Essay Example on Technology Advancing: Challenges to Privacy & Personal Control

In recent, technology has significantly advanced. The effects and benefits of technology are way numerous to be ignored. There have been numerous technological advancements and developments in the past years. Traditional concepts of privacy, such as communications, should be kept private are being challenged by technological developments and advancements. Additionally, the basic concept of being in charge of their personal information and having a say before the information is handed out to third parties is impossible to execute as confidential information is collected, processed, shared, and stored at extreme speeds and volumes through unauthorized techniques. The collection is done through the internet of things that are incorporated into electronics, software, and sensors, thus sharing personal information is unavoidable when using modern technology. The use of new technology has significantly improved many aspects of life, ranging from communication to agriculture.

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The world has turned into a global village through the World Wide Web, abbreviated as www. Data from every part of the world has is accessible on the internet, such as someone in New York can obtain information about Mumbai in India through the internet. One can access news on social media, most of which are factual. Other types of information are readily available too. EBooks are available on the internet; therefore, one doesn't have to go through the hustle of book shopping and carrying books around. Radios and televisions have been replaced by modern digitized technology versions of LEDs while steps are being taken to create more dependable sources of information. All this is attributed to technology giants such as Apple and IBM.

Every person has faced challenges in navigating an unfamiliar town. The geographical positioning system (GPS) comes in handy when navigating a new area. The GPS pinpoints locations by their latitude, longitude, and altitude, thereby giving precise and accurate location and estimated speed. This applies to humans and objects. The navigational information is freely available from the GPS satellite using a satellite receiver while the receiver decodes data from all satellites. Advancement in modern technology has made navigation using GPS somewhat easier. When lost, someone can easily search for a specific location and even point out a particular destination. Using GPS, one wouldn't even miss a single turn. When the traffic is heavy, the application shows the user an alternative route. The GPS application is available on smartphones, smartwatches, and cars.

Have you ever imagined life without planes, water transport, and cars? It would be unbearable. The entire economy, politics, and social life rely on an efficient transport system. The transport system assists in the gathering of raw materials and distributing finished goods. Also, it facilitates the transportation of end products to consumers. Development in transport has increased the mobility of some aspects of production, such as labor and capital. Transport has sped up economic and industrial growth (Agarwal, 2014). It also has led to the development of large scale industries, thereby reducing the unit cost of production and stabilizing the prices of outputs.

Efficient transport systems have diffused populations from urban centers and have led to the discovery of new lands, thus the growth of new cities and urban centers. Political functions have benefited from developed transport systems in that it has promoted national unity and integration. Also, the transport systems are used by National Defence in transporting personnel and equipment necessary during war. The advancements made on transportation technology have made all the states possible.

Imagine having to write a letter to send a message to someone? Well, the developments in information systems and communication technology have saved you this struggle. It is now possible to communicate with each other through phone calls, SMS, and websites such as Instagram and Snap chat. The technological communication is getting popular because it has features that imitate in-person interaction. Emoji, for example, has enabled us to illustrate actual facial expressions. The communication websites are now including video calls, pictures, voice calls, texts, and videos. Social technology is precious as it enables people to stay connected and share special moments through posting pictures as social interactions are important to them (Aylett, 2017). Humans crave to have intimate relations with their family and friends, and technology facilitates keeping these interactions intact despite the distance.

One of the main objectives of technology is making products cheaper and more affordable. Computers are allowing for fast processing of data and convenient retrieving of data. Rather than doing through numerous files searching for documents or updating client details, computer technology has made it easy to regain the files from the database by a few clicks. What used to take hours is now done in minutes. Automation of manufacturing systems reduces the need for physical employees (Dragon, 2011). Human labor, on the other hand, increases the room for errors and is time-consuming. When machinery performs repetitive tasks, the number of mistakes is minimum, and the speed of production is increased. Remember how complex it was to make payments using credit cards? Now technology has changed that, and all that is need are a small card reader and credit card to make payments. Technology has played an enormous role in ensuring cost efficiency.

