Introduction
Before civilization, people used primitive means of long distance communication. Smoke signal was one of major means of long distance communication. The major limitation of ancient means of communication is that they could reach a limited number of people. In the modern world, people use various technological devices for communication. These include the internet, television, radio, and cell phone. These devices have helped in bridging the gap of space and time.
They have enabled people who are thousands of miles apart to communicate in real time (Mehlenbacher 2). Technological devices have affected all spheres of life of people in the modern world. Technological advances have not been entirely beneficial. Various studies show that use of various technological devices may be detrimental to the social and intellectual development of an individual.
Mobile devices are some of the revolutionary device of the contemporary world. The smart phone and tablet computer are the most recent mobile communication devices. The cell phone has become a constant companion of most people. It is among the first technological devices that most people use after waking up. In addition, it is among the last devices that most people use before going to sleep. In the contemporary world, use of cell phone has become a natural instinct.
Some people may shudder at the thought of not being able to access their phones. The cell phone enables people to connect with their family, friends, and business associates (Ling 25). Technological devices may have a negative effect on the life of an individual. A study found out that Japanese children who had cell phones were less likely to form friendships with those who did not have cell phones.
This is also applicable to children in other countries. This is a clear illustration that cell phones have a negative effect on the social development of children. Development of social skills is vital in the future life of the children. Social skills enable people to navigate through difficult situations. A sizeable percentage of people use multiple cell phones. A study showed that twenty-five percent of Italian adolescents had multiple phones.
Multiple phones increase the time that people spend on their phones. On the other hand, a different study showed that 36 percent of British college students “could not survive without cell phones” (Birdwell para 11). The study showed that 7% of people lost their jobs or relationships due to the use of mobile phones (Birdwell para 12). This is a clear indication that cell phones and other mobile devices have a negative effect on the social life of an individual.
The internet is the latest series of technological developments that revolutionized the world. The internet affects almost all spheres of life of the modern day individual. The internet provides people with a vast amount of information. Despite the large amount of information that the internet provides to people, research shows that the internet may have a negative effect on the intellectual ability of an individual. Technological devices provide unnecessary distractions.
These distractions include emails, alerts, and other messages. In addition, information on the internet may contain many links that offer distractions to readers. Frequent distractions limit the ability of individuals to focus their thoughts on one issue. This has a negative effect on the intellectual capability of an individual (Carr para 3). Scientists believe that brain cells adapt readily to the tools that people use. Therefore, certain technological developments may enhance certain neural pathways while weakening others (Carr para 10).
Rapid advancements in technology have had a great impact on education. Education uses several technological tools. These tools enable students to understand various complex concepts easily. However, misuse of technology in the classroom setting may have a negative impact on education. In the contemporary world, it is common for students to text and use the internet during classes. This reduces their concentration levels.
In addition, text messages and online chatting have a negative effect on the ability of students to learn grammar. The wording of text messages and online ‘chats’ does usually follow grammatical rules. The use of technological devices may have a negative effect on the productivity of people. Teenagers spend a sizeable amount of their time playing video games. This limits the time that they use to enrich their knowledge.
Use of the internet has encouraged intellectual laziness. Technology enables people to store information. Therefore, it may make people be dependent on the technological devices to undertake their daily activities. Technology may have a negative effect on the learning priorities of children. It has changed the focus of learners. Learners only focus on where they may find information instead of focusing on the content of the information.
This may have a negative effect on the intellectual development of the learners. Technology provides people with tools for accessing, sharing, and storing information (Cash 12). Time will tell whether the information privilege will have a positive or negative impact on the social and intellectual capabilities of the next generation.
Works Cited
Birdwell, Frawley. ‘Addicted to phones? Cell phone use becoming a major problem for some, expert says’, University of Florida News, 18 January 2007. Web. https://news.ufl.edu/archive/2007/01/addicted-to-phones-cell-phone-use-becoming-a-major-problem-for-some-expert-sa.html
Carr, Nicholas. ‘Does the internet make you dumber?’ The Wall Street Journal, 5 June 2010. Web. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704025304575284981644790098
Cash, Richard M. Advancing differentiation: Thinking and learning for the 21st century, Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2011. Print.
Ling, Rich. The mobile connection: The cell phone’s impact on society, San Francisco, Morgan Kaufmann, 2004. Print.
Mehlenbacher, Brad. Instruction and technology: Designs for everyday learning, Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 2010. Print.
Pinker, Steven. ‘Mind over mass media’, The New York Times, 10 June 2012. Web. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11Pinker.html?_r=0