War Craft, Maple story, Runescape, up to the latest Star Craft 2… All of these games are not foreign to us. We see people discussing about the latest updates, change logs and game play every day. Computer game technology has already become a part of our life. However, computer games are usually portrayed in a negative light and are associated with adverse impacts like bad eyesight, addiction, and bad results. A typical scenario would be that of a parent chiding her child due to bad results, using ‘computer games are bad for you” as an excuse. To be fair, I must admit that computer games can and will result in negative impacts on the user. However, most of these cases are due to the user’s inability to control themselves and strike a balance between play and work. Balance is essential in everything we do. Everyone knows that too much of something is always bad for you; too much drugs can kill you, too much computer games can kill you, too much water can kill you, and even too much studying can kill you…
It is very easy to condemn computer games by listing out all its bad points, but what I will be doing in this post is to try and point out that computer games may not be as bad as it seems as long as a balance is established. Up to now, the issue of computer games is still often debated. There are many pros from playing these games, but many cons too. Many parents, especially those from the older generation rejects computer games and forbid their child to play them, saying that the violence and probable addiction and damage are risky. However, recent medical studies have shown that computer games can be helpful in our lives.
Besides improving their logical thinking ability and decision making, computer gaming also benefits the player’s hand and eye coordination and improves his reflexes. Further studies have shown that computer games might also be able to treat people with various learning and language disabilities. This reveals something about computer games; there can be a good side to it too, if used in moderation. However, some people still think that computer games are bad and unproductive as they fail to see the possible benefits of it. However, as technology continues advancing, our society will come to a point where computer technology can no longer be avoided. At that point of time, we will have to change our viewpoints and accept computer technology as part of our lives and do our best to strike a balance between them.
Many people feel that studying is good for you. Of course, everyone knows that studying is good for your intellectual growth, but to a certain extent, as always. Just like computer games, excessive studying might not actually prove as beneficial as some may think. The law of diminishing returns can be applied here – The tendency for continuing application of effort or skill towards a particular object or goal to decline in effectiveness after a certain level of result has been achieved. Certainly, studying is good, but has it occurred to you that studying for 3 hours may be better than studying for 8 hours? I am not implying that we should not study more, but I am merely suggesting the importance of moderation in our current society.
Computer gaming needs moderation, studying needs moderation, then why not make these two into a two-in-one pack which could prove more beneficial and effective than only one? People say “study smart, not hard”, but what does this actually mean? A person who studies smart would balance work and play to maximize his efficiency, but a person who merely works hard could be the guy who studies for 8 hours straight. Which is more effective? Hence, I feel that computer technology should be accepted as a part of our lives and not be constantly rejected by people as it could prove to be beneficial to us and that we should help ourselves by balancing playing and studying together to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Rise of technology
Imagine a world without computers, without mobile phones, transport, lighting… The list just goes on and on… Can we live without technology? I find Bill Joy’s article on “Why the Future doesn’t need us” quite intriguing and enlightening.
In this age, we are highly dependent on technology; we have grown up in this world of technology that we can’t break free from it now. Technology has integrated so well into our society that it has become one of us. It is not surprising to hear the news reporting of medical or scientific breakthroughs daily; the advancement of technology has become so rampant that people are stepping over the line between controlling and losing control. In fact, we have become so accustomed to living with routine scientific breakthroughs that we fail to realize the threat that new technologies such as robotics and nanotechnology poses to our society. Rapid advancement of technology could mean further exploration in areas like curing diseases and development of vaccines, however, these technologies, although useful and important, might pose a bigger and more substantial threat to our society. Older technologies like nuclear technology are indeed dangerous, but it is costly and requires large-scale activities. Compare this to nanotechnology, for example, which has the ability to self-replicate and quickly get out of control. It seems that films portraying massive destruction by these new technologies are not really on the wrong track.
The control of technology has always been a controversial topic. As always, there are two simple sides to this issue – Men created technology, hence they control it, or that technology is slowly gaining control over men. Many argue that men created technology; hence they are intellectually superior to them and would not be so foolish as to give up their power to the machines they created. Yes, nobody would be foolish enough to give up control, but the main concern here is that our over reliance and dependence on technology may result in humans having no other practical choice but to accept the machine’s decisions as the best. The problem here is that humans are creating things far beyond their own comprehension. We created atomic powers without having any idea what it was capable of and now we are living with the consequences. We say that we are in control, that we have brains as compared to machines, but are all these just pathetic attempts at self-reassurance?
In fact, there are many examples which are living testimony of our over reliance on technology resulting in our inevitable fall to it. One simple and familiar example would be computer. Who doesn’t use the computer?
