As time goes by, the fundamental living model of human beings has been changed. With all the different inventions and discoveries throughout the years, our standard of living has been affected both mentally and physically. Physically speaking, since the industrial revolution, machinery has substituted much of the work that was previously performed by hand. This has greatly lowered human’s physical ability in term of skills. However, this is not the worst scenario. The worst influence of the technology to society today is the impact on our mentality. In today’s world, we are moving toward a society that is tied to a media constructed universe through new communication technology. Computer, Internet, television and other communication technology are all becoming necessity for daily life. However, these new technologies bring up problems that are being neglected by man. These hidden and real dangers can definitely impact our society in an inconceivable way. Consider the sinking of the “Titanic”, which was known as the “unsinkable because it was the latest and greatest technology”, is a typical example of such, terminological speaking, it is called “technological arrogance”. People are overcome by the conveniences of new technology and overlook the flaws in the application of the new technology.
Firstly, the new technology has isolated one person from others. The new form of communication eliminates our need for fundamental human contact. It has “removed from most of us in the Western world any need to spend time in contact with the physical.” With the Internet, the entire world is merely a click away. Many people spend most of the time on the Internet and neglect time with friends and family. Cellular phone, Internet, fax machine, television have become the essential tools of communication. “Two-thirds of Americans tell researchers they get “most of their information” about the world from television”, “more American homes have TVs than plumbing”, on average, American homes have the television on more than seven hours a day.” With these new technologies, people do not need to come in contact with other humans face to face. Social interactions are an essential part of human well-being. When people use the new technology in excess; it acts as a barrier to social interaction and social well-being. Society’s values have also changed significantly as individuals choose to perform everyday tasks online. “A study of professionals, engineers, statisticians, and psychologists using e-mail networks indicated that they felt socially isolated and lack group influence, and showed that they were unable as an electronic group to develop or maintain contact with one another, resulting in a breakdown in group processes, a cornerstone of social organization.” The Internet “caused borders between organizations to erode, group processes to break down” . The continual advancements in technology will break down the mode of social interaction.
