We take technology for granted, and very rarely do we stop to think about its impact on our lives. Yet if we stop and ruminate about it, then the implications can be mind-boggling.

Just think about it: everywhere we go, whoever we interact with, every action we take is governed by technology. Whether you’re chatting on your smartphone or hailing an app-cab, technology has invaded our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

So, the question is no longer how technology has changed our lives, but rather how far we’ve allowed it to change us. Today, we are going to take a tour of the technological landscape – past and present – and endeavor to understand its impact.

Let’s get going.

Technology Then And Now

To understand the full extent of how technology has changed our lives, we must take a trip down memory lane and wind up at the dawn of civilization. Back then, tools such as knives and spearheads were considered the cutting-edge (pun intended) of technology.

These tools, which were mostly used for hunting, were made of bones and stones as these were the primary raw materials available. Slowly, as humanity began to grow more complex, metals came to the fore, fire was discovered, and the wheel was made.

Over the course of thousands of years, humans developed transportation, modes of communication and built a civilization that has become the dominant species on the planet. And all this has been possible due to technology.

But since the beginning of the 18th century, technology took a more rapid turn. Innovators and scientists began to churn out one modern marvel after another (think electricity, engines, and the telephone) in quick succession. Science began to become all-pervasive, and technology slowly, but surely, became available for the masses.

Then came two world wars, and during this period, despite the global devastation, technology boomed. And it was during these wars that the world saw what was to be the most significant technological innovation in the history of humanity.

And Computers Were Born

Although the mathematical basis for the beginning of computer science was laid down two centuries ago, it was towards the end of the second world war that the first computers were built. Based on the efforts of scientists on both sides of the Atlantic (John von Neumann and Alan M. Turing), humanity was given the electronic brain.

It was around this time that Arthur C. Clarke conceived communication satellites, and thus the basis for the internet was laid down. With time and the advent of transistor technology, computers started to grow in power and shrink in size, till the time came when they were the stuff of tabletop fun.

Side by side with computers, the internet was beginning to take shape as well. Financed mainly by the U.S. Army (DARPA), the ARPANET started operations in 1969. It’s amazing to think that what primarily began as a two-node communication system between UCLA and Stanford has today grown to become the most pervasive network on the planet.

Finally, as we stepped into the new Millenium, computer technology slowly but surely started to take over our lives. And today, we can’t live an hour without reaching for that phone or checking out social media. Once you understand how computers change the way we think, it becomes frightening to contemplate.

How Computers Change The Way We Think

Just imagine a day without your smartphone…can you survive it? We have become extremely dependent on these devices for our everyday operations. While computers are nothing but a tool in the arsenal of humankind, computing technology has taken the world in its thrall. The following are some ways in which computers have changed the way we interact with the world.

The Web As A Cerebral Extension

There was a time when to know something, you had to walk into the library and turn the pages of actual books. Today, we just ask our smart assistants. We no longer bother to remember phone numbers, don’t ask for directions, and never have to worry about getting lost.

The world-wide-web has become an extension of the human mind; every decision we take today has to be supported by the evidence of the internet. It’s estimated that the web exposes us to more information daily than we can process. But that doesn’t stop us from processing it all the same.

Technology And Communication

If there is one field that the rise of technology has revolutionized forever, then it’s communication. From using smokes and mirrors for sending messages, we’ve come a long way to the use of mobile phones, computers, email, and chat.

Today, the world is a global village connected by miles and miles of cables that stretch under the oceans across the earth. Talking with a person on the other side of the world is as simple as tapping an icon on a screen, and sending data from one place to another no longer requires the postal system.

Entertainment

Ever since the advent of television, technology has played a significant role in the entertainment industry. Today, from 3D movies to AR (augmented reality) based games, entertainment has been influenced by technology to take on a new incarnation.

Already, esports is playing a more significant role in the games arena, and there may come a time when physical sports are entirely replaced by virtual gameplay. Cloud technology and faster internet connections have made video streaming simple, and this has led to the rise of personalized, on-demand entertainment.

Education

Education is yet another part of our lives that technology has changed, and perhaps for the better. Information is no longer the domain of large institutions, and books are being replaced by their electronic counterparts.

School and college education is augmented today by online courses, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and certifications. Students can use social media and online forums to discuss problems with their peers and use online tools to drive future innovations.

Transportation

There was a time when horse-drawn carriages were the mark of aristocracy. Then came motor cars and trains, and today we just hail an Uber. In fact, with the arrival of self-driving cars, technology has taken another leap in a positive direction.

Better driving algorithms are working to create a safer on-road experience, faster engines are reducing the time we need to travel, and the advent of the hyperloop can change the way we’ve viewed transportation till now. In a nutshell, it can be said that technology has been one of the major, well, drivers of transport.

Some Negative Impacts Of Technology

The trouble is, technology hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows; there’ve been significant adverse impacts of technology on our lives as well. Ranging from physical ailments to psychological aberrations, let’s take a look at some effects from the dark side of tech.

Lower Attention Spans

We’ve already seen how computers change the way we think for the better. But they’ve also had significant negative impacts on us. For starters, the deluge of information that we have to process every day has reduced our attention spans. We can no longer concentrate on a specific topic for extended periods. This has made us impatient and, to some extent, impertinent.

Health Hazards

Just as technology has enabled medical science to breach new frontiers, it has also brought forward some modern diseases. Insomnia, cyberchondria, and nomophobia are just some of the many current ailments that are a direct result of technology dependence taken to undesirable extremes. These are severe conditions which, unless treated timely, can lead to dangerous complications.

Cybercrime

This is perhaps the most notorious impact of technology ever. The rise of the internet, along with the ubiquitous nature of computing technology, has created a new breed of criminals. And they are not ready to let go of their brand new turf: the internet.

These perps hide in the dark depths of cyberspace, waiting to strike and retreat at a moment’s notice. This has made them the scourge of the digital terrain. And with disruptive technologies coming to the fore every day, it’s tough for the authorities to keep pace with these criminals. Cybercrime costs businesses millions of dollars a year in damages, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Conclusion

Finally, it can be safely said that technology has shaped human life as closely as we have shaped technology, perhaps more so. And if trends are anything to go by, we’ve only just begun.

With rapid advances in AI, computer vision, and predictive analytics, humans are on the cusp of a data revolution that may very well change the way we perceive and interact with reality. Already, to some extent, we’ve become inextricably intertwined with technology. Perhaps the future will bring more literal meldings of man and machine.

Now, whether that is going to be for the better or the worse, is something that only time will tell!