Technology is an integral part of most people’s lives today. Recent studies report that approximately 62.5% of the world’s population are smartphone users (Boal). This number is only expected to increase, reaching a whopping 90% by the year 2020 (Mlot). Another study shows that 58% of smartphone users do not typically go more than one hour without checking their phones (“Lookout”). Whether for work or entertainment, the majority of people use some form of technology at least one time per day. Though many of the immediate benefits of this technology are apparent, some argue that the same technology that makes life easier for so many is at the same time pushing them apart from one another. Acknowledging the fact that many good things have at
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Technology, namely computers, allow some people with disabilities such as deafness to communicate in a similar fashion as most other people. Technology has become so essential in the lives of the deaf that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) recently “established a National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) to enable low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to access 21st Century communications services” (“FCC Acts”). By using technology, the deaf are able to communicate with others without being seen as simply a deaf person or being talked down to due to their disability. Without technology people such as these find it more difficult to communicate on a day to day basis. The deaf, for example, use a completely different language than most other people in the world, severely limiting the amount of people they can create relationships and interact with without technology. It is important that people have positive social interactions regularly. According to one mental health article, “a lack of such social relationships and support may have grave consequences” (Mickus and Luz). Technology allows these people to create intimate relationships with people who they otherwise would not even be able to communicate …show more content…
One common argument used against the use of technology is that because people create so many relationships online that are not intimate they develop less intimate relationships in the real world. However, people who form more online connections are not necessarily losing real life relationships as a consequence. Instead, they are simply adding to their existing relationships. Others say that people sometimes miss out on opportunities for relationships because they are too focused on their technology. Although sometimes using technology can cause missed opportunities for relationships, it could be at the same time preserving another existing relationship. At this point, it comes down to the judgment of an individual to decide whether to sacrifice existing relationships by refusing to use technology for the possibility of creating new ones or to keep in contact with those that they care about but can not be
Technology, namely computers, allow some people with disabilities such as deafness to communicate in a similar fashion as most other people. Technology has become so essential in the lives of the deaf that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) recently “established a National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) to enable low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to access 21st Century communications services” (“FCC Acts”). By using technology, the deaf are able to communicate with others without being seen as simply a deaf person or being talked down to due to their disability. Without technology people such as these find it more difficult to communicate on a day to day basis. The deaf, for example, use a completely different language than most other people in the world, severely limiting the amount of people they can create relationships and interact with without technology. It is important that people have positive social interactions regularly. According to one mental health article, “a lack of such social relationships and support may have grave consequences” (Mickus and Luz). Technology allows these people to create intimate relationships with people who they otherwise would not even be able to communicate …show more content…
One common argument used against the use of technology is that because people create so many relationships online that are not intimate they develop less intimate relationships in the real world. However, people who form more online connections are not necessarily losing real life relationships as a consequence. Instead, they are simply adding to their existing relationships. Others say that people sometimes miss out on opportunities for relationships because they are too focused on their technology. Although sometimes using technology can cause missed opportunities for relationships, it could be at the same time preserving another existing relationship. At this point, it comes down to the judgment of an individual to decide whether to sacrifice existing relationships by refusing to use technology for the possibility of creating new ones or to keep in contact with those that they care about but can not be