:

• Daily obligations
• Communication
• Advertising of businesses
• Data storage and file sharing

Technology is improving our quality of life

Siri, Alexa or Cortana enable all of us to have digital assistants if we want them, while Google Maps does our navigating for us. Artificial intelligence is widely employed by financial institutions to organize, manage and even prevent fraud uses and stealing personal data.

Search engines have become our everyday source of instant information. Because people rely too much on search engines, their algorithms are programmed to give people the most relevant answers.

Many smartphone apps help in our everyday obligations, like finance, medical, lifestyle and similar areas, significantly speeding up the processes that many years ago would need more time to accomplish.

Better communication

Decades ago, the way of transferring a message was long and the wait was for days and even, in some cases, for months. The ability to communicate has mostly improved with the rise of the internet and smartphones.

Now, all it takes is a few clicks and seconds of our fingers on the smartphones to send out a mail, message and start chatting with someone you know. We only need an internet connection, Wi-Fi or 4G and an app like FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram to chat, make video calls or audio calls.

Still, nowadays people use the internet to not only keep in touch with their family, colleagues, friends, or connect with brands over social media platforms but also to get information or read news from around the world easily. Therefore, it is true that modern age technology has made it possible to connect with the world easily.

Pieces of technology, like e-mail, social media, chats, project management tools and other means of communication increased our productivity, making the distance and time zones irrelevant.

Technology has made advertising easier and more effective

Technology has not left a single aspect of our lives untouched. With the usage of smartphones and the internet, we are easily exposed to digital advertisements.

Nowadays, owing to the rise of digital technology, online marketing and connected devices, advertising has become a lot easier and comfortable, especially for smaller businesses and startups. It has also become measurable, more cost-effective and available, spreading the message 24/7.

We can easily promote our business online to billions of people worldwide or search for products and services at the click of a button or swipe of a finger. Technology has enhanced the creativity of how businesses advertise today.

Some examples of advertising platforms that are available for every business are Facebook Ads Manager, Google Marketing Platform (Google Ads), LinkedIn, etc.

Amazing changes in the travel industry

Could you imagine going on a trip without Google Maps or similar apps?

Technology has impacted the travel industry in a huge way. There are Google Maps, Google Earth, Navigon and dozens of similar apps which the user can operate and use as per their convenience.

Moreover, technology has changed business models in the travel sector, such as car rentals and taxi services. For example, Uber’s model made taxi and transportation services more accessible and easier for everyone.

It is predicted that there will be more upcoming changes in the transportation and travel sector on major levels.

Technology has made learning easier and efficient

With the rise of informal education and skills requirements, people had to get more tech-savvy and learn how to search for necessary information on the internet.

Online learning has also become more accessible. You only need a Google or Facebook account, willingness and free time. There are many websites with free courses that can teach you valuable skills required for modern-day jobs.

Owing to this, learning and grabbing new information regarding any subject or industry has become way easier for students, which is good for everyone who is curious and ambitious.

Role of technology in data storing

Many years ago retrieving data was a very tough process to deal with as people had to scour various physical files and specifically hand-pick the file by narrowing it down.

Nowadays, all you need to do is save files on your computer, tablet or mobile phone, and it is accessible from anywhere on the internet.

Whenever you need it, you can search for the specific file and within seconds it will be in your hands. Not just it is time-saving, but it also has made information flow significantly easier.

Today, no one can think to spend a life without tech, and whether we accept it or not, technology has become the basic need of our world and we are so dependent on it.

If we want to survive in the long run, we all need to stay connected with modern technology and make new steps each and every day.

The fact is that it moves our society forward even though sometimes we do not feel that way.

However, technology has been rising at a very rapid pace so we should be careful how we use it and embrace it because sometimes it can have a dangerous impact on our everyday lives.

So, the right technology in the right hands makes life easier.

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How Technology Makes Life Easier and Safer

Lianna arakelyan.

• March 5, 2024

The early 2000s introduced us to countless technological breakthroughs . Since then, technology appears as if it has become a necessity. Almost everyone in the world is into tech. It has even been used as a status symbol. Especially in the higher class, the latest technology in gadgets alone defines your level of “coolness.”

Table of Contents

However, technology doesn’t only dictate one’s social economics standing; and it shouldn’t be the only reason why you should use the latest technology. Apparently, people also rely on technology because of countless benefits that it can give.

How Technology Impacts our Lives

These days, many people rave over the latest tech trends because they use it as a status symbol. But technology can do so much more than that. Apart from being used as a status marking people can also use it to make their lives easier and safer. Take a closer look at how it can benefit us more.

The management of money is safer

One of the best things that technology does is help in managing our money . Using technology allows you to automate tasks, set up reminders, gather receipts, track investments, compare prices, and more.

With technology, you won’t have to waste your time doing simple financial tasks. With just a few clicks, you can instantly pay your bills. You can also set up reminders that would ensure that you won’t miss any due date for your bills no matter where you are in the world.

In addition to that, you can keep track of your transactions. With the help of mobile applications , you don’t have to worry about losing your receipts as everything is recorded digitally.

You can even get to track your investments. There are apps that will help you track your shares and keep you posted on new investment opportunities .

The best part of it is that you can even get to avoid financial mistakes. With all kinds of scams in the online world, it’s easy to have second thoughts in trusting technology with your money. But technology isn’t all that bad. There are good tools that can help protect you from scams. With this, you’re sure that your money is always safe.

Smart Home Automation

Of course, technology can secure you too. Experts say that burglary happens every 25.7 seconds . And even if almost all of us are quarantined in our homes due to the pandemic, the police still see a spike in burglary incidents in many cities, according to Hawaii Tribune Herald.

No one deserves to not feel safe even in their own home. Luckily, technology can also help make your home feel a lot safer. These days, there are countless devices that can keep an eye on both outside and inside of your home.

