Download - How Technology affects People
HOW TECHNOLOGY IS AFFECTING US
BY:JESSIE LETTS
Technology definition
- the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.
Negative Effects• shallow knowledge
• using technology right after learning something new does not allow the brain to soak in all the information
• inefficient multitasking • studies show our ability to judge information as irrelevant is lessened as
well as our ability to manage problems
• fractured attention• people do not give others full attention due to the amount on time spent
on their devices • cursory reading
• we no longer read into depth, we skim through readings and rarely have the patience to read lengthy texts anymore. This does not allow for us to get the full thought someone was trying to portray
Truth
• the problem is not necessarily in the technology, it is how often we use the technology
brain plasticity• Brain plasticity
refers to the extraordinary ability of the brain to modify its own structure and function following changes within the body or in the external environment (BrainFacts, 2012).
brain plasticity• Our brains morph with extensive use of technology
among other things• changes our ability to make accurate judgements • changes the way we feel emotions• may become “less human” due to our brains
becoming cognitive machines• what makes us human is the connections
between the mind and body, our experiences that shape our memory, thinking and emotion.
• to avoid this, complete tasks that involve wisdom, do not use your smartphone for every question you need an answer to
Social interaction• technology closes that gap between distant
people, and increases distance in close people• oral communication is becoming less evident • people spend their time on social media rather
than communicate• cannot tell the tone of people voices via social
media which can cause negative altercations• technology has lots of negative effects but it is
very good for business advertisements due to the level of activity on social media
personal development • less interaction means less experiences to base your thoughts on
• interaction is a major part of personal development• it shapes our personality• it allows for us to build relationships
with others
Education • education levels are deteriorating
• time that should be spent listening in class or doing homework is spent using technology
• all the answers are found online, lessening the odds of people having to actually think of the answers
• less respect for lectures because the same information can be found online
social media• social media causes
problems such as cyber bullying
• people share their personal opinions via social media. If someone disagrees with this opinion it could spark an argument.
• if opinions were shared in person, the altercation likely would not happen. People tend to feel more confident online
symbolic interactionism theory
symbolic interactionism theory
• a sociological perspective that emphasizes that human behaviour is influenced by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interaction with others
Cont. • this theory suggests that we are shaped by
social interaction • we find ourselves by the way others
interact with each other and the way they label us
• technology takes away this social interaction therefore does not allow us to shape our personalities properly
• technology affects our memory, attention, what we focus on, and our sleep (the Age, 2015).
Labelling theory• as long as something is labelled as “fun”
or “in style”, people will continue with that fad• technology is not only a fad, but it
creates more• if people do not take part in social
media for example, they may get made fun of, or miss out on the new “cool” thing
CONT. • this can create social problems because
the more fortunate people may be able to afford more therefore a higher social rank
• example: someone may have a laptop of the HP brand, but the person with the macbook will look down on the HP
Probable solutions• do not make wifi available for free • set ground rules as a family. Only
allowed phones at certain times, only allowed certain amount of television
References• Horvath, A. (2015, June 4). How does technology affect our brains? Retrieved
April 03, 2016, from http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/voice/how-does-technology-affect-our-brains-20150604-3x5uq.html
• Is Technology Destroying our Brains? | Mystera. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.mystera-magazine.com/article/technology-destroying-our-brains
• Lewis, T. (2015). Here's what science says about how digital technology REALLY affects our brains. Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/how-digital-technology-affects-our-brains-2015-8
• The effect of smart phones on social interaction. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.academia.edu/4661907/The_effect_of_smart_phones_on_social_interaction
• What is brain plasticity, and can it help relieve psychiatric or degenerative brain disorders? (2012, April 23). Retrieved April 3, 2016 from http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-expert/articles/2012/what-is-brain-plasticity