Overview

Technology is crucial in everyday activities. Every new technology transforms lives by changing multiple facets of society. Approximately 90 percent of people in developing and developed nations use technology to undertake various tasks (Turner, 2015). It is evident that technology has influenced various aspects of society, including healthcare, education, and social life. Some of these effects are beneficial to the users while others are detrimental. It is important to note that technological tools are essential to communication and interaction. In addition, technology has transformed education due to the various technologies applied in the classroom environment

My Observation

I have made different observations linked to the use of technological devices that teachers use to improve learners’ understanding of the taught materials. Based on my observations from January 27 of this year, I have noticed that people depend on their smartphones to perform various tasks. Additionally, my family members spend a significant amount of time on social networks that help them communicate and interact with friends from different geographical locations. Besides, people use various technological devices to enhance their health. For instance, some wearable devices help people perform physical exercises that improve their health. From the school environment, I observed that technology enables learners to access materials from the Internet hence the ability to complete their assignments effectively.

Inferences

Based on my observation, I have established that technology has some detrimental effects on education because some students spend time allocated for studies on activities that do not benefit their academic performance. It is necessary to acknowledge that some devices distract learners from learning activities hence cause deteriorated performance.  For example, some students use their smartphones to listen to music during class time. This shows that they are diverted from important academic activities to entertainment ones. In addition, it enables people to maintain relationships with friends regardless of their geographical location.  In the contemporary world, it is possible for people to establish and nurture a romantic relationship despite their places. Nevertheless, some technological impacts on social life could escalate social immorality.

Nonetheless, the issue of whether technology has positive or negative is dependent on how well people apply various technological applications. In school settings, social media can be vital to sharing valuable information in various fields which can help facilitate education among learners. Multiple technologies have contributed to the promotion of health among community members. Wearable devices and specific smartphone applications are used to track certain health factors and enhance general wellbeing among the members of society. Notably, inappropriate use of communication networks may lead to hatred among society members.

Summaries

In the article, Exploring the use of educational technology in primary education: Teachers’ perception of mobile technology learning impacts and applications’ use in the classroom, the authors’ main aim is to investigate the situation concerning the use of technology in English classroom. The research is motivated by the need to ensure that educators are familiar with the role of technology in the teaching-learning process. The article uses a quantitative methodology to investigate the question. The study found out that one-third of teachers use technology to teach English lessons because it has benefits in the teaching-learning process. The article is therefore relevant in my research since it provides useful information on how technological advancement influences education.

The article The impact of information technology on patient engagement and health behavior change: A systematic review of the literature. JMIR medical informatics aimed to review the effects of Information Technology (IT) platforms in promoting patient engagement and how it affects health outcomes. Researchers use a literature review methodology to evaluate the question. The authors concluded that IT platforms enhance patient engagement and health outcomes. Therefore, technology is useful for the enhancement of health in communities. Since part of my study aims at investigative the importance of technological advancement in healthcare and how the quality of these healthcare services have been increasing over the years, the article will be essential in undertaking my research.

The article Impact of Information Technology (IT) on lifestyle: A Literature review and classification. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking seeks to evaluate core impacts of technology on lifestyle. The authors use a literature review as a research method. The study finds out that technology influences various aspects of life, including education, social, spiritual life, art, energy, and environment. According to the authors, technology has both positive and negative effects on different areas hence the need to determine and counter its harmful effects. There is no doubt, therefore, that the above article will be useful in my research which also addresses the adverse effects associated with the use of technological gadgets such as mobile phones and computers.

The article The Impact of faculty attitudes towards technology, distance education, and innovation examines the essential role that technology plays in distance education. According to the author, distance education is vital in broadening a country’s educational access and increases opportunities associated with higher learning. However, for any distance education initiative to be successful, critical and core resources such as technology and participation of faculty members must be available. The authors relied on survey design to collect data on faculty participation and their attitudes towards distance education and technology. The article findings suggest that a number of core issues influence faculty participation and pose implications practices on the use of technology in distance education initiative.