One of which are CCTV cameras that you can place outside your home to see who’s lurking in your property without your permission. There are also surveillance cameras, which you can place indoors to keep track of your loved ones, especially when you’re away. There are alarms that would sound off if someone breaks into your house too. Smart locks are also available that feature built-in cameras, intercom systems, and even an emergency siren.

Apart from the security, technology can also make everything convenient. A home’s high-tech features can do even the most mundane task for you. With this, you won’t have to exert much effort. This gives you more time to relax and enjoy the comfort of your home.

With the help of technology, you won’t need a remote to control the lights. Some smart lighting systems can now be controlled by your own voice or even just by making sounds, like clapping.

You won’t even need to lift a finger nor stand up to open or close the blinds. Like the smart lighting systems, you can also get to control your windows or blinds via voice command or artificial intelligence.

Capturing and Reviewing Information is Easier

Technology also allows doing business easier. Back in the days when we had to do things manually, doing business was harder as you had to capture datas and other documents manually. And when you need to review the information you need, you’d still have to go over a pile of physical files. This eats so much time and effort before.

But thanks to the advancements in our technology, you won’t have to keep or duplicate important documents manually. You also won’t need to store multiple physical files.

Today, we have pieces of equipment that we can use to scan documents much easier and faster. We also have various software and applications that can help us store important documents.

As a result, you won’t need to search through piles of papers or folders if you need to review some information. You can now easily look for the file you need with just a few clicks. You’ll be more productive as you’ll have more time to spend on other tasks that you need to do.

Fast and Easy Data Retrieval

Speaking of data , you won’t need to worry about losing your data too. Before, losing documents is a huge hassle. If you accidentally destroy or lose it, there’s a small chance of getting it back.

But because of the latest innovations introduced over the years, documents and other data are in safer hands. True enough, there’s still a chance that you can lose your files in spite of the advancements in technology. It’s easy to erase it. Plus, computers and other devices can be infected with viruses that could destroy the files.

But the good news is that you can easily create a backup for your files. Thus, when you accidentally erase it, you’ll still have backup. On top of that, in case your files were destroyed by a virus, you can retrieve it with the help of computer experts.

Access to Information is Trouble-Free

Probably one of the best things that technology can do is provide easy access. Before, delivering work from other places seems impossible as it wasn’t easy to take piles of physical files with you. Access to information was also limited as you have to go to the library to search for a book or file that you need.

But thanks to technology, it’s not easier to work, study, or do almost any task wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection. With just a few clicks, you can get access to loads of information. Because of this, we have more freedom and we can deliver our work from almost any part of the world.

Technology makes sharing files, studying, and more much easier. You won’t have to be tied to a physical location as you can have access to almost anything wherever, whenever.

Easy and Fast Communication

Technology helps us connect. Back in the 90s, it was hard to communicate. You’d have to write a letter and wait for days or even months to receive a reply. Important documents also take time to be delivered. But today, technology has made it easier for us.

Thanks to innovations, you won’t need to wait for weeks to send a message to someone. You can just send your message via messaging apps and wait for seconds for it to be delivered.

The best part of it is that technology doesn’t make us miss a loved one too much. Because today, you can even call a loved one via video chat. SInce you can get to see each other through video calls, you’ll feel as if you’re just a few steps apart

Sending important files is much easier because of the technology. People in the office can communicate better and send important data within minutes.

Finding Lost Items in No Time

Finding small yet important things such as car keys and mobiles phones can be frustrating. They aren’t just hard to find but your tasks can also be affected if you can’t find them. Without your car keys, you won’t have access to your car. Without your phone, you won’t get to send important messages, play games, etc.

But thanks to technology, you won’t need to spend effort and time looking for these important items. There are apps available that will help you find your car keys and phone.

Some cars don’t even have keys. To access them, you’ll only need a card that you can easily keep in your wallet. Others have an in-car biometric technology , which keeps your car safe from thieves.

Accessibility

Of course, technology has made the lives of people with special needs much easier as well. Sure, people with special needs can get personal assistants to help them with their activities. However, getting things done by themselves, with the help of technology, is different. Technology helps them do their activities easier and it gives them freedom. As a result, they are more empowered, confident, and hopeful.

Technology can do so much for many people. It’s not just about being “cool.” Using the latest technology can also make lives easier.

A: Technology makes life easier by automating tasks, reducing manual efforts, and enhancing efficiency. For example, household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers save time and effort in cleaning chores. Communication technologies such as smartphones and video conferencing tools enable instant and convenient connections with others. Online shopping and e-commerce platforms offer convenience and access to a wide range of products without leaving home. Automation and smart home technologies streamline processes and provide convenience in managing home systems.

A: Technology plays a vital role in healthcare and safety. Advanced medical devices and equipment improve diagnostics, treatment, and patient monitoring. Electronic health records (EHRs) enable secure storage and quick retrieval of patient information. Telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies provide access to healthcare services from a distance. Safety technologies such as surveillance cameras, alarms, and smart home security systems enhance personal and property safety. Wearable devices and mobile apps help monitor health parameters and provide alerts in case of emergencies.

A: Technology has revolutionized transportation and travel. Navigation systems and GPS enable precise directions and real-time traffic updates, optimizing travel routes and saving time. Online booking platforms and mobile apps make it easy to book flights, hotels, and rental cars. Ride-sharing services provide convenient transportation options. Advanced safety features like collision avoidance systems and lane departure warnings enhance road safety. Additionally, technologies like high-speed trains and electric vehicles contribute to sustainable and efficient transportation systems.

