TECHNOLOGY IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD

Swarna father is a government employee. She  has been provided with many facilities like wifi,medical expenses,maintenance expenses, besides this she has been provided with best education and best training courses. On the other hand, Swapna’s father is a factory worker. Her family is large and she is  youngest .She was given opportunity to go to government school. She has only been provided with textbooks. She does not have wifi , other facilities .If their is health problem in her family she has to take leave to school.

     This story  raises a question whether technology is accessible to only rich? Is it improves the productivity, choices, lifestyle of the rich?

It is correct that technology is accessible to only few. But it can be made accessible by taking few efforts by government. Besides this,technology improves the choice of the people, makes them to lead a comfortable and joyful life. It makes their life simple. It cannot be ignored as there is saying," If you are not updated, you will be outdated”. The few inventions that revolutionized are wheel, Industries, railways, electricity, internet, transistors…

These are not accidents but they are result of reissuance during 18th century in Europe. Also,It is rightly said,” Necessity is the mother of invention”. For example during  COVID-19 pandemic, we all  begun to use online platforms like zoom, google meet for interaction, education.

Technology not only helps in improving life of consumers  but also helps government to simplify governance, to collect citizen data, process it ,formulating policies, increasing efficiency, helps in disasters by early detection systems, helps farmers in agricultural productivity.

              However, this is not the case with labor work. Because new technology of automation, the jobs are lost. Developed countries provide technology access to developing countries but not to under developed countries. The technology of nuclear weapons even devastating the human mankind. With an era of globalization  transnational companies, Multinational companies are ruling the world with the use of technology. This arises data localization issues,privacy,security issues in the dependent countries. In the name of transfer of technology, it has raised new type of colonialism called neo-colonialism.

              Technology like use of 5G will have devastating impact on environment. Man has been modifying the environment for his desires. But where there is end to it ?Man is not in his control rather he has been controlled by technology. He cannot take decisions on his own, cannot apply his mind in basic things but dependent on technology. Does  man lose his strategic autonomy? He suffers from many disorders such as depression, anxiety, many health problems. How man can control technology?

This gives 2 options for man-either driven by technology or control it. The wiser option would be to control technology ,it helps in ease his life ,improves productivity, control his life,can choose his way of life. But, it needs to be accessible ,affordable. Mahatma Gandhi said ,"Science without humanity is an evil”. Therefore it must succeed with humanity principle.