Evils_of_Technology

Today, technology is a necessity and apparent in our everyday lives. We use technology to pop our popcorn or connect with friends and family. The technological advancement with the most impact are cell phones. They are everywhere and affect every aspect of life, both negatively and positively. I believe cell phones are a very useful innovation but can have major consequences. Have you ever been in a room where all you can concentrate on is the cell phone conversation behind you' You can try to block it out or ignore it, but it deafens the entire room. Whether you were interested in conversation or not, you know all about it. All your thought and attention is drawn to this one conversation; they are a magnet to your attention. The speaker will pace back and forth, raising and lowering his voice, harnessing all of your focus. They don’t realize how loud and captivating they can become. It seems that you, an innocent bystander, is invading their privacy. After several glares, I feel uncomfortable and intruding. It couldn’t be more opposite. Christine Rosen states in the essay, Our Cell Phones, Ourselves, that “cell phones users harbor illusions about being alone or assume a degree of privacy that the circumstance don’t actually allow.” Cell phone users are oblivious to the world around them. They have a false sense of isolation, when in reality they are disrupting the world around them. They are unaware of the world surrounding them because they are so absorbed into their own conversation. They are detached from the place of being and transported into someplace at the other end of the phone. Paul Goldberger reiterates in Disconnected Urbanism that “You are there, but you are not there.” He also states,” You are either on the phone or carrying one, and the moment it rings you will be transported out of real space into a virtual realm.” That statement is astonishing. As soon as your cell phone rings, you are pulled away from reality and consumed into that conversation. It can completely interrupt the present and send you into a distant place. It can become extremely aggravating when people are constantly on their cell phones. Cell phone users are permanently distracted and disconnected from their surroundings. It can be extremely frustrating when you are trying to complete a task or have a meaningful conversation with someone and they look at their phone every two minutes. It is ridiculous that you have to talk to somebody constantly. I believe cell phones can be utilized for safety, urgent information and social purposes but people are starting to overuse them. Have you noticed older people rarely check their phones' I am fascinated how technology can alter people’s lives. New technology is one of the most influential things on younger generations and they can be misused and abused.