Over the past few decades our technological advances have created great changes in the ways in which we live our lives.
Some of these changes have led to many new developments in medicine, entertainment, education, information and many other aspects of our daily lives. However, it must be noted that while these advancements are good there have also been many negative spin offs to technology. Some of the major negative spin offs have been the adaptation of sedentary lifestyles, the non development of communication skills, the invasion of privacy and many other issues.
For the many who may not know what I am speaking about, a sedentary lifestyle is one in which we do very little physical activity. Thus we no longer walk to the television to change the channel. Additionally, many of us no longer walk anywhere!
I mean let’s be real about it, many of us don’t even walk to the corner store which may be five minutes walking distance from where we are situated. The adaptation of the sedentary lifestyle has led to many health issues today. Today we see obesity being one of the major health issues which not only affects all Americans, but which also affects the entire global population. In addition to obesity, diabetes has been one of the other major health diseases which is growing rapidly among the population, followed by heart disease.
This has led to a huge rise in the cost of health care as these diseases, which can be prevented if we just become a little more physical in our daily lives, are to be treated. One of the main groups within our society who have become more and more susceptible to the aforementioned disease is our youth.
Yes, many and many of our young children are overweight and have been prey to sedentary lifestyles.
Secondly, the issue of the non-development of communication skills is another major issue of our technological developments. With computers, other electronic games and information devices, we have seen how our interpersonal communication skills diminish greatly.
Also, there has been an entirely new language created. This has led to many issues, especially when it comes to young people expressing themselves in the academic setting. I say this because this new language has been making its way into essays and many people are not able to express themselves efficiently when it comes to one on one, small or even large group communication.
A reduction in privacy of all citizens of the world has been another major issue which has been developing with technological developments.
Prime examples of this can be seen in the fact that everything which you do can be unknowingly placed on YouTube, Facebook or on some other internet site.
Your personal information such as your credit card information, name, address, telephone number, place of work and a lot more information about you can be found online with just a simple Google search. Privacy is a serious issue which needs to be dealt with, the unethical, scrupulous activities of many individuals in cyberspace your image and/or information can be used for many activities which may not be pleasing to you.
Some of the many things which we can do to reduce the effects of the negative developments which have come due to advancements in technology are:
- Exercise
- Be careful where you post your information
- Reduce game and computer time especially for children
- Encourage children to get involved in physical play
- Pressure institutions like Facebook to act more responsibly with the content which they display
- Be careful what you do in public
- Finally remember that your body and your privacy and your health is your priority
Amadu Wiltshire can be reached at awiltshire@ut.edu.