3. Positive sides of technology in general
Better
standard of
living
Increase in
productivity Savings in
and costs and
efficiency time
Positive sides
More Ability to
education communicate
tools at distance
New
discoveries in Improvements
several in health
branches of treatments
science
4. Negative sides of technology in general
Overdependence
on technologies
Replacement Creation of
of humans by dangerous
machines in nuclear
certain types weapons
of jobs Negative sides
Overreliance
Preference for
on computers
internet rather
and other
than human
types of
contact
machines
5. Impact of technology on human relations over
time – Past
New technologies in the field of communications have allowed people to
communicate instantaneously, regardless of the distance that separates
them, which made people more informed and connected with each
other.
New technologies in the field of transports have allowed people who
lived far away from each other to be together more frequently, which
strengthened their relationships.
New technologies in different fields of science have allowed people to
live more comfortably and safely, and to an increase in terms of life
expectancy.
6. Impact of technology on human relations over
time – Present
New technologies still have the same benefits of they precedent
counterparts. However the increasingly faster advances in technology
are responsible for some harmful effects.
People prefer using internet rather than talking
face to face because communication by email or
chat is much more faster and comfortable.
This prevents people from making direct contact
with each other, transforming their relationships
in something artificial and virtual.
People prefer spending time using new technological inventions rather
than talking and sharing their emotions with friends and family. This
prevents people from developing deep relations with each other, and
makes people more self-centered and alienated from the outside world.
7. What will be the impact of technology in
social interaction within 10 years?
8. Impact of technology on human
relations over time – Near future
Within 10 years the way people interact with each other will continue to evolve and to
be more and more influenced by advances in technology. Internet as a means of
communication emerges as the greatest catalyst. The development of internet as a
means of communication will allow:
•People who are working abroad to maintain contact with family members and friends in a
increasingly more realistic and cheaper way, turning their new countries in more familiar places
and contributing to their well-being.
•People to overcome the barrier of shyness and to express certain opinions that they would no
be capable of expressing if they had to do it face to face.
•People to broaden their connections through social networks. It will be even easier in the
future to meet people, who share mutual interests and opinions. There will be an increase in
online communities.
•Workers to do more work at home and therefore spend more time with their families.
•Students to attend classes and teachers to give lessons via teleconference without going to
school or university. This will reduce the healthy interactions and discussions between professors
and their pupils.
9. Impact of technology on human
relations over time – Near future
There will be deep consequences in terms of social relations:
•There will be a higher exposure of people’s private lives because people tend to share
personal aspects of their lives in social networks. The consequences of this overexposure
can be severe since this information is public and can be used by strangers or acquaintances
with mean intentions.
•There will be no barriers of space. No one will be geographically isolated anymore. New
technologies create a global country.
•There will be two types of friends. The ones made online and the ones made offline.
Social interactions will not be restricted to work, school or parties. Network interactions will
have to be added to this group.
•There will be an increasing number of online communities and forums arising from
people’s growing need to share their ideas and feel social integrated and accepted.
•People who have difficulties in social interaction will tend to close themselves in the
virtual world, thus avoiding human contact and involuntarily isolating themselves further
from the rest of the world.
10. Impact of technology on human
relations over time – Near future
The growth of technologies will allow people to more easily overcome:
Sadness by • Using new technological features for entertainment
Loneliness • Making new friends online
• Connecting with people from all over the world
Isolation
• Accessing to all sorts of information
Ignorance • Finding communities where they can share feelings and
ideas
Depression
11. Impact of technology on human
relations over time – Near future
The other side of the coin consists of the negative habits that the technological
growth will produce on people, directly affecting their capacity to interact:
•Laziness as a result of being able to connect faster using the computer.
•Frequent lack of interest in social activities and systematic preference for online activities.
•Addiction to social networks, which deprive people from valuable working/studying time.
•Loss social skills and confidence on human interaction.
•Unfulfilling relationships with virtual friends.
12. Impact of technology on human
relations – Conclusion
In conclusion, I can neither state that social interaction will evolve in a
completely positive way within the next 10 years nor state that the negative
aspects will outweigh the positive ones.
I believe it all comes down to one’s capacity to take advantage of the benefits
that are inherent to technological advance, and at the same time to one’s
capacity to create self-defense mechanisms from bad habits and dangers
associated with new technologies.
