Practice Essay #8: Technology

Question: Technology solves many problems, but in the process often creates new problems. Describe a specific situation in which a technology might not create a new problem. Discuss what you think determines when a technology’s benefits outweigh its potential problems.

Answer:
Technology is often times a double-edged sword for it is the solution to many problems but at the same time the creator of other new problems. A prime example of this would be the invention of cars. The development of cars revolutionized the way we travel making it more quick and efficient to get from one place to another. In the process of doing so, it also helped to increase the sanitary conditions of city living associated with horses and horse-drawn buggies. An unforeseen consequence of cars, however, is the pollution generated from the emission of byproducts from the use of fossil fuels in the combustion engine. While this problem is not as great as it was before due to other advancement in technology, the problem still remains a big concern.

This, however, should not make us fearful of and deter us from technology in general. There are certain situations in which technology is solely the solution to the problem and not the creator of any new problems. In such instances, it is quite advantageous to utilize that technology to our benefit. Technology that comes to mind and fits into such a category would be those used in the medical field to aid in the detection of diseases or to be used in surgery. It is through the continuous advancement of the technology that is used that improvement in accuracy and precision is obtained. And it is through those advancements that countless lives have been saved. 

Technology solves many problems but in the process often give rise to new problems. Not all technology, however, give rise to new problems or only give rise to problems that are minute or minor that it could be neglected. When evaluating the use of technology, it is best to weigh the benefits versus the potential problems created by such use. It is vital to look at the importance of both the problems that technology seeks to answer and the importance of the potential problems that can be created through the use of technology. This can be done by examining whether such solutions offered or created by technology are temporary or long-term, minor or major issues to be addressed, reversible or irreversible, and/or life threatening or not.