Technology At Its Best

Technology is something that should be cherished due to the cultural and educational aspects. Technology can bring people from all walks of life together, and people can become informed about world events quicker. The Internet is useful because people can now have any amount of information at their fingertips. While some argue that the Internet causes more bad than good, the Internet is an interesting place to discover.

Some argue that the Internet causes people to lose the focus and attention to do one task. One writer, Nicholas Carr insists that the Internet is harmful because a new form of reading called "skimming" causes people to want to read short and to the point snippets about longer topics. Although I agree with Carr up to that point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that the Internet is at fault for the lack of concentration in people. The Internet is not to blame for the lack of concentration. If someone wanted to read a three hundred page book instead of going on the Internet, they could do it. One can control the urge to go on the Web, but it takes commitment. The Internet does distract people, but it is not the sole reason that people can no longer focus, for people can control themselves from looking at the Internet all the time.

Others argue that the Internet is natural in our cultural life, and some just have to get used to it. Jamais Cascio argues that the Internet is a common place where people can find out world news at the drop of a hat. His inference is that people must use the Internet for the right reasons. They must learn to control themselves because the Internet is becoming a daily part of people's lives. Cascio's theory of people needing to find a way to deal with the changing times is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of keeping a balance between the real world and the digital world. Cascio's argument works because people really do need to deal with using the Internet in a correct manner and coping with change because the world is constantly changing, and we have to keep up with it.

Some argue that the Internet is just another part of our culture that will help us in the future. New inventions or innovations are usually frowned upon at first until one truly sees the impact it makes. The writer Clay Shirky suggest that the Internet will become historical and considered useful, but we can't personally judge it, for it is still in the "baby stage". Shirky writes an analogy to the Gutenberg Printing Press in that the printing press caused controversy when writing "vulgar versions of the Bible and distracting secular writings". While most opposed the new written word, it wasn't until later that the printing press fully came to be known for its importance. Shirky argues there will be things that we don't like about the Internet, but it's ever-growing and it can only get better. I agree that the Internet is penalized too soon because my experience when using it as a tool for school assignments confirms this. The Internet is useful and convenient, and some people need to learn control or to deal with the fact that the Internet is here to stay.

Technology is constantly changing, and one must adapt to it. The Internet using takes control and needs to be watched. If one thinks they cannot control themselves enough to stay off the Internet, they should not go on. It is a simple concept, but some are ready to blame the Internet for shifting their focus. The Internet is young, and in due time, most will see that it is resourceful.