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Technology is probably changing us for the worse—or so we always think
For nearly a hundred years in this publication (and long before that elsewhere) people have worried that new technologies could alter what it means to be human.
- Timothy Maher archive page
MIT Technology Review is celebrating our 125th anniversary with an online series that draws lessons for the future from our past coverage of technology.
Do we use technology, or does it use us? Do our gadgets improve our lives or just make us weak, lazy, and dumb? These are old questions—maybe older than you think. You’re probably familiar with the way alarmed grown-ups through the decades have assailed the mind-rotting potential of search engines , video games , television , and radio —but those are just the recent examples.
Early in the last century, pundits argued that the telephone severed the need for personal contact and would lead to social isolation. In the 19th century some warned that the bicycle would rob women of their femininity and result in a haggard look known as “bicycle face.” Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein was a warning against using technology to play God, and how it might blur the lines between what’s human and what isn’t.
Or to go back even further: in Plato’s Phaedrus , from around 370 BCE, Socrates suggests that writing could be a detriment to human memory—the argument being, if you’ve written it down, you no longer needed to remember it.
We’ve always greeted new technologies with a mixture of fascination and fear, says Margaret O’Mara , a historian at the University of Washington who focuses on the intersection of technology and American politics. “People think: ‘Wow, this is going to change everything affirmatively, positively,’” she says. “And at the same time: ‘It’s scary—this is going to corrupt us or change us in some negative way.’”
And then something interesting happens: “We get used to it,” she says. “The novelty wears off and the new thing becomes a habit.”
A curious fact
Here at MIT Technology Review , writers have grappled with the effects, real or imagined, of tech on the human mind for nearly a hundred years. In our March 1931 issue , in his essay “Machine-Made Minds,” author John Bakeless wrote that it was time to ask “how far the machine’s control over us is a danger calling for vigorous resistance; and how far it is a good thing, to which we may willingly yield.”
The advances that alarmed him might seem, to us, laughably low-tech: radio transmitters, antennas, or even rotary printing presses.
But Bakeless, who’d published books on Lewis and Clark and other early American explorers, wanted to know not just what the machine age was doing to society but what it was doing to individual people. “It is a curious fact,” he wrote, “that the writers who have dealt with the social, economic, and political effects of the machine have neglected the most important effect of all—its profound influence on the human mind.”
In particular, he was worried about how technology was being used by the media to control what people thought and talked about.
“Consider the mental equipment of the average modern man,” he wrote. “Most of the raw material of his thought enters his mind by way of a machine of some kind … the Twentieth Century journalist can collect, print, and distribute his news with a speed and completeness wholly due to a score or more of intricate machines … For the first time, thanks to machinery, such a thing as a world-wide public opinion is becoming possible.”
Bakeless didn’t see this as an especially positive development. “Machines are so expensive that the machine-made press is necessarily controlled by a few very wealthy men, who with the very best intentions in the world are still subject to human limitation and the prejudices of their kind … Today the man or the government that controls two machines—wireless and cable—can control the ideas and passions of a continent.”
Fifty years later, the debate had shifted more in the direction of silicon chips. In our October 1980 issue , engineering professor Thomas B. Sheridan, in “Computer Control and Human Alienation,” asked: “How can we ensure that the future computerized society will offer humanity and dignity?” A few years later, in our August/September 1987 issue , writer David Lyon felt he had the answer—we couldn’t, and wouldn’t. In “Hey You! Make Way for My Technology,” he wrote that gadgets like the telephone answering machine and the boom box merely kept other pesky humans at a safe distance: “As machines multiply our capacity to perform useful tasks, they boost our aptitude for thoughtless and self-centered action. Civilized behavior is predicated on the principle of one human being interacting with another, not a human being interacting with a mechanical or electronic extension of another person.”
By this century the subject had been taken up by a pair of celebrities, novelist Jonathan Franzen and Talking Heads lead vocalist David Byrne. In our September/October 2008 issue, Franzen suggested that cell phones had turned us into performance artists.
