How to Use Technology to Connect With Family and Friends
What is the main use of technology? This question has been at the forefront of science fiction since the beginning of time. In this article, we will try to answer this question as best as possible from a technological point of view.
Technology is nothing more than the application of existing processes to new goods or services, or the modification of existing procedures to better produce or accomplish something. In other words, everything is used for something. Now you can understand why some people think that the use of technology is bad. They feel that it has led to a ‘push toward’ automation, leading to a race to the bottom in worker productivity. While there are those that would disagree, let us look at what the main use of technology is and then ask if people are falling behind in using it or even if they are using it more efficiently than ever before.
The main use of technology is to reproduce or create something which was earlier not duplicated. Take the story of the factory line. In the beginning, the process of making a product could take months and even years. However, as Ray Kurzweil points out in his best-selling book, The Timeline, the same basic processes can be done within minutes by using computer technology. The only difference is that instead of hundreds or thousands of workers participating in manual labor, they all do it simultaneously with the help of high-tech machines.
One of the most important questions to ask is what drives the need for such a use of technology. There are many theories, some of them real and others not so much. Some people believe that human interaction is slowly evolving into a one-dimensional social system with humans remaining isolated and aloof from each other. In the age of social media, however, it is possible to reach people from all over the world, engaging them in a virtual conversation based on common interests and goals. The same thing goes for civic engagement: while some people believe that people have become too disconnected to interact, others see the need for more meaningful forms of communication. This explains why most techies and entrepreneurs are so interested in social networking and civic engagement.
Of course, it is not just old technology that inspires such civic engagement. Many younger people like to use and enjoy new gadgets and gizmos. Indeed, much of the appeal of Facebook and Twitter stems from their ability to combine old technologies with new ones to create a new experience. By taking out old outdated technology and replacing it with newer versions, we create something better with our online lives.
For example, many older people who like to play video games find it very difficult to navigate the modern world. They would like to have more technology at their disposal so that they can be more easily able to keep up with the changes in game design or game development. Social networks offer this same opportunity but through a more customized form of interaction. By creating a profile page, where members can upload their favorite photos and videos and share commentary on the photos and videos, members can connect to share their common interests.
While members still have to connect physically to communicate with each other, the modern version of these networks allows for a much more customized form of interaction. In fact, many experts argue that one of the keys to the success of Facebook and other social media is the way in which people are able to use technology to connect not just emotionally, but also practically. For example, by allowing people to post comments on photos and videos, members are given the opportunity to actually interact with one another on a more personal level.
Even though many older people feel like technology use has become too mainstream and over-commercialized, there is no reason to think this will not continue to happen. As social media continues to expand, so does the ability for people to stay connected. In fact, it is probably already too late to turn back the trend. If you want to stay socially active, learn how to use technology to connect with friends and family.