A: Technology improves personal safety in various ways. Personal safety apps and wearable devices allow individuals to send distress signals and share location information in emergency situations. Home security systems with smart cameras and sensors provide real-time monitoring and alerts. Personal safety wearables, such as panic buttons and GPS trackers, offer peace of mind for individuals, especially in vulnerable situations. Emergency response systems and medical alert devices help summon help during medical emergencies.

A: While technology offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. Cybersecurity threats and privacy concerns arise due to increased reliance on digital systems and the collection of personal data. Technological advancements can create a digital divide, leaving certain populations behind. Dependence on technology may lead to reduced physical activity or social interactions. Additionally, the fast pace of technological advancements requires continuous learning and adaptation, posing challenges for individuals and organizations to keep up with the changes.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Technology in Education — Technology Makes Life Easier for Students: the Transformation of Education

Technology Makes Life Easier for Students: The Transformation of Education

• Categories: Impact of Technology Technology in Education

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Published: Aug 14, 2023

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Transformation of education system due to technology development, references .

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Home Essay Samples Information Science and Technology Advantages of Technology

Technology Makes Life Easier: The Effects Of Technology

Table of contents, how will our lives be changed by technology, how will technology advance in the future, advancements in electricity, new technology in the future.

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• Digital Devices
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10 Great Ways Technology Makes Life Easier and Safer

• By Howie Jones
• Last updated May 14, 2022

Technology makes life easier and safer. It’s true that technology is altering our personal lives and the whole world in an almost infinite number of ways. Regardless, it is typical for people to criticize these accomplishments. Furthermore, news organizations enjoy speculating about the dangers of robotics . With all of this hostility, it’s easy to overlook the benefits of technology, such as the fact that the Internet wouldn’t even exist.

As a result, taking a few minutes to acknowledge a few pieces of technology that simply make life more secure and a lot easier is a smart idea. Everything from identity theft to dangerous diseases would be considerably more common if these breakthroughs were not made.

1. Better Healthcare Through Technology

Technology and healthcare go together like jelly and peanut butter! In fact, technology has been changing healthcare so much that listing all of the excellent developments in just the last year would be difficult. Even if we simply focus on the latest tools such as a  platform for managing clinical cases , it would still take a while for us to describe how essential technology has become in human services as a whole.

However, the development of wearables and apps that allow people to track anything from their heart rate to their blood sugar levels is certainly one of the most important technological innovations in healthcare in the last decade. As a result, patients can now transmit data to their doctors remotely. Furthermore, they can keep a closer eye on their medical issues. There are still some challenges with processing all of this data. However, handling these easier is definitely on the horizon.

2. More Secure Online Transactions Through Technology

In an era where cybercrime is escalating, safeguarding online transactions has become crucial. Fortunately, advancements in technology are continually enhancing the security of online transactions, providing users with multiple layers of protection. Besides Apple Pay and PayPal, there are several other mechanisms and strategies that contribute to safer online shopping and financial dealings.

Biometric Authentication: In addition to fingerprint verification offered by services like Apple Pay, other biometric authentication methods, such as facial recognition and iris scanning, are being integrated into mobile devices and banking apps. These methods ensure that transactions are authorized only by the legitimate owner of the account, adding a personalized layer of security that is extremely difficult for fraudsters to bypass.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) : This security process requires users to provide two different types of information before accessing their accounts or completing transactions. For example, you may need to enter a password and then verify your identity through a code sent to your phone. This method significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, as possessing the password alone is not enough to breach the account.

Tokenization: This technology replaces sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, with unique identification symbols (tokens) that retain all the essential information without compromising security. Tokenization ensures that during the transaction process, actual credit card details are never exposed or transmitted, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Encrypted Communication: Encryption is a method of converting information or data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communications on the internet. Websites that use SSL/TLS encryption (indicated by HTTPS in the URL) ensure that all data transmitted between your browser and the website’s server is encrypted and safe from eavesdroppers.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN): Using a VPN while conducting online transactions can provide an additional layer of security, especially when connected to public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs encrypt your internet connection, making it difficult for hackers to intercept data, such as your credit card information or passwords.

Regular Software Updates: Keeping your software, apps, and operating systems updated is vital for online security. Developers regularly release updates that patch vulnerabilities and enhance security features. By ensuring your devices are up-to-date, you reduce the risk of being targeted by malware or hackers exploiting outdated software.

Educating Yourself About Phishing Scams: Awareness is a powerful tool against cybercrime. Phishing scams, where attackers attempt to trick you into giving away personal information, are common threats to online security. Educating yourself and others about how to recognize and avoid these scams is crucial for protecting your sensitive data.

By leveraging these technologies and being vigilant, users can significantly enhance the security of their online transactions. As cyber threats evolve, so do the methods to counter them. Embracing these technological advancements not only helps in keeping your information safe but also ensures a smoother and more convenient online shopping experience.

3. Easier Grocery Purchasing

Streamlined Online Ordering

Gone are the days when grocery shopping meant spending hours in crowded aisles. Now, numerous retailers have embraced online platforms, allowing customers to browse and select products from the comfort of their home. This service is particularly advantageous for those with hectic schedules or mobility issues, as it removes the physical strain associated with traditional shopping.

Benefits for Diverse Needs

Online grocery shopping is not just a time-saver; it’s a lifeline for individuals with specific needs. Parents juggling work and childcare find it a boon. Moreover, it’s an essential service for individuals with autism, sensory processing disorders, or social anxieties, as it minimizes stressful stimuli. By catering to a wide array of personal needs, online grocery services ensure everyone has access to food and essentials without undue stress.

Curbside Pickup – A Safe Alternative

Retailers have taken convenience one step further with curbside pickup. This service eliminates the need to navigate crowded stores and long checkout lines. It’s particularly significant for personal safety – reducing exposure to potential threats in parking lots, a common concern for many shoppers. By staying in your vehicle while an employee loads your groceries, you maintain a safe environment, minimizing the risk of accidents or confrontations.