In “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” he wrote: “When I’m buying those socks at the Gap and the mom in line behind me shouts ‘I love you!’ into her little phone, I am powerless not to feel that something is being performed; overperformed; publicly performed; defiantly inflicted. Yes, a lot of domestic things get shouted in public which really aren’t intended for public consumption; yes, people get carried away. But the phrase ‘I love you’ is too important and loaded, and its use as a sign-off too self-conscious, for me to believe I’m being made to hear it accidentally.”
In “Eliminating the Human,” from our September/October 2017 issue, Byrne observed that advances in the digital economy served largely to free us from dealing with other people. You could now “keep in touch” with friends without ever seeing them; buy books without interacting with a store clerk; take an online course without ever meeting the teacher or having any awareness of the other students.
“For us as a society, less contact and interaction—real interaction—would seem to lead to less tolerance and understanding of difference, as well as more envy and antagonism,” Byrne wrote. “As has been in evidence recently, social media actually increases divisions by amplifying echo effects and allowing us to live in cognitive bubbles … When interaction becomes a strange and unfamiliar thing, then we will have changed who and what we are as a species.”
Modern woes
It hasn’t stopped. Just last year our own Will Douglas Heaven’s feature on ChatGPT debunked the idea that the AI revolution will destroy children’s ability to develop critical-thinking skills.
As O’Mara puts it: “Do all of the fears of these moral panics come to pass? No. Does change come to pass? Yes.” The way we come to grips with new technologies hasn’t fundamentally changed, she says, but what has changed is—there’s more of it to deal with. “It’s more of the same,” she says. “But it’s more. Digital technologies have allowed things to scale up into a runaway train of sorts that the 19 th century never had to contend with.”
Maybe the problem isn’t technology at all, maybe it’s us. Based on what you might read in 19th-century novels, people haven’t changed much since the early days of the industrial age. In any Dostoyevsky novel you can find people who yearn to be seen as different or special, who take affront at any threat to their carefully curated public persona, who feel depressed and misunderstood and isolated, who are susceptible to mob mentality.
“The biology of the human brain hasn’t changed in the last 250 years,” O’Mara says. “Same neurons, still the same arrangement. But it’s been presented with all these new inputs … I feel like I live with information overload all the time. I think we all observe it in our own lives, how our attention spans just go sideways. But that doesn’t mean my brain has changed at all. We’re just getting used to consuming information in a different way.”
And if you find technology to be intrusive and unavoidable now, it might be useful to note that Bakeless felt no differently in 1931. Even then, long before anyone had heard of smartphone or the internet, he felt that technology had become so intrinsic to daily life that it was like a tyrant: “Even as a despot, the machine is benevolent; and it is after all our stupidity that permits inanimate iron to be a despot at all.”
If we are to ever create the ideal human society, he concluded—one with sufficient time for music, art, philosophy, scientific inquiry (“the gorgeous playthings of the mind,” as he put it)—it was unlikely we’d get it done without the aid of machines. It was too late, we’d already grown too accustomed to the new toys. We just needed to find a way to make sure that the machines served us instead of the other way around. “If we are to build a great civilization in America, if we are to win leisure for cultivating the choice things of mind and spirit, we must put the machine in its place,” he wrote.
The arrhythmia of our current age
The rhythms of life seem off. Can we restore a steady beat?
- David Ewing Duncan archive page
What do jumping spiders find sexy? How DIY tech is offering insights into the animal mind.
Scientists build clever contraptions to study animal behavior like the hermit crab housing market.
- Betsy Mason archive page
Job title of the future: Digital forest ranger
As forestry faces increased uncertainty, Martin Roth's high-tech approach shows the way forward.
- Kaja Šeruga archive page
Azalea: a science-fiction story
Author Paolo Bacigalupi imagines a future shaped by climate change and other forces.
- Paolo Bacigalupi archive page
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Exploring How Technology Makes Us Lazy: An In-Depth Analysis
By Happy Sharer
Introduction
Technology is defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry” (Oxford Dictionary). On the other hand, laziness is defined as “an unwillingness to work or use energy” (Cambridge Dictionary). With the advancement of technology, it has made humans increasingly reliant on machines, and this has led to an increase in laziness. This article will explore how technology has made us lazy by examining its impact on human laziness, such as increased dependency on machines, reduced physical activity and decreased motivation.