The article The Impact of Mobile Handled Technology on Hospital Physicians’ Work Practices and Patient Care: A Systematic Review, examines the impacts of the substantial growth in mobile handled technologies in the healthcare sector, and how it has heralded positive opportunities by providing physicians with increased access to information and resources. The authors argue that mobile technology is delivering significant benefits to medical practitioners’ workflow and the subsequent care accessed by patients. The authors relied on a systematic review of previous research studies to identify the impacts associated with mobile technology on the workmanship of medical practitioners. They found out that mobile technology is useful in areas of rapid response, medical error prevention, ease to data access, and effective management of patient’s data records. Since it addresses the positive impacts of technology on healthcare, I believe that the article will be useful in my study.

In the article My life has become a significant distraction from my cell phone: Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among romantic partners, the authors examine the impact of technology on an individual’s social and economic life. The article relied on a nine-item scale which was developed to measure the degree of phubbing among 145 adults. The author found out that individuals with anxious attachment styles showed a high level of mobile phone conflict as opposed to those with less anxious attachment. It, therefore, means that the degree at which the cell phone distracts an individual either while at work or when with a relationship partner depended on the level of anxiety of the person and the frequency, he/she uses the cell phone daily. With my study focusing on the impact of technology on a person’s social life and health, I believe that the article will be essential in providing useful information for my study.

Conclusion of Summary

It is clear that technology has various applications in life, with most of them affecting the three dimensions of life such as education, health, and social life. For instance, technology enhances patient engagement, leading to the general enhancement of individuals’ wellbeing. However, there is a need to control the use of technology to avoid its potential adverse consequences.

Hypotheses

H1: Technology has improved the quality of education, social life, and healthcare outcome.

H2: Despite its benefits, technology has some adverse consequences that must be contained for communities to exploit its full potential.

Method

The study involved an experiment regarding the use of technology in improving health. I used a computer to monitor my blood pressure for six days. The investigation involved the use of various technological devices, including a computer, stopwatch, and a sphygmomanometer. I use a sphygmomanometer to determine my pressure before and after using a computer. In this experiment, the time I spent with the computer represents the independent variable while the readings of the blood pressure at different intervals are the dependent variables.

Results

Data Interpretation

According to the recorded data, it is clear that the blood pressure shifts according to the length of the time used on the computer screen. On January 30 my blood pressure before using a computer was 100 over 80 and 122 over 80 after using the gadget for 9 hours 22minutes. On February 1 my pressure before using the computer was 110 over 70 and 100 over 98 after spending 6 hours 20 minutes on the computer screen. The information indicates that the longer I use my computer, the larger the shift in blood pressure.

Discussion and Conclusion

The experiment reveals that technology has particular effects on the health of an individual. For instance, prolonged use of computer has adverse consequences on blood pressure which translates to adverse impacts on health. It is, therefore, essential to ensure moderate use of technology to avoid the adverse effects of using technological devices. In so doing, it would be possible to maximize the benefits of technology while alleviating its adverse consequences.

It is evident that technology has potential advantages and challenges to various aspects of society, including social life, education, communication, and health.  The study used a qualitative approach that utilized experiments, observations, and literature review to address the research question. The study findings are consistent with the hypothesis that technology has both benefits and setbacks to education, health, and social life. Although technology remains core to the advancement of lives, it attracts various issues that could ruin societies.

References

Domingo, M. G., & Gargante, A. B. (2016). Exploring the use of educational technology in primary education: Teachers’ perception of mobile technology learning impacts and applications’ use in the classroom. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 21-28.

Hanafizadeh, P., Ghandchi, S., & Asgarimehr, M. (2017). Impact of Information Technology (IT) on lifestyle: A Literature review and classification. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking (IJVCSN), 9(2), 1-23.

Prgomet, M., Georgiou, A., & Westbrook, J. I. (2009). The impact of mobile handheld technology on hospital physicians’ work practices and patient care: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 16(6), 792-801.

Roberts, J. A., & David, M. E. (2016). My life has become a major distraction from my cell phone: Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among romantic partners. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 134-141.

Sawesi, S., Rashrash, M., Phalakornkule, K., Carpenter, J. S., & Jones, J. F. (2016). The impact of information technology on patient engagement and health behavior change: A systematic review of the literature. JMIR medical informatics, 4(1).

Tabata, L. N., & Johnsrud, L. K. (2008). The impact of faculty attitudes toward technology, distance education, and innovation. Research in higher education, 49(7), 625.