Human Reliance on Technology
Introduction
We are surrounded by technology. Just like water in the ocean, human beings are swimming in technology every single day. As such, there is no doubt that currently technology touches every aspect of human life. From how people communicate, to how people spend their free time, study, and even receive the news. Whereas particular advances are by and large perceived to be positive, there is a query as to whether human beings are now totally dependent on technology, and if they would be able to survive without it. There are concerns that being excessively dependent on gadgets could totally change society as we know it.
Technology overreliance example
People are over-reliant on technology for communication. Currently, most communications are conducted through technology. Prior to the advent of smartphones, human beings regularly filled silences in waiting rooms with small chats-current news item, the weather, and the kind of holiday that was coming up next (Townsend, 2016). Nowadays, people avoid this kind of small chat by pulling out their smartphones, utilizing it as a digital “safety blanket” that makes it appear that one has emails to respond to or persons to text back. Today, it is not uncommon to come across two people standing right next to each other, but not utter a word to each other.
Humans have demonstrated that they can communicate over the internet and through cell phones, but put a real face in front of them and they have challenges. Conversation is now perceived as a skill in the contemporary society, and people are increasingly avoiding face-to-face contact due to their addiction to computers or cell phones. Keeping in touch with friends and relatives is essential. Unlike in the past where people would visit their friends to catch up with them and find out how they were doing, currently, people are using text messaging services instead (Townsend, 2016). These services have replaced human interaction such that people no longer see it necessary to meet their loved ones face to face. People have also become over dependent on social media to the extent that they no longer value the importance of being sociable on the physical level. Before, if one’s friend was going through a problem, one would cry together with him/her and hug each other; now individuals comfort each other on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. This change is frightening to say the least and it is taking place too fast. On another note, employees find it much simpler and efficient to converse with their colleagues and bosses behind the comfortable, recognizable glow of a screen. These rapid and easy interfaces, though, come at the expense of actual relationships.
Technology under-reliance example
There are instances where humans under-rely on technology. This is especially the case when it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whereas almost a quarter of American customers (i.e. 24 percent) think that self-driving vehicles improve safety since they get rid of human error, that is about as far as people are willing to go (Corea, 2017). Bearing in mind that 90 percent of accidents caused by cars can be attributed to human error, it appears that someday robots will be better drivers compared to people, yet this does not matter to most humans. Artificial intelligence can already forecast the future. The police force utilizes it to create a map that reflects the time and the place a crime may take place. Physicians utilize it to forecast when a patient may experience a cardiac arrest or stroke. Scientists even attempt to give AI an imagination to enable it to predict unforeseen events (Corea, 2017). Numerous decisions in the human life require good forecasts, and agents of AI are nearly always better at dealing with them. Nonetheless, for all these technological attainments, people do not still trust the forecasts that AI provides. Human beings are not used to relying on AI and as such, they prefer to put their trust in professionals, even if these professionals are wrong.
Line drawing case (overdependence on technology)
Feature Paradigm overdependence Test case Paradigm no overdependence
Human interactions Positive
Negative
Communication Effective
Challenging
Relationships Improves
Deteriorates
Line drawing case (under-reliance on technology)
Feature Paradigm under-reliance
Test case Paradigm no under-reliance
Predictions Accepted
Not accepted
Trust Accepted
Not accepted
Accuracy Effective
Non-effective
Why we may over-rely or under-rely on technology and failure avoidance
Human beings over-rely on technology for a number of reasons. For one, technology speeds up the sending of information. Technological tools such as text messaging services and electronic mail enables individuals to send and receive information quickly. People also over-rely on technology because it provides them with social relief. Many people find communication that is aided by technology to be socially beneficial. This is particularly true for individuals who are socially awkward, because communications conducted on online forums and chat rooms helps them to build a social life that is more fulfilling (Townsend, 2016). Technology makes communication accessible as well. Communication done via the utilization of a computer like instant messages, social networking platforms and emails makes it possible for people to simply and instantaneously communicate with individuals in other states, cities and nations. In this case, for failure to be avoided there is the need to put emphasis on the need of cultivating human relationships. People need to understand that interacting with others through technology platforms is not the same as face to face interactions. The latter form of interaction is more beneficial to humans since it provides people with the opportunity to connect with each other emotionally. Face-to-face interactions serve to enhance intimacy and closeness, which are recipes for healthy relationships.
People under-rely on technology for various reasons. In this case, the main reason is fear. People are increasingly becoming fearful because they think technologies such as artificial intelligence will render them jobless. As technology advances, much of the work that could be conducted by individuals is being replaced by robots. There is also this fear that AI is replacing humanity. AI bots are progressively becoming better and better at imitating human communication and relationships. There are even instances where it has been reported that people chatting with AIs have been unable to distinguish if they are actually talking to a robot or a human. In this case, failure can be avoided by readily embracing AI (Corea, 2017). This is because this type of technology is here to help humans. For instance, AI forecasts provides the professionals with the chance to develop strategies that aim at preventing negative forecasts. For example, when the AI predicts that a person is likely to develop a heart attack, the doctor is able to come up with measures that will significantly reduce the person’s risk of developing the cardiac arrest.
“Standard of care”
The main standard of care is controlling the usage of technology such that one does not overuse or underuse it. As such, people can apply various strategies to achieve this. One great way to control technology use is to set a technology policy. There is the need for people to take the time to think about their priorities and formulate a number of policies that will assist them to remain connected with individuals that matter the most (Sammons & Cross, 2017). For instance, people can formulate policies that restrict the utilization of technology during family/social gatherings so as to encourage conversation. Another alternative is to turn off technology at a particular time e.g. prior to going to bed.
Appropriate dependence on technology in safety critical situations and how some reasonable equilibrium can be found
Being dependent on particular facets of technology is not similar to being reliant. As a society, people benefit from embracing and adapting to advances, like the cell phone rather than the letter, and now instantaneous communication is achievable. In emergency circumstances, getting in touch with family members who live far away can only be perceived as a good thing. People depend on technology more than they depend on skills that used to be essential. Nonetheless, being a builder and a hunter used to be essential skills, and the society has not disintegrated as a consequence of the change into modernization (Sammons & Cross, 2017). The society was concerned that televisions would get rid of communication at first, and hitherto family units and communities have endured.
Even though the forms of communication have evolved throughout the years, and yet one thing that remains unchanged is that people still rely on each other and families for emotional support, nurture etc. Technology is not going to replace this instinct any time soon. Undeniably, some things have changed as a result of technology; nevertheless, they are not inevitably bad-just different and human reliance does not have to be incapacitating. Whereas a risk of losing social skills is present, people need to choose between whether or not to spend their time in front of a screen or not-it is not a joint problem.
Conclusion
From the analysis, it is quite clear that humans demonstrate overdependence on technology as well as under-reliance on technology. Over-dependence is mainly evident in communication as most people use various forms of technology to communicate with their families and friends. However, when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, humans are reluctant to use it. And this can be attributed to the fact that they do not trust it. However, there is the need for humans to find a balance in the usage of technology such that they do not depend on it too much or fail to depend on it. The answer lies in controlling its usage.
References
Corea, F. (2017). Artificial intelligence and exponential technologies: Business models
evolution and new investment opportunities. Springer International Publishing AG.
Sammons, J., & Cross, M. (2017). The basics of cyber safety: Computer and mobile device
safety made easy. Bristol: Policy Press.
Townsend, P. D.(2016). The dark side of technology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
