Key Technologies
When it comes to technology there have been many innovations that have revolutionized the way people live, from early writing to more recent transportation and even modern day communication technologies. Technology in many forms have had a profound impact on our daily lives (Bussell, 2006). To narrow it down to two technologies that I would not want to live without, I would have to say transportation technology and information and communication technology (ICT) are the ones I would not want to live without.
Transportation technologies from the train, to the automobile, and planes allow us to travel great distances and see vast and amazing sites that could scarcely be imaged. It makes things like commuting to work, shopping, and vacationing in far off places possible. As one who has a long daily commute and also loves to travel, I would be a great disadvantage if I could not get in my vehicle to go to work or board a plane to quickly reach distance shores. While many people may look at transportation as a given, I see it as a valued asset and therefore treat my ride with pride and respect.
ICT is also important as my career is in training and development. While it admittedly crosses boundaries mixing components with computer technology, as do many technologies today, I choose this one because even without computers we still benefit from the sharing and processing of information. As social creatures, humans naturally want to communicate and share information, experiences, and knowledge with others. The tools with which we choose to communicate continue to evolve. The information we share and how we do so impacts our daily lives and our advancement as a whole. With people living longer lives and the acceptance of learning as a life-long practice, I think ICT will see many more advances.
Insights
As a student at Walden University, I am furthering my education and gaining skills to be more effective in my career. This week’s assignment on the purposes and uses of technology has made me think more about the evolution of technology and its impact on how people learn, communicate and advance as a society. These are my key take-a-ways this week:
Advances in technology have an impact on society and governance that may not often be thought of (Bussell, 2006).
As an Instructional Designer I already knew much of the history of the field, but I often wonder if the majority of people realize that the military has such an impact on technology and how it is applied and advanced (Carlson, 2006).
The influence computers have on education will continue to expand as new innovations emerge. The question is how will people absorb the plethora of information technology provides and will they use it to continue to better society (Molnar, 1997).
References
Bussell, J. (2006). Technology. In M. Bevir (Ed.), Encyclopedia of governance, 953–956. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Carlson, R. D. (2006). Instructional technology. Encyclopedia of educational leadership and administration. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Molnar, A. (1997). Computers in education: A brief history. T.H.E. Journal, 24(11), 63–68.