Pic Courtesy: Institute of Management Study.
The story of human evolution has been the story of the evolution of tools at our disposal. From the age-old iron sickle that made the plains of the Ganges one of the richest and most agriculturally productive regions in the world to the massive combine harvesters that make farming a question of yield per acre. The story of human progress is interwined deeply with the advancement in technology that lies at our disposal.
What Counts as Technology?
Technology is everywhere; it is present in all aspects of life, ranging from the televisions present in our living rooms and our bedrooms to the water heaters that make showers in the dead of winter bearable. Although seen as low-tech in today’s hyper-technologically-advanced world, it is just the surface of the iceberg that is the pervasiveness of technology in our lives
The cell-sized elephant in the room.
The rise of telecommunication itself has been a game-changer. The distance between two points on a map is one of the primary hurdles to communication. Bridged for millennia by the mail carrier was wiped out with the rise of instant communication systems, first the telegram and then the telephone invented by Charles Babbage brought people closer, such was the impact of this new technology, cables for trans-Atlantic telegrams were maintained even during the American Civil War. Phones were the next logical step in the evolution of communication, becoming smaller versions of the wall-mounted predecessors. Later, we found the computer, something which did not even exist in the times of Charles Babbage, was inserted into the palm of our hands with the arrival of the smartphone.
How has this changed the lives of people?
The arrival of the smartphone is nothing but a truly watershed moment for the world. Kowledge, communication and calls to action have never been more attainable. At the same time, however, access to common forums has given rise to cyber bullying and much more problems.