Elliot Mustill

200229411

HAVE WE LOST OURSELVES TO TECHNOLOGY?

(PROBLEMS OF WELL- BEING)

OVERVIEWIt seems that we have begun to loose ourselves in the new age of technology. I remember when I was younger simple things like going to someone’s door to see if they were home, calling a friend, and just being together in person. I find our society has lost its connection with typical human interaction and has resorted to relying on technology. It seems as if todays society is almost uncomfortable around each other and turns to their technology to keep them comfortable. I am doing this presentation to show how technology has affected us and how it is taking over the future generations. I find it interesting how much has changed in the past decade and its almost scary to think where we will be in another ten years.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS?• Smartphones

• Wi-fi

• High Speed Internet

• Online Streaming

• Social Networking

• Flat-panel Tv’s & HDTV

• DVRs

• Bluetooth

• Online Media Services

• Online Gaming Services

• Flash Storage

ARE THESE CHANGES GOOD OR BAD?• These changes can be good. They open up new opportunities for when people are

together. For example, we can now access almost any movie or song in a few clicks of the mouse. We can also stay in touch with friends and family who may live in different places. We also can have access and the ability to do much more than we ever have been able to. The smartphone has shown to be essential to everyday life everywhere from keeping us organized to not getting lost.

• However, these changes are not always good. I find a lot of these technologies take away from the important things. We are so easily distracted now and it seems no one is ever happy with what they are doing. People interact through text more than they speak in person and people rely on some form of technology to create fun and amusement rather than interacting with each other.

• Therefore, it is clear that although these advances do help us in many ways, they are having a negative impact on us as a society and our interaction among each other.

SOCIALIZING OFFLINE

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH OUR TIME?

CHARTS EXPLAINED• The first chart shows that there is a decrease in the amount of time we spend offline

interacting with each other. This decrease is not only cause from being online but from all technology. There has been a huge decline of human interaction and we are looking at less and less each year. Focusing on the chart, it states that on average we are only getting about 30 or so minutes a day of socializing with actual people.

• The second chart shows what we spend so much time doing. It is clear that social media is a dominate force and people tend to go online on their mobile devices. All together it shows that almost half of our days are spent focused around some form of technology.

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH?• Sleep

• Depression

• Addiction

• 24/7 Stress

• Fear Of Missing Out

• Isolation

• Incivility

• Insecurity

• Anxiety

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT PHYSICAL HEALTH?• Increase risk of cancer

• Brain tumors

• Autism

• Diabetes

• Chronic fatigue

• Hay fever

• Obesity

• Joint problems

• High blood pressure

• Poor posture

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT EDUCATION?• Elevated Exasperation

• Deteriorated Patience

• Declining Writing Skills

• Lack of Physical Interactivity

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT CHILDREN?

CONFLICT THEORY• In my opinion the issue of our society loosing ourselves to technology can be closely

related to the conflict theory. The conflict theory focuses on the social, political, or material inequality of a social group. It pays attention to power differentials focusing on class conflict . In terms of relating this to technology we are loosing touch of ourselves as people. This means we are becoming less alike each other and surrounded by our own social groups. We have lost the ability to communicate in a healthy was and resolve issues between each other in a positive manner. Our classes have begun to clash and people are consumed by the media. There is much more ego, and pressure to be of a certain social class and this has all been influenced by technology. Technology has allowed problems to get worse such as internet bullying and the ability to spread rumors at the click of a button. Overall, technology has had a negative impact when associated with the conflict theory and continues to get worse.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID TECHNOLOGY TAKING OVER YOUR LIFE?• Make deliberate choices about time

• Box out time to put technology away

• Remember: the most precious thing you can give someone is your presence

• Be mindful of your reasons for connecting to technology

• Get the most important things done and let go of the rest

• Make minimal commitments to yourself for a clear mental space

• Track your day’s presence in battery life

• Engage in stimulating conversations

• Reach out and touch

• Help someone in need

HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY HELP MAKE YOU MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE?• Active video games

• Activity trackers and pedometers

• Smartphone (used in a positive way)

• Web-based exercise programs and health sites

• Heart rate monitors

SOLUTION• Overall, it seems that technology has completely taken over. People are socializing less

and less and becoming way less physically active. However, it does not have to be this way. Technology can be wonderful and promote physical activity. It can also help with socialization. People can meet new people and find interesting and unique things to do. The important thing to remember is to limit yourself and use it in a beneficial way. It is easy to be consumed by technology in todays society. It is everywhere and growing at a rapid pace. It is important to remember to enjoy the little things and spend time outside. This will allow society to keep mental and physical health at good levels and to have the ability to enjoy technology when needed rather than relying on technology for everything.

REFERENCES• How Technology Takes over Our Lives. (n.d.). Divine Caroline. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from

http://www.divinecaroline.com/self/self-discovery/how-technology-takes-over-our-lives

• Top 10 Most Influential Tech Advances Of The Decade. (n.d.). PCMAG. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2374

• 9 Ways Technology Affects Mental Health. (n.d.). Do Something. Retrieved April 6, 2014, from https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/9-ways-technology-affects-mental-health

• The 4 Negative Side Effects Of Technology. (n.d.). Edudemic. Retrieved April 5, 2014, from http://www.edudemic.com/the-4-negative-side-effects-of-technology/

• 5 Ways Technology Can Help Your Clients Be More Physically Active. (n.d.). ACE Fitness. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from https://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/2904/5-ways-technology-can-help-your-clients-be-more/

• Technology can seriously damage your health. (n.d.). NaturalNews. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.naturalnews.com/033611_techn

• Rowan, C. (2013, May 29). The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child. The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/technology-children-negative-impact_b_3343245.html