Personally, I have become so attached to my computer that it has become a part of me. Turning on my computer is on the top of my to-do list immediately after I reach home. Surfing the net, searching for information, playing computer games, I believe that these are part of many peoples’ daily lives, including me. Addiction to computer games can be a perfect example of showing how technology is controlling us. In this case, the computer represents technology, and we represent the addicts. We, the addicts, have become so lost in the world of technology, the computer that our brain has programmed us to recognize it as our real world. We are willing to do anything to obtain technology as we cannot live without it.
What about robots? Recent scientific exploration has shown that the developments of robots with intellectual powers are possible. Besides becoming totally lazy and uncritical people, this would be another quantum leap in terms of our dependence on technology. The creation of robots, which has always been in the realm of science fiction, seems to be becoming more realistic and imminent.
The impacts of a world without technology? The list goes on and on… Aimless people, helpless people – we just can’t live without technology.
Now, since we have established that technology is salient in our life, what can we do to prevent technology from controlling us?
Referencing to Bill Joy’s article, one of the solutions was to place control over large systems of machines in the hands of a small group of elites. However, with access to powerful technology and control over the masses, these elites will become dictators; they are able to do anything as the technology is in their hands. In this case, humans will no longer be needed and we would have been reduced to the status of mere domestic animals.
In conclusion, the rise of technology and our over-reliance on technology is indeed worrying as it might lead to world-changing incidents and affect our whole human population. Maybe not now, but one day.
In this age, we are highly dependent on technology; we have grown up in this world of technology that we can’t break free from it now. Technology has integrated so well into our society that it has become one of us. It is not surprising to hear the news reporting of medical or scientific breakthroughs daily; the advancement of technology has become so rampant that people are stepping over the line between controlling and losing control. In fact, we have become so accustomed to living with routine scientific breakthroughs that we fail to realize the threat that new technologies such as robotics and nanotechnology poses to our society. Rapid advancement of technology could mean further exploration in areas like curing diseases and development of vaccines, however, these technologies, although useful and important, might pose a bigger and more substantial threat to our society. Older technologies like nuclear technology are indeed dangerous, but it is costly and requires large-scale activities. Compare this to nanotechnology, for example, which has the ability to self-replicate and quickly get out of control. It seems that films portraying massive destruction by these new technologies are not really on the wrong track.
The control of technology has always been a controversial topic. As always, there are two simple sides to this issue – Men created technology, hence they control it, or that technology is slowly gaining control over men. Many argue that men created technology; hence they are intellectually superior to them and would not be so foolish as to give up their power to the machines they created. Yes, nobody would be foolish enough to give up control, but the main concern here is that our over reliance and dependence on technology may result in humans having no other practical choice but to accept the machine’s decisions as the best. The problem here is that humans are creating things far beyond their own comprehension. We created atomic powers without having any idea what it was capable of and now we are living with the consequences. We say that we are in control, that we have brains as compared to machines, but are all these just pathetic attempts at self-reassurance?
In fact, there are many examples which are living testimony of our over reliance on technology resulting in our inevitable fall to it. One simple and familiar example would be computer. Who doesn’t use the computer?
Personally, I have become so attached to my computer that it has become a part of me. Turning on my computer is on the top of my to-do list immediately after I reach home. Surfing the net, searching for information, playing computer games, I believe that these are part of many peoples’ daily lives, including me. Addiction to computer games can be a perfect example of showing how technology is controlling us. In this case, the computer represents technology, and we represent the addicts. We, the addicts, have become so lost in the world of technology, the computer that our brain has programmed us to recognize it as our real world. We are willing to do anything to obtain technology as we cannot live without it.
What about robots? Recent scientific exploration has shown that the developments of robots with intellectual powers are possible. Besides becoming totally lazy and uncritical people, this would be another quantum leap in terms of our dependence on technology. The creation of robots, which has always been in the realm of science fiction, seems to be becoming more realistic and imminent.
The impacts of a world without technology? The list goes on and on… Aimless people, helpless people – we just can’t live without technology.
Now, since we have established that technology is salient in our life, what can we do to prevent technology from controlling us?
Referencing to Bill Joy’s article, one of the solutions was to place control over large systems of machines in the hands of a small group of elites. However, with access to powerful technology and control over the masses, these elites will become dictators; they are able to do anything as the technology is in their hands. In this case, humans will no longer be needed and we would have been reduced to the status of mere domestic animals.
In conclusion, the rise of technology and our over-reliance on technology is indeed worrying as it might lead to world-changing incidents and affect our whole human population. Maybe not now, but one day.
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