Today’s world is technological. The growth of technology is one of the most debatable subjects. While some school of thought refer to it as a disaster, others consider it to be a blessing. No doubt we live in the age of technology where it has become an important aspect of our lives but with pros and cons. BETTY AMUKPO weighs the advantages and disadvantages of technology with some children.
‘It enhances crime and terrorism’
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
Advantages of technology
1. Ease of access to information. 2. Saves time. 3. Ease of mobility. 5. Better communication means. 6. Cost efficiency. 7. Improved banking. 8. Better learning techniques. 9. Opens doors of evangelism to people and places where missionaries cannot go.
Disadvantages of technology
1. Data security. 2. Crime and terrorism. 3. Complexity. 4. Social disconnect. 5. Work overload. 6. Digital media manipulation 7. Job insecurity. 8. Privacy concerns.
‘We students, especially use the internet for assignments given to us’
The advantages of technology are
1. Technology is good for doing a lot of research on the internet. 2. We students, especially use the internet for assignments given to us. 3. With the internet, there are less barriers, boundaries or limitations to the expansion and proclamation of the Gospel.
The disadvantages of technology are:
1. The internet distract children. 2. Cyber bullying, which can be operated anonymously. 3. It distracts and one can become a victim of wrong indoctrination. All users of the internet are encouraged to use it in a discipline way, for morally good purposes.
‘It has brought us more harm than good’
Advantages of Technology
Technology has made production of food easier and faster through the use of machine instead of manual labour.
Disadvantages of technology
It has brought us more harm than good, some of the foods we eat are no more in their natural state, chemicals are added to it which lead to cancer, tumor, diabetes.
‘It is not hundred percent safe when it is not used properly’
One main advantages of technology is that it has made communication between states, countries and continents easier through the internet because this people are able to shop, visit people, do business, study, make money, work, visit the doctors and travel to other countries without leaving their houses. It saves time and it helps students in learning. The main disadvantage of technology is that it affects social life and reduces physical contact between persons. It is also expensive and it is not hundred percent safe when it is not used properly.
‘Social media can be addictive’
Technology refers to the application of scientific knowledge to improve human lives.
Advantages:
It is easier, faster and more effective in communication; it brings about better learning techniques, technology has given ease of access to information and technology has also helped in maintaining and improving business services.
Disadvantages:
Technology can make it easier for students to cheat during examination, the internet brings crimes and terrorism, social media can be addictive (users end up wasting vast amount of time on social media and most people cannot live without technology such as televisions and telephones.
‘Offers better learning techniques, aids better communication’
Technology can be defined as the science or knowledge put into practical use to solve problems or invent useful tools. Examples of technology are phones, computers, laptops, POS machines, etc. Advantages of technology are it helps to treat sick people, offers better learning techniques, facilitates better communication and improved banking. Disadvantages of technology are it causes distraction from work and study, lack of interest in studying, reduce creativity of people and causes social isolation from people. Technology makes the world a global village.
‘Makes children get spoilt easily due to phones and televisions’
The advantages of technology are that it helps to unite people; it enables you know more about your country; it makes you able to interact with your families and friends irrespective of distance. The disadvantages include: It makes one lazy; makes children especially, know things that are irrelevant and makes children get spoilt easily due to phones and televisions.
‘Makes work easier and faster’
Technology is the invention of devices to systematic method to make work easier and faster and to solve man’s problems.
Advantages of technology:
1. It makes work easier and faster. 2. It solves man’s problems and helps man to develop the world.
Disadvantages of technology:
1. It is harmful when misused.
‘It can be used for media manipulation’
The advantages of technology are:
1. It saves time. 2. It improves banking. 3. It makes works faster. 4. It enhances communication.
Disadvantages of technology are:
1. It can be used for crime and terrorism. 2. It can be used for media manipulation. 3. It brings about job insecurity. 4. It leads to addiction in areas of social media, computer games and dating and immoral websites.
‘Marginalization of religious ideas and treating religion with contempt’
Advantages of technology
1. Better communication means. 2. Ease of Access to information. 3. Innovation in many fields. 4. Political, by informing and facilitating participation in the political arena.
Disadvantages of technology
1. Digital media manipulation. 2. Job insecurity. 3. Crime and terrorism. 4. Religion, ignoring and marginalization of religious ideas and treating religion with contempt. Economic, by the exploitation of the market.
‘Assist in domestic chores through means of washing machine, dish washing machine’
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
Advantages of technology:
1. Saves time. 2. Assist in domestic chores via washing machine, dish washing machine. 3. Better communication means. 4. Easy mobility through vehicles, aeroplanes, trains, motorcycle. 5. It avails the spreading of different culture to all thereby transmitting traditional values and culture to the young generation. 6. It provides encouragement and opportunities for worship to people who cannot move from their homes. Remember the lockdown of COVID-19.
Disadvantages of technology:
1. It causes crime, online theft and fraud. 2. Manipulates public opinion.
‘It brought about solar electrical power; causes lack of interest in study’
Technology is everywhere. Its main purpose is to make our work easier. There is no field in the world that has not been affected by technology. In as much, it also has its disadvantages.
Advantages are:
1. It brought about solar electrical power. 2. It enabled disable people to be able to use artificial arms, legs. 3. It improved transportation, communication, agriculture, banking, education, health, entertainment and our lifestyle in general.
Disadvantages:
1. It waste our time. 2. Causes distractions. 3. Reduces the creativity of people. 4. Causes social isolation of people. 5. Causes lack of interest in study. 6. Causes health problems (damages eyesight, hearing) Technology is good and bad. Over dependency on anything is bad.
• Victoria Okefe.
