Changes in Technology

Laptops, mobile phones, microwaves and a plethora of other technological appliances are things we as humans can't fathom living without. In the late 1900s, technology was nascent. While it did exist, it was scarcely used by people. Each appliance or gadget designed specifically to serve its targeted purpose. Microwaves were and still are used for heating up food, air conditioners (albeit rare in the late 1900s) was used to keep people cool and used with utmost sincerity. Telephones were only used to make important calls, as the calling charges were very expensive and the device itself was presented in many variations. Technology back then wasn't used as much as it is now, and it got me thinking why do we take technology for granted when we can limit its use?

Back when I was a kid, the only piece of technology I ever had was a toy laptop which taught me about numbers from 1-100 and the alphabet. Nowadays instead of kids being hooked onto those toy computers they are hooked onto real computers, iPads and phones. Kids have technology at their fingertips and easy access to them whenever they want. When I look back at my childhood years, I feel happy that technology didn't have any control over me. I had the power to do something productive rather than waste my time on those gadgets.

I don't want you to mistake me or treat technology like it is a bad thing. It's one of the most helpful things in this world making our lives easier and each year it evolves into something we would've never thought of before. All thanks to entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, we now have handy gadgets like smartphones. The day it released, I remember seeing my mom getting rid of her old, perfectly working Nokia for an iPhone and I wondered what was wrong with the old one. We take many things for granted and when a new product hits the market, we seem to forget its 'just-as-functional' predecessor.

Technology has transformed our lives. Without the technology that we have today, I wouldn't be typing this article for you to read. However, we tend to be hooked onto our devices and forget about the real world. We take pictures and videos of things we want to look back at when we grow up. While doing so, we forget to cherish the moment and live it to its fullest. A lot of accidents happen due to texting while driving. Compromising our own lives for sending a text message which could wait for a few minutes is not at the very least acceptable.

I hope that all of you reading this takes something very valuable from this: technology will always evolve and will never stay the same, doesn't mean you need to have that product, whether it is a new phone or a new high tech vacuum that can automatically clean the house with a touch of a button. Be happy with what you've got and remember, save the old products and in ten years time, I can promise you, it'll be worth a fortune.

Raj Raghu