Order Tracking and Reordering Simplified

To enhance customer experience, stores like Kroger have integrated sophisticated tracking systems. These systems record each transaction, streamlining the reordering process. If you’re satisfied with a previous order, you can replicate it with just one click, saving time and effort. This feature is especially useful for routine purchases, making shopping more about efficiency and less about repetition.

Customized Shopping Experience

Many online grocery platforms offer personalized recommendations based on your purchase history, further simplifying the shopping process. Whether it’s reminding you to restock essentials or suggesting new products based on your preferences, these tailored services make grocery shopping less of a chore and more of a personalized experience.

Environmental and Health Considerations

Shopping online and opting for curbside pickup also align with environmental and health-conscious lifestyles. It reduces the carbon footprint associated with multiple individual trips to the store and minimizes contact, aligning with health guidelines, especially during flu seasons or pandemics.

The evolution of grocery shopping into a digital, user-friendly experience reflects the broader trends of convenience and safety in our technology-driven world. By leveraging online purchasing and curbside pickup, individuals can enjoy a safer, more convenient, and personalized shopping experience, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles and needs. This advancement not only streamlines the mundane task of grocery shopping but also significantly contributes to the overall quality of life, demonstrating yet another way technology enhances our daily routines.

4. Smart Cities

Smart cities represent the pinnacle of urban development, blending technology with infrastructure to foster a sustainable, efficient, and more livable environment. These futuristic cities utilize a variety of advanced technologies, from IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems, to improve public services, reduce waste, and streamline energy use. This integration targets not only enhancing the quality of urban life but also reducing the environmental footprint of cities.

Resource Optimization and Environmental Impact

One of the key features of smart cities is their focus on optimizing the use of natural resources. Through innovative technologies, buildings and public spaces in smart cities monitor and control water and energy consumption, contributing to significant reductions in waste. The data collected helps in making informed decisions that align with environmental sustainability goals, ensuring that every aspect of urban living contributes to a healthier planet.

Centralized Data for Informed Decision-Making

Smart cities provide residents and authorities with centralized dashboards that display essential statistics on energy and resource consumption. This transparency not only holds buildings and individuals accountable but also empowers everyone to play an active role in achieving communal green objectives. By understanding their consumption patterns, residents can adjust their behaviors to be more eco-friendly, while city planners can identify areas for improvement and implement targeted strategies for conservation.

Enhanced Quality of Life through Smart Infrastructure

Beyond environmental benefits, smart cities enhance the overall quality of life for their residents. Smart transportation systems reduce traffic congestion and pollution, smart grids provide reliable and efficient energy distribution, and smart public services ensure that urban living is more convenient and accessible. These technological solutions create a seamless urban experience, where every service is optimized for efficiency and sustainability.

Collaboration and Community Engagement

Smart cities thrive on collaboration between government, businesses, and citizens. By involving the community in sustainability efforts and decision-making processes, these cities foster a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents. This collaborative approach ensures that the development and implementation of smart solutions are in tune with the needs and values of the community, leading to more effective and widely supported environmental initiatives.

Smart cities are not just a vision of the future; they are a growing reality that showcases the potential of technology to revolutionize our urban landscapes. By harnessing the power of advanced technologies, smart cities address environmental challenges head-on while improving urban life. Whether it’s through reducing carbon footprints, enhancing resource efficiency, or fostering community engagement, smart cities represent a harmonious blend of innovation and sustainability, offering a promising path towards a greener and more connected world.

5. Repurposing Through Internet Technology

The Internet has revolutionized the way we view ownership and access to goods. With just a few clicks, it unveils a treasure trove of items that can be bought or rented in their pre-owned state. This digital marketplace not only presents an opportunity to save money but also plays a crucial role in environmental conservation. By facilitating the repurposing of goods, internet technology significantly reduces waste, keeping countless items out of landfills each year.

A Thriving Marketplace for Used Goods

Platforms like Freecycle, Craigslist, and many others have emerged as hubs for finding and distributing used goods. These websites offer a wide range of items, from household appliances and furniture to books and clothing, making it easier than ever to find exactly what you need at a fraction of the cost. The process is simple and accessible, encouraging more people to consider used items over new, thereby reducing the demand for resource-intensive manufacturing processes.

Environmental Benefits of Online Repurposing

The environmental impact of this trend is profound. Every item reused or repurposed means one less item requiring production, packaging, and shipping—all processes that contribute significantly to carbon emissions and resource depletion. Moreover, repurposing extends the life cycle of products, delaying their journey to the landfill and reducing the overall volume of waste. This not only conserves resources but also mitigates the environmental damage associated with waste management and disposal.

Community Engagement and Economic Advantages

Internet technology has fostered a sense of community among users who share, exchange, or sell pre-owned goods. This digital engagement promotes a culture of sustainability and mindfulness about consumption habits. It also highlights the economic benefits of repurposing, as individuals can save money on purchases while sellers or donors can declutter without discarding, ensuring that their items find a new life with someone who needs them.

Educational and Creative Opportunities

Beyond economic and environmental benefits, the online marketplace for used goods encourages learning and creativity. For instance, individuals can find affordable materials for DIY projects or educational resources like textbooks at a lower cost. This accessibility supports lifelong learning and creative exploration, underscoring the multifaceted value of repurposing through internet technology.

Repurposing through internet technology represents a significant stride towards sustainability and responsible consumption. By making it easy and convenient to buy, sell, or donate used goods, the Internet plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental awareness and action. As more people embrace the practice of repurposing, we move closer to a circular economy where waste is minimized, and resources are used more efficiently. This evolution in how we acquire and dispose of goods highlights the transformative power of technology in fostering a greener, more sustainable world.

