Technology In Our Society :: essays research papers

Technology In Our Society No doubt, technology is increasingly important in the modern world. It is amazing how fast technology has been developed. Nearly every major advance was invented in the last century. These invention are always planned for a positive result, however the negative effects often do not become apparent until after the event. These effects will be deal in the following paragraphs with related materials. The text, "Whose Life is it Anyway?", by Brian Clark, has clearly illustrated that with the development of medical technology, people can now have a better quality of life. Moreover, many lives which normally would not survive without the advance in medical treatment can now be artificially prolonged. The central character, Ken Harrison, who becomes a quadriplegic after a car accident, has met this situation. Nevertheless, it is cruel to ask him to face this life if he does not desire to. He can no longer sculpt, run, move, kiss or have any form of sexual fulfillment. Obviously, his normal life has drifted away. The tendency to sustain people's lives, just because the technology is available, is intolerance under certain circumstances. It is the individual patient who must make a decision about whether to keep himself alive. "What is the point of prolonging a person's biological life if it is obtained at the cost of a serious assault on that person's liberty?" There is probably no simple answer for this question. Any patient's decision should be respected, not based on the fact of all available technologies. This medical technology has the potential for both good and bad results. However, it is very important in today's society. "Insurance in the Genes" is a piece of valuable material which explores another area in the technological field. Nowadays, genetic engineering essentially plays an important role. Genetic testing can predict a person's biological use-by date, forecasting everything from heart attacks to breast cancer. People can therefore have a basic concept of their health situation and prevent what is going to happen if technology allows them to know this beforehand. "Up until now, only 50 genetic tests have been developed to detect diseases. But within a decade, there will be tests for 5000 diseases." It is a remarkable increase. In the near future, hopefully, genetic testing will be employed to reveal potential health risks. It is a positive effect of technology in the modern world. Another useful source for the effects of technology in our world is the documentary. On 23 April 1996, SBS broadcasted a film entitled "Weapon: A Battle for Humanity". It recorded that landmines and laser weapons are devils.