Technology advancement has led to the modernization of the medical field. Previously, paper charts were used by clinicians to store patient's details. They came with a set of limitations like they were used by only one person for one patient, there was no way to remotely track a patient's progress, and they were only accessible from the hospital. Modern technology has solved this. Electronic health records (EHR), contain detailed and real-time information, communication features, safety alerts, and can be accessed from remote locations (Ross & Mha, 2020). They have improved the ability to work on crucial patient information in numerous aspects.

Through the EHR technology, physicians can reach out to the patients between doctor appointments or after the patients have been discharged. For example, some medical apps send automated messages that follow up on patients by asking questions after surgery that they answer. It then identifies patients in need for readmission through algorithm-driven alerts. EHR offers automated electronic reconciliation methods, ways to create and maintain a medication list that can be checked on, and reconciled through every step of recovery without requiring the patient to come to the hospital. This has a significant advantage for patients, especially those that have mobility problems or those that live far from the hospital. Patient portals provide patients with online access to their medication history and medical record. Also, these portals have features like registration, scheduling of an appointment, and payment of bills.

Technology has brought about the digitization of agriculture. Farmers no longer have to water and apply fertilizers and pesticides across their fields. Nowadays, advanced agricultural technology enables them to use the minimum amounts needed and concentrate on particular sections. It also enables them to treat each plant differently. The benefits are such as high crop productivity, increased employee safety, and less runoff of chemicals into rivers. Also, it reduces the use of water, fertilizer, and pesticide. This reduces the cost of food production and maximizes profit for the farmer. The use of robot technology gives producers more control over plant and animal production, processing, distribution, and storage. This leads to greater efficiencies and ensures a safer farming environment.

Technology has revolutionized banking systems. There was a time when people used to spend hours queuing at financial institutions to withdraw money or deposit cash. Banks are now maximizing on opportunities brought about by online and mobile banking. One can now do both simple and complex transactions online, like applying for a loan. The use of bank-related contactless cards, which has evolved into a mobile technology that is merged with contactless, allows users to pay by tapping the phone is used globally. They are such as google wallet, and they allow the users to store credit, debit, and loyalty gifts. The user can also use the contactless technology to pay the fare in London buses.

Additionally, technology advancement has assisted financial institutions in protecting their data against breaches. In 2015, there were about 400 information breaches in America, and about 117,000,000 confidential records were endangered. Ensuring the financial data of customers is one of the biggest priorities for banks, and it is the responsibility of the customers too. For data protection, customers should use strong passwords and avoid using public computers. The younger generation is less likely to be loyal to a specific bank, unlike the older generation. Modern banking that is online and mobile, implying that the common services are not needed anymore, banks have had to customize the experience when customers reach out through calls and in person. However, the financial institutions might have to apply gamification for customer service to engage them.

Technology is a significant tool in technology both in terms of resources and engaging the younger generations. Students learn by actively engaging while technology offers that as it is interactive. For instance, google maps may be used as an interactive software in the study of geography. Technology in education also motivates the use of real-time concerns while studying (Lynch, 2018). The students can research ongoing real-world issues that relate to the lesson being taught. It assists students to clearly understand that the lesson applies to real problems and to real people. Modeling and simulation are significant in education as modeling allows students to view the dynamic traits of a model, while simulation assists in bringing real activities into the classroom. Students can now see planetary movements using specific simulation tools. Engineering classes are now more relatable as students can study about structures and machinery through simulation and modeling.

Students can now connect with other students and teachers from anywhere in the world using the internet in online groups and virtual communities. These online communities offer students an opportunity to interact with anyone irrespective of their geographic location. They can get feedback from teachers, and air out any issues related to the lessons. By getting to know the opinions of others, students get to refine their thinking, thus understanding the concepts more. Technology-based education encourages students to establish groups for discussions, debates, and group activities. Teachers serve as coaches during these group activities. They offer constant feedback and guide students in nurturing skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Education introduces students to a new world of concepts, and technology provides unexplored areas for both teachers and students.

Technology assists the physically challenged to lead fulfilling lives. It has empowered people with disabilities through adaptive technology. This technology ranges from simple devices such as the cane to sophisticated devices.