6. Technology and Motivation

Exercise may not be easy. However, doing it on a regular basis might help you have a more secure future by reducing your chances of developing devastating physical problems. Companies that are forward-thinking now understand the need to provide a strong fitness incentive to assist individuals in helping themselves.

As a result, technology continues to develop innovative ways to provide individuals with this kind of assistance. The augmented reality game Pokemon Go is one of the most recent instances. The popular software incentivizes users to exercise. This leads to some people walking up to six kilometers each day in quest of Pokemon.

7. Telecommuting Technology

There are numerous advantages to working from home. These include lowering your carbon footprint and saving money on gasoline. In addition, it lowers your risk of being in an automotive accident.

45 percent of U.S. employees can now telecommute at least part of the time. This is made pssible thanks to high-speed Internet, smartphones, laptops and project management software. No more commuting through rush hour traffic. No more arriving at work frustrated. Instead, these employees may enhance productivity, reduce stress, and work in their pajamas if they choose.

8. Immediate Responses to all Questions Through Technology

Everyone has gotten into an argument about whether or not something was true. These discussions might take a long time before the Internet. However, you can now look up anything on Google and receive quick results. This has made life much easier. In addition,  it’s a fantastic teaching tool for individuals of all ages.

The time savings alone of discovering anything online is tremendous! However, don’t forget that you may build on the quick answers from the Internet by reading online books about the subject. In addition, podcasts and educational programs also contribute to the vast availability of knowledge of every kind.

9. Technology: Bringing Families Together

Skype, Email, Facetime, messaging, and social networking sites make it easy for people all over the world to stay in touch. People who use Facebook on a regular basis have a 10% boost in the intimacy of their relationships with friends and family, according to research. This serves to emphasize the ability of technology to bring people together. Family members from all across the world can participate in family gatherings via Skype. Additionally, sharing calendars aids in the avoidance of schedule issues amongst families.

10. GPS Technology Makes Life Easier and Safer.

We’ve all heard horror stories of people making poor driving decisions because of GPS instructions. However, these occurrences are far from common. Instead of glancing at a map, GPS gives us step-by-step voice directions to navigate. This makes it easier for every driver to keep their eyes on the road. In addition, this makes driving easier and safer by indicating which routes to avoid, when you’ll arrive, and the quickest route.

This list only scratches the surface of the myriad ways that technology makes life easier and keeps us safer. This is precisely why these innovations are such game-changers.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, technology shapes our world in many positive ways. It makes daily tasks easier and keeps us safer. From online shopping to better healthcare, technology’s benefits are clear. Yet, people often focus on the negatives. It’s important to remember the good it brings to our lives.

For example, technology in healthcare saves lives every day. Online payments protect our information from theft. And smart cities help the environment. Plus, the internet keeps items out of landfills by making it easy to buy and sell used goods.

Also, technology encourages us to move more and helps us work from home. It quickly answers our questions and connects us with family and friends around the world. And, GPS guides us safely to our destinations.

Let’s not forget these benefits. Technology is here to help us, making our lives easier and safer. We should embrace it and use it to its full potential.

FAQ Section: Understanding Technology’s Impact

Did technology make our lives easier.

Yes, technology has made our lives easier by simplifying daily tasks, improving communication, and providing instant access to information. From smartphones to online banking, technology streamlines many aspects of our daily routines.

How has technology made our life easier follow-up?

Technology has made our lives easier by enabling remote work, enhancing healthcare, and facilitating online shopping and payments. It also offers educational tools, simplifies travel, and automates home chores with smart devices.

How does technology help us in our daily lives?

Technology helps us by improving communication through emails and messaging apps, providing navigation via GPS, offering convenient online shopping, and improving home security with smart systems. It also aids in health monitoring through wearable devices.

How has technology made the world safer?

Technology has made the world safer through advancements in medical equipment, security systems, and disaster response tools. It also enhances road safety with driver-assist features and improves public safety with surveillance and emergency alert systems.

What are the 10 pros and cons of technology?

• Improved communication.
• Access to information.
• Enhanced learning opportunities.
• Increased efficiency.
• Better healthcare outcomes.
• Easier travel and transportation.
• Greater convenience in daily tasks.
• Improved safety and security.
• New job opportunities.
• Environmental monitoring and protection.
• Privacy concerns.
• Overreliance on gadgets.
• Social isolation.
• Job displacement.
• Digital divide between different communities.
• Increased sedentary lifestyle.
• Cybersecurity threats.
• Information overload.
• Environmental impact of electronic waste.
• Loss of traditional skills.

Is technology making us lazy or making our lives easy?

While technology has made our lives easier by automating tasks and providing convenience, there is a concern that it can lead to laziness by reducing physical activity and encouraging passive consumption of entertainment. The impact depends on how individuals choose to use technology.

How does technology bring us together?

Technology brings us together through social media, video calls, online gaming, and collaborative platforms. It enables people to maintain relationships over long distances, connect with like-minded individuals, and participate in global communities.

Has the internet made society better or worse?

The internet has both positively and negatively impacted society. It has improved access to information, education, and communication, fostering global connections. However, it has also contributed to issues like misinformation, privacy breaches, and social polarization. The overall impact depends on how it is used.

What is the most impactful piece of technology in our lives?

The smartphone is often considered the most impactful piece of technology in our lives, as it combines communication, entertainment, information, and functionality into a single portable device, profoundly influencing how we interact with the world and each other.

Image Credit: ThisIsEngineering; Pexels; Thank you!

Howie Jones

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Home » Education » How Modern Technology Makes Life Easier

How Modern Technology Makes Life Easier

The invention of modern technology has made life much easier for the everyday person. It makes it possible to perform many of the tasks that were once performed only by the rich and the famous. If you take a look at our society today, you will see many people working in jobs that they could not do without. One of these jobs is the writer, and if you are a writer then you know how hard it is to find work.

