The Power of Technology

The Power of Technology

I have written in the past about business and technology and particularly about the benefits and drawbacks of our current digital world. Our adoption of technology is accelerating and while it can make life more convenient, experts are concerned that it is leaving us virtually connected but personally isolated. In this blog I would like to highlight the power of technology to connect those that would otherwise be isolated. 

Reaching Out

I have worked in the technology industry since the very early days of personal computers and have experienced generations of conferencing options.  In the beginning there was voice-only conferencing via telephone; then came video broadcasts over large networks or satellite connections, but only to those sitting in large conference rooms. With the advent of personal computers and a build out of networks, videoconferencing came into the home with applications such as Skype, Facebook, Facetime, and Google Hangouts. This is a wonderful development that allows people to connect with each other, even over the miles. My 83-year-old parents are able to Skype with me even though we live 700 miles apart. This gives them a chance to reach out beyond their home for conversation and gives me a chance to reconnect and ensure their well-being.

Protecting

Technology can be used to ensure that you keep track of items such as keys or cell phones or something more important such as little ones or forgetful elders. There are always privacy issues when it comes to tracking people—notably children.  However, in many situations those issues are overridden by security concerns. For example, if I am backpacking alone in the wilderness, I can carry a tracking device that reports my location and is visible to my family and friends. This same technology also allows loved ones to track elderly parents. For example, a small GPS tracker from Trackimo can display the whereabouts of those suffering from dementia and can alert caregivers and family members if they get lost. Technology can protect those that are vulnerable.

Collaborating

Technology can connect us with others for the purposes of collaboration. If I wanted to work with someone or a group of people on a book, an academic paper, or an art project, there are several collaboration technologies that let us create something new and meaningful. These include document and project collaboration tools such as Huddle and the Google suite of tools like docs and sheets. There are also tools such as Redpen and Mural for collaborating on visual projects. These tools foster idea sharing from large screens or mobile platforms. No longer are we limited to pursuing the creative process alone but can now easily reach out and work with others to create something meaningful.

Traveling Locally

Technology has and will continue to improve our abilities to travel, especially locally. Metro and bus stops now often display arrival times for the next train or bus.  Additional mobile apps do the same across multiple travel systems. Lyft and Uber are examples of ride services for those that don’t have a car or cannot (or choose not to) drive. Putting a twist on the traditional taxi-cab model, these companies use GPS and mobile apps to engage potential customers and employ drivers that use their own personal cars. This increases the accuracy of the pick-up and drop-off processes and helps bring down the price of the ride by lowering overhead costs. With the introduction of autonomous vehicles, it will be possible to arrange the same rides minus an actual driver. These are a few ways that technology is expanding the possibility and affordability of local travel.

Thoughts

Technology can be empowering and transforming, but it can also be isolating. I believe that the difference lies in how we choose to use it. We can use technology to improve our lives and bring us together or allow it to leave us frustrated. The result is up to us. Technology has created great tools that can help us connect with others at a distance, but it is also valuable to connect with others across a dinner table, on a bus, or in a checkout line. In our modern world we can comfortably do both. Let me know your thoughts.

This is my 237th and final blog post. I appreciate all who have taken the time to read and ponder my thoughts. I have learned a lot from researching technology and business trends. This process has led me to create and present two academic papers on the ethical responsibilities of creating emerging technologies. I am confident that the future is bright as we work together on creative solutions to improve our lives. Thank you.

About Kelly Brown

Kelly Brown is an IT professional and assistant professor of practice for the UO Applied Information Management Master’s Degree Program. He writes about IT and business topics that keep him up at night.

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25 thoughts on “The Power of Technology

  1. marry kim

    Yes its absolutely true that the technology has very good power. Technology has made our life easier and interesting.
    With the help of the technology only, we are living good life.
    The information shared in the above shared article is really very good and very true, really technology has very good power.
    One of the best example of the technologies is mobile, computers, etc. They have very good demand among the users and the demand is continuously increasing at very good rate.

  2. Iphone Support

    The power of technology is increasing day by day and its uses. Our life has been changed through the way technology has changed.

  3. prism peter

    Technology is very powerful and it has changed the whole world and we can make use of it for our benefit. One of the good technologies is a router through which you can connect internet to several computers.

  4. Eric Johnson

    Technology is very powerful. The information shared in the above-shared article is really very good and very true, really technology has very good power. One of the best examples of the technologies is mobile, computers, etc. They have very good demand among the users and the demand is continuously increasing at the very good rate. One of the good technologies is a router through which you can connect internet to several computers.i’ll wait for your next article.

  5. Stacystone

    It is actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Sophia Pattrick

    In my opinion technology is making the great impact on people’s life that is quite good. The example of tech impact is use of google for various topic not only for education level.

  7. Google Support

    This is a great article about the power of technology. Short and to-the-point and helpful.
    And if you talk about technology, the first thing that comes to mind is Google. With its vast array of applications and products that are beneficial to everyone in some way.

    Thank you.

  8. john anderson

    In today’s era we are surrounded by technology at a huge extent. We cannot imagine our life without technology.It has made our life easier in every field.

  9. Microsoft Edge Support

    Most of us have had first-hand experience with the power of technology to dramatically expand our productivity and personal fulfillment. Compare the instantaneous power of email to say, handwriting a letter and sending it overseas by boat. Cell phones now carry millions of voices where once native peoples communicated over distance with drums.

  10. sarah miller

    Technology has helped in the growth and development of the mankind as a whole. Right from the morning alarm to the space rocket. technology has moved to the other level. it has contributed a lot to the mankind and also improved the lifestyle.

  11. John Parker

    Technology is growing so fast. In education, transport, health etc sectors technology is growing so fast. Communication technique is also improved a lot.

  12. Hugh diky

    Technology is being constantly improving and it has too many useful sides. Umbrella is one of them. Thanks for this information. I appreciate your work. Keep it up.

  13. Ayo

    Technology is really improving everyday but we have to devote our time to further improve it. One of the ways to do it is through the media which is what you are doing now.

  14. Smarttech buzz

    Well said about the power of technology nowadays. Technologies can be used to help learners express themselves in writing. Learners can express themselves using a variety of tools based on technology. Thanks for the informative article.

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