Technology and Medicine
A few years ago, nobody could have ever imagined the endless capabilities that technology can present to medicine. Today, these capabilities are unfolding right before our eyes, and they are coming in torrents to revolutionize the field of medicine.
Technology has brought better, faster, and efficient ways of diagnosing and treating diseases. New and sophisticated machines, medicines, and treatments that lessen patient suffering and improve the quality of life have found their way into our healthcare institutions courtesy of advancements in technology (Simon, 2012).
Today, people can look for medical information on the Internet, not mentioning that advances in information technologies have brought novel possibilities where healthcare experts are now answering patients’ questions, undertaking awareness campaigns, and performing community outreach using social media tools such as Facebook (Simon, 2012).
Moving on, it is clear that advances in technology have not only made patient care safer and more reliable than ever before through the use of various evidence-based practices and electronic health records (EHRs’), but also opened up new avenues for health research using the vast amounts of data held in electronic databases. While online databases made using EHRs’ can accurately predict medical trends, novel research using the same data can be instrumental in finding cures to myriad diseases that continue to affect mankind (Simon, 2010).
There are many more ways through which technology continues to transform and revolutionize the field of medicine, but the listed ones already demonstrate that the possibilities are unlimited. Assuredly, in the coming days, we may be talking about ‘cybermedicine’ instead of ‘cyberspace.’
Technology and Education
The field of education has benefited immensely from recent advances in technology. Today, more than ever, learning and teaching can be offered online through the use of interactive media, implying that students no longer need to maintain a physical presence in the classroom for learning to take place (Hick, 2011).
Technological innovations in general and Web 2.0 tools, in particular, have transformed the way students learn within the classroom context. By using Web 2.0 tools such as Glogster and LiveBinders, students can now create a multimedia poster board to show what they know and probably comprehend about a given subject, and also create a binder online instead of carrying bulky binders (Hick, 2011).
What’s more, advances in technology have given rise to interactive textbooks and eBooks that provide students with endless possibilities within the learning context, including online evaluations, animations, additional materials, videos, and other materials to support and strengthen the learning and comprehension of new content (Hick, 2011).
We cannot talk about technology without looking at distant learning. Today, a student in South Africa can enroll in an online degree program in the U.S., pursue the degree, undertake assessments and examinations, and graduate without using hard-earned resources to travel to the U.S. Also today, courtesy of technology, students with learning disabilities can participate fully in the learning process using assistive learning techniques and programs (Hick, 2011).
It is clear that the possibilities are endless, and many more are on their way. Ultimately, we can say without a doubt that we are headed in the direction of virtual learning environments.
References
Hick, S.D. (2011). Technology in today’s classroom: Are you a tech-savvy teacher? Clearing House, 84(5), 188-191.
Simon, J. (2012). Cross-national education and the making of science, technology and medicine. History of Science, 50(3), 251-256.