When you are looking for a job, it is always a good idea to look through a variety of different job sites. When you do this you can compare different companies side by side and see which ones offer what is most in line with your qualifications. It may be a good idea to look for jobs in different industries as well. For example, if you write articles for a business you might want to look at writing for different magazines. This way you have a variety of different jobs to choose from and you don’t have to give up one for the other.

There are also many opportunities available on the internet that are being created by modern technology. This is great news for writers because they can get their work out there without having to worry about deadlines. You can write your work anytime you want and it will be available at any time of day. This can mean a lot of money in the long run if you know how to get the most out of your work.

Another thing that modern technology can do for the writer is to keep them from getting bored. When you are bored, you tend to give up on your writing altogether. When this happens many people end up with an essay that is riddled with errors that no one wants to read. Keep yourself stimulated with modern technology so that you can keep writing.

Another way that modern technology can help writers is by increasing their writing skills. A writer can learn new things every day and by keeping themselves updated they will become a better writer in the future. This is especially important because the job market is always changing and getting the best jobs is easier than ever before. If you are a writer now then this is something you should be aware of. Even if you are just starting out, you can do something that will really benefit you in the future.

There are also a number of programs that can teach you new writing techniques when you use modern technology to help improve your writing. You can take advantage of these programs so that you can do things better and increase your knowledge of how to write.

As you can see there are a number of ways that modern technology can benefit writers. When you are thinking about applying for a new job, make sure that you check into all of these benefits that modern technology has to offer you.

Getting the right job can be difficult at times but with all of these benefits it shouldn’t be a problem. When you take the time to learn how to use modern technology and apply what you learn, it won’t be hard to land the right job.

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40 easy ways to ready your home for the future

Posted: 14 June 2023 | Last updated: 14 June 2023

Set your forever home up for success

The homes of the future will need to reflect changes in the ways we work and how we live. Is yours energy efficient? Does it make the most of the latest smart tech? Can it accommodate grown-up children or elderly parents in the future, and will it meet your own needs as you age? From installing home technology that will make your life easier, to making small changes that will have a big impact on your lifestyle and energy bills, click or scroll on to find out what you can do now to futureproof your home...

*Prices in US dollars and UK pounds

Make your kitchen accessible

Check that your kitchen will be practical for you to use as you age, as well as for older relatives and anyone with mobility issues. Start planning improvements now. For example, an elevated built-in oven will ensure no one needs to stoop for access. Look for kitchen ranges with features such as pull-out corner storage units, motorised rise-and-fall worktops and remote-controlled extractor fans.

Invest in a boiling water tap

Choosing a kitchen tap shouldn't just be about looks. These days, taps are high-tech and can not only save you time and water, but money on your energy bills, too. By investing in a boiling water tap, you'll have instant access to hot water for everything from your cup of coffee to your pasta pot. This 3-in-1 model by Wodar provides cold, hot and boiling water from one spout, saving you from having to put on the kettle—in fact, you'll never need a kettle again.

Opt for quality in big appliances

According to the Energy Saving Trust , fridges and freezers account for around 13% of the average household energy bill. But they're also among the longest-lasting home appliances, so it's worth investing in an energy-efficient model with added benefits. LG, for example, produces fridges that have built-in technology designed to circulate cold air evenly and reduce temperature fluctuations to keep food fresh for longer. If you can't afford to upgrade, remember that cold air circulates best in a fridge that isn't over-crowded, so keep shelves clear to cut bills and preserve food for longer. 

Bring your wiring up to date

While lots of our devices are wireless, our homes will still need a wired network that's able to support data consumption. Plan for smart TVs, computers, gaming units, tablets and more in most of the rooms in your house. Include an extra conduit or buried trunking that can support future upgrades without the need for retrofitting. Use an experienced electrician or a smart home design and installation specialist.

Ensure you add value to your property

Your home is an investment as well as a place to live. Balance what you want from it in the future with what is  likely to add value . You may see a better return on your investment if you add a bedroom rather than build a conservatory to use as a living space. Consider the difference in outlay between extending or converting and decorating or improving—sometimes the latter can be enough.

Expand to fit extended family

Talk to those in your immediate and close family about their future plans and wishes. Might parents want to share a home with you and your family? Are your grown-up children likely to live at home again after university? Weigh up the options of moving to a bigger home or staying put and extending, like this project from 2019's  Don't Move, Improve!  awards. The earlier you start to think about the future the more time you will have to realise a solution that suits everyone.

Plan for single-floor living

Increase your home’s flexibility so that your living spaces are ready to accommodate changing family circumstances. Install a downstairs cloakroom and shower room for older parents who might move in, or for your own use later in life. An additional  bathroom  will add value to your home and may be useful if grown-up children return. If you have more than one reception room, think about earmarking it as a bedroom for future use.

Repurpose a cellar or basement

Digging out a basement  from scratch can be costly, but repurposing an existing cellar is a great way to free up under-used space. A lower ground floor in a period home can have many uses, from a kitchen to a media room or a dedicated hangout space for younger members of the family. Don't forget to futureproof your design. Could an exterior door be installed, for example, to provide access if stairs are no longer viable?

Convert the loft into a living space

The beauty of extending into the attic is that it doesn’t increase the footprint of your house, so it won’t impede on your outdoor space. Start by deciding what you want to use the  loft conversion  for. If light levels and views are good, you could transform your eves into an extra living space or bedroom, which could add value, as well as square footage, to your home.