Examining the Impact of Technology on Human Laziness
The rise of technology has had a major impact on human laziness. From automated machines to voice recognition technology, many aspects of our lives have become easier and more convenient. However, this convenience comes with a cost – it has made us increasingly dependent on machines, leading to a decrease in physical activity and motivation.
Increased Dependency on Machines
One of the most significant effects of technology on human laziness is the increased dependency on machines. With the advent of modern technology, many tasks that used to require manual effort can now be done by machines. From washing machines and dishwashers to robotic vacuum cleaners and self-driving cars, technology has enabled us to do things faster and with less effort. As a result, we have become increasingly dependent on machines to do even the most basic tasks.
Reduced Physical Activity
Another way in which technology has made us lazy is by reducing physical activity. The availability of technology means that people no longer need to expend energy doing simple tasks. For example, instead of walking to the store, people can now order groceries online and have them delivered directly to their doorstep. Similarly, instead of cleaning the house manually, people can now use robotic vacuum cleaners. This reduction in physical activity has had a detrimental effect on people’s health, as it leads to a sedentary lifestyle.
Decreased Motivation
Finally, technology has made us lazy by decreasing our motivation. While technology can make life easier and more convenient, it can also lead to a sense of complacency. When people are able to rely on machines to do tasks for them, they become less motivated to do things themselves. Furthermore, since there is no reward for using technology, people may not feel satisfied with their accomplishments.
Exploring How Technology Has Increased Our Dependency on Machines
As previously mentioned, technology has made us increasingly dependent on machines. Examples of technology that can replace human effort include robots, automated machines and voice recognition software. These technologies are designed to make tasks easier and more efficient, allowing people to do more with less effort.
There are several reasons why people rely on technology. One of the main reasons is convenience. Technology enables people to do things quickly and easily, without having to put in much effort. Additionally, technology can save time, as it can automate tasks that would otherwise take a long time to complete. Finally, technology can provide accuracy and precision, which can be beneficial for certain tasks.
Assessing the Adverse Effects of Technology on Physical Activity
While technology can be beneficial in many ways, it can also have adverse effects on physical activity. Since technology enables people to do things faster and with less effort, it can lead to a decrease in physical activity. Furthermore, the availability of technology has encouraged people to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, as they no longer need to expend energy doing tasks. This can have serious consequences on people’s health, as it can lead to weight gain, fatigue and an increased risk of developing certain diseases.
Analysing the Role of Technology in Making People Less Motivated
In addition to reducing physical activity, technology can also make people less motivated. As mentioned earlier, when people are able to rely on machines to do tasks for them, they become less motivated to do things themselves. Furthermore, since there is no reward for using technology, people may not feel satisfied with their accomplishments. This can lead to a feeling of complacency and a lack of motivation to do anything.
Investigating the Relationship Between Technology and a Lack of Creativity
Another way in which technology can make us lazy is by limiting our creativity. Technology can make it easier to do certain tasks, but it can also limit our ability to think outside the box. For example, when writing an essay, a student might rely heavily on spellcheck and grammar check software, which can limit their creativity. Similarly, when designing a website, a designer might rely heavily on web design software, which can prevent them from coming up with creative solutions.
Looking at How Technology Has Altered Our Expectations of Convenience
Finally, technology has altered our expectations of convenience. As technology has made our lives easier and more convenient, we have come to expect instant gratification. We want things done quickly and without any effort, and technology has enabled us to do just that. While this can be beneficial in some ways, it can also lead to a sense of entitlement and a lack of patience, which can make us lazy.
In conclusion, technology has made us increasingly dependent on machines, decreased our physical activity and decreased our motivation. It has also limited our creativity and altered our expectations of convenience. To overcome technology-induced laziness, it is important to find a balance between technology use and manual effort. For example, instead of relying on machines to do tasks for you, try to do them yourself. This can help to increase your motivation and reduce your reliance on technology.
(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)
Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.
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