Some times I think if only we did not have the mobile phones, internet, Facebook, twitter, dish television sets, cable TV, GPRS, various devices etc how it would feel???
How did it feel when we never had them?
Without mobile phones we used to write letters, do telegrams, meet people personally whenever we miss them. But have the mobile phones changed those things? Frankly speaking no they have not, emotions remain the same and connectivity has increased. Today if I miss my mother I have a device through which I can connect to her instantly, can hear her voice, speak to her, text her in case I am driving or in the midst of some important work. My dad who is a 65 year old man is still unable to digest the changes that have come and accept the positive aspects of technology. Where as I have young siblings who are stuck to their mobile phones, may it be in college, home, at lunch, dinner or while crossing the road. So is it a boon or a curse?
Well the title itself does not have a logic as technology gives its outputs as to how we use it. On one hand while a mobile phone is a great communication device as well as the ever evolving mobile technology gives an individual a plethora of other benefits like social networking, photography, interesting applications, music, movies etc other than the basic utility of calling and texting, an over use of this technology may expose us to various health hazards due to radiations emitted by them which is now scientifically proved, we often forget important things being glued to the mobile phone like a traffic signal, or where we are stepping in a train or a bus etc.
In the same manner various other modern technologies like the social media sites, internet, search engines, computer games, GPRS devices etc have their shortcomings as well as advantages. Social media sites like Facebook today is being used by anti socials or political elements to create changes in the society in a negative way, the Government of India itself has expressed its concern for certain things posted on social media sites and world wide web but representatives of these platforms have expressed their inability to do anything in the matter, on the other hand these sites have become a great platform for corporates for branding and promotion of products, market research and connecting to the end user hence solving individual queries and complaints, google gives us an entire library of unlimited information helping students as well as professionals in various important academic and research work.We no more need to purchase costly books if we cannot afford most or walk to a library miles away.
In the same manner modern information technology helps us in various things like better documentation, e-governance, satellite technology helps in giving accurate weather forecasts and advanced warning of most natural calamities.
Movies freely available on YouTube, songs on various websites or e-books I really miss those old days when the only indoor past time I had was to lie down in bed with a 'Hound of Baskervilles' or some other interesting book, reading. Being glued to my PC 70-80% of my free time has helped in increasing the flab around my stomach as I no longer go to gyms or cycling round the town as part of activities.
Hence this question that whether advent of modern technology is a boon or curse shall always remain a debate. On one hand it is a boon and on the other hand an overuse of technology has it's disadvantages. It simply depends on us how we use it.A great responsibility lies on our coming generation to understand and harmonize a balance between technology and natural human life, we cannot let our physical life cycle or environment to be ruined by technology abuse as well as squeeze out the best in technology for benefit of the human race on earth. Let us be advanced as well as civilized in outlook building a great world.