Embrace a broken-plan layout

Open-plan layouts  are a go-to for modern living, allowing an easy, sociable flow between different zones in the same space. But if your home is multigenerational, be sure that this layout is going to suit everyone. Elderly parents may like the idea of communal cooking and eating, but prefer to have a living space that has an element of privacy about it. Consider a broken-plan layout with half-walls or carefully chosen furnishings that zone off areas more effectively, while still offering a feeling of togetherness when needed.

Add on a side return extension

Repurpose the outside space between a side-return wall and a property’s boundary by extending into it. Whether you want to make space for the kitchen-diner of your dreams, add in a  family room or den  or create a garden room, there are plenty of options. You will need to factor in roof lights or lanterns to boost light levels, particularly towards the original back wall of the house. Adding valuable, usable space to your existing property is bound to increase its longevity, as well as providing more options for your floor plan in the future.

Upgrade your home security

The latest home security technology not only offers peace of mind but can make your life easier, too. Video doorbells are one of the best examples of this. They can be installed as an individual gadget or as part of a smart home system that can be controlled via a mobile phone app. One of the handiest things about video doorbells is that you can check who's at the door before you answer it and know when the kids are home safely. You can even record anyone who knocks when you're out and receive alerts and live streams wherever you are. 

Protect your interior

Installing indoor cameras is another effective way to protect your home at all times. There are countless models on the market, all with their own advantages, but the 360° indoor camera from Bosch provides outstanding 1080p, high-quality images around the clock, whenever you want and only when you want. Plus, its 360-degree, all-around viewing means you only need one camera to keep the entire room under surveillance. You can even access live or recorded video content remotely, to keep an eye on the place when you're out.

Opt for LED lighting

A cost-effective and creative lighting solution for the home, LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are revolutionising the way we illuminate our properties. In fact, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy , LED lighting is today's most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing lighting technology. Quality LED light bulbs and strips  are more durable than other types of lighting, plus they could save you money. They use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.

Add in automated lighting

Interior lighting  is now smart, programmable and simple to manage, making it easy to be energy-efficient and keep bills down. Go for single smart bulbs or a full-on, whole-house lighting system. Colour-changing, dimmable LED bulbs can be sequenced and controlled by brightness and colour, as well as time. Lighting system starter kits usually consist of three or four bulbs and a router-connected hub. Control in situ or from afar and add more bulbs as and when you want them.

Consider alternative heating systems

Underfloor heating and heat pumps are the future, but why wait? These two highly energy-efficient systems might cost a bit more to install than traditional boilers and radiators, but the benefits are endless. Underfloor heating is more common in new builds because it's easier to install at the build stage, but you can buy retrofit models that can be installed under your current floors. Heat pumps are also fantastic for cutting energy bills and keeping your home cosy all year round.

Switch to solar panels

Solar panels can help cut your carbon footprint and reduce your household electricity bills, which may be music to homeowners' ears given the current global energy crisis. Once you have paid for the installation, solar panels need little maintenance and the latest models should last around 30 years.

Monitor your usage with a smart meter

If you don't already have one, then you need a smart meter. In the UK they're free to install and they have endless benefits. One of these little gadgets can help you monitor your energy usage, give you a more accurate idea of how much you're spending and provide you with a recording of your usage should you need to query a bill. They make it easy to see where you're using a lot of electricity, too, so you can make savvy decisions around the house that will save money and the planet.

Take control of your heating

As well as tools that can help you monitor your spending, smart thermostats and heating systems allow you to adjust your home's temperature remotely and personalise settings for different rooms or zones. Most systems are controlled via a phone app, allowing you to adjust your heating with the touch of a button. Look for frost protection and one-touch holiday settings. Some systems can also control hot water, lighting, and smart plugs, as well as monitor energy usage, so you can forgo the smart heating hub.

Improve your insulation

Look after your roof, walls, windows and doors and they will pay you back by helping to reduce your energy costs . Lay mineral wool insulation between and over the joists in your loft. If you want to convert the loft, insulate the roof instead with rigid insulation boards between the rafters. If you have cavity walls, ask an installer for a borescope inspection to check for insulation. Insulate solid walls on the inside with rigid insulation boards or on the outside by fixing a layer of insulation material beneath the render or cladding. Check doors, windows and floorboards for gaps and fill them.

Change your household habits

Small changes to your household habits can make a big difference to your home’s energy efficiency . For example, see if you can cut one washing machine cycle a week and consider using your machine's eco cycle or washing at 30°C, which is an adequate temperature for most materials. If anything is particularly dirty, soak it before you put them in. It's also a good idea to avoid leaving appliances and gadgets on standby, as they'll be using unnecessary energy. 

Opt for an energy-efficient toilet

Consider replacing your old toilet with a new high-efficiency, low-flow model to minimise your household's water usage. It'll be beneficial for the environment and your water bill. If you're not ready to splash out on a new model just yet, you can purchase affordable water-saving devices for your cistern that do a similar job. Welcome to the future!

Add charging ports

Are there always arguments about who gets to charge their phone first? Or perhaps you always have to unplug a device in order to plug another one in? Either way, it's time to upgrade to plug sockets with multiple charging ports. Modern sockets not only look sleek and stylish, but many come with USB ports built in. A qualified electrician can easily replace your existing sockets with designs that allow you to charge up to four things at once. Plus, as technology advances, you'll be ready.

Choose flexible furniture

Why pay for furniture with only one use, when you could own multi-functional pieces that will allow for flexibility in the future? A modular sofa, for example, can adapt to new spaces. Delivered in sections that can be rearranged into different configurations, modular furniture is practical and could make any future moving day much easier. There's plenty of cool convertible furniture out there, too, such as coffee tables that transform into desks or ottomans that harbour a pull-out bed.

