Now don't get me wrong. I think that the smarter technology gets, the people get more stupid. I also think there are valuable skills that have been lost due to technology. Like writing. Or reading. Or human interaction (Ironic that I said that while typing on a computer in a room by myself, eh?). On the other hand, I also think the modern world in general has the wrong idea about how to use today's technology.

The common idea today is that technology is bad. It doesn't matter what the technology is or what the use is, technology is bad. In my opinion, this is inherently false. Here's why:

1) Technology is for us to use, not to ignore.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Every time Apple comes out with a new MacBook and Microsoft comes out with a new Zune, I guarantee the engineers aren't sitting in a room going, "Let's see how impressive we can make technology so people will ignore it," and the PR employees are not going, "let's advertise why people shouldn't use this new product." As hard as it is to believe, these companies are making these products to improve our lives, not to sit on a shelf and collect dust. 

However, there are exceptions. I don't care how many times you show me, the Zippo lighter and bubble wrap on your iPhone will not improve your life in any way at all. Let's be honest. 

2) We need to take advantage of the tools given to us.

In math classes today, specifically Algebra II, students are always told, "you can do it very easily on your calculator, but we won't accept it unless you do it by hand and show your work." This made me pose a question during my sophomore year. Isn't the point of math not how you do it, but if you can do it? If not, why are there four ways to solve algebraic expressions, two forms to write equations for lines, etc.? If the method matters, shouldn't there only be one method? 

Here's another example. In school I am constantly told that I need to present a project, but I need to get my point across without using a Powerpoint presentation or some sort of technological aid. Why am I now encouraged to not be resourceful? If I can use the Powerpoint effectively and it helps illustrate my point, why should I be prohibited from using it? 

Even in my Computer Aided Drafting & Design class I was once told that my project could not be completed on a computer. If we can even use computers in our computer class, what's the point of a computer class?

3) The technology is to make things easier.

Now I understand that some technology is excessive, but much of it is useful. For example, if I'm listening to music while I work out, it means that everyone else don't have to listen to me sing.

In all seriousness, however, today's technology is useful. Aside from what technology can do for the tone deaf, think about the concept. In a work environment it's pretty simple. My mom works at an insurance company, and she does forecasting and analysis. Instead of having to update forecast information and calculations in 64 categories (columns A-CW in excel) for 3 million accounts by hand, she types in the figures in rows 1-5 (historical data) and in about 10 minutes she has all 192 million figures of the analysis that would have taken months to do by hand. 

But even in personal lives technology is useful. Recently I've been tracking what I eat and how much I work out. Not because I need to lose weight (I'm 6'2", 170 lbs.), but I'm just curious about what I'm actually eating. An app I got for my Android phone allows me to enter my age, height, weight, and level of daily activity and I can now see how much I eat, how many calories I need per day versus how many I'm eating, what my average calorie intake is per meal, how my weight has changed over time, the different exercises I do, how many calories I burn on average, the list goes on and on. 

The Bottom Line

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That's a line, right?

Ok. In all seriousness, I know there are many more examples, and feel free to comment and share them, but these three are, in my opinion, the most telling. This is a problem that we all have to wrong opinion about. 

As always, check out my other posts, and feedback is welcome and encouraged.

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