Carve out a homeworking space

It's safe to say the way we work has changed, with remote working becoming the norm. So, having a  home office  has become essential for many. If you're considering one, it's a good idea to upgrade your broadband, and you may want to include smart tech and extra storage. Create an area that is as comfortable to be in as possible. Loft spaces will be good for light and a spot overlooking the garden will provide a scenic view. You could even consider converting a shed to create a quiet space away from the main hubbub of the house.

Soundproof your living spaces

With many of us living and working in the same spaces, we are increasingly searching for new ways to rearrange our living areas to create more separation between work and play. Soundproof wall panels, like this textured design, can be a great way to create more privacy between rooms, ensuring your home office remains a quiet place of relaxation, even in a busy household. Wood panels and cork are also great for absorbing sound.

Boost Wi-Fi signal in every room

Now that we are spending more time at home and using even more smart tech around the house, a good Wi-Fi connection is paramount. There's no point creating a home office or adding a garden room if your internet connection is too weak to support it. Invest in multiple mini routers to set up around the home, which will communicate with one another to boost your connection and ensure there are no more crackly Zoom meetings.

Plan your audio and media systems

When you come to designing a living room or media room, plan your TV and audio systems first. Think beyond the room to the whole house—do you want to incorporate a home automation system that includes lighting, security and heating controls as well as your TV and audio? Be flexible: keep the space around the TV and audio equipment clear and accessible so it's easy to upgrade in the future.

Get smart with a home hub

As technology advances, the number of devices and gadgets we accumulate will grow. Instead of operating them with individual apps, install a smart home system or hub. It works as a single mission control for everything from your smart TV to thermostats and security. Bestsellers include the Amazon Echo Show, Wink Hub 2, Apple HomePod and Logitech Harmony Elite. But watch how technologies develop, as some smartphones and speakers already offer the functionality of a hub.

Designate tech-free spaces

Since the rise in remote-working and home-schooling, the distinction between the working day and leisure time has unfortunately blurred. To help keep the balance in check, designate a ‘tech-free’ area, where screens and mindless scrolling are replaced with calm nooks to unwind as a family.

Install an electric car charging point

In 2021, global sales of electric cars almost doubled to a staggering 6.6 million , and there are no signs of sales slowing down any time soon. As we move to more eco-friendly alternatives to standard petrol and diesel cars, it's time to plan forward in our garages. Installing a home-charging point makes environmental sense, as well as offering convenience for your family further down the line, not to mention future homeowners. In general, home-charging points are also cheaper than public charging stations, which often charge a premium.

Remember off-road parking

If your property does not have off-road parking and you have the room, it is well worth considering converting at least part of your outside space to hard landscaping. This will be particularly important if you have multiple occupants. If you love your front garden, consider a part conversion so you can still have an area of greenery. And remember if you have rear access, it may make more sense to provide off-road parking there. If accessibility becomes an issue in the future, you'll value having your parking on the same level as your entrance, too.

Keep on top of maintenance inside and out

Make regular checks on your main roof, as well as any flat roofs, and scan brickwork for gaps in the mortar that might need repointing. Clear your gutters to avoid water damage, or better yet, get gutter guards installed to prevent leaves from clogging up the pipework. Inside, ensure water is draining efficiently from baths and sinks. Maintain good decorative order, checking seals around wet areas, doors and windows. It's a good idea to draw up a  schedule for maintenance , including boiler services, drain cleaning, gutter clearance and painting external woodwork and fencing.

Create a garden for everyone

Creating an environment that all ages can enjoy is key to growing old happily in your home. But it can be hard to please everyone in a multigenerational household, so take a multipurpose approach to the garden. Include a table and chairs for dining, garden sofas, chairs and coffee tables for lounging, and raised flower or veg beds for the gardeners. Provide shade as well as sun and opportunities for quiet contemplation as well as sociability and entertaining.

Add a garden room

If you have the space, then a garden room could be the ideal way of adding more usable space to your home. Granny flats, ADUs and garden rooms don’t generally require planning permission and they can be designed to be versatile. For example, you could create a home office that doubles as a guest suite, or a teenage den that's also a gym. Garden pods are a great option for those with limited space. Plus, their unique organic shape and quirky interiors can add real wow factor to an outside space.

Make the great outdoors accessible

If you are looking to redesign your garden and don’t foresee moving house again, do so with the longer term in mind. Incorporate slopes rather than steps, cut back on lawned areas, add easy-to-navigate pathways, spaces for seating and prioritise the area closest to the house, like this outside space by  Breeze Garden Design . Go for raised beds over conventional borders and favour evergreen planting schemes for long-lasting, low-maintenance annual greenery.

Aim for easy maintenance

A low-maintenance garden can be beautiful, whether that's  a small patch  or somewhere designed for easy upkeep. Pay attention to boundaries and erect smart fencing—horizontal slats create a modern touch. Choose permanent planters rather than individual pots that get too messy. Plant up a mix of bulbs and evergreens so there’s always something of interest, without the need to replant and bring in hardwood furniture that requires little maintenance and still looks good with age.

Encourage wildlife into your garden

One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators like bees, according to the WWF , and crops that depend on pollination are five times more valuable than those that don't. So, creating environments where pollinators can thrive is essential. A nature garden filled with wildflowers is the ideal sanctuary for wildlife, helping you to invite bees into your backyard while also creating a beautiful environment that you can enjoy, too.

Go green with your next house move

If you're not in your forever home, consider an eco property for your next move. Lots of companies specialise in energy-efficient homes—some even in the form of flat-pack-style  package homes . Many are designed to be extremely thermally efficient thanks to clever, insulating structures, which can dramatically reduce your heating bills, even in winter.

Move to improve?

Keep an eye on the property market in your area and any local developments and infrastructure projects that are planned. Is there anything that might make a move into a nearby up-and-coming area a better investment than improving your existing property? New transport links and facilities may increase your own property’s value significantly or flag up a potential area of investment elsewhere.

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