The definition of technology according to Merriam Webster Dictionary is, “A manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes methods, or knowledge”. In other words, technology is a lot more than our phones and computers, even though that’s what our minds usually go to when we first think about technology. The fact of the matter is technology is everywhere. It’s the way my water bottle flips open and becomes a straw, it’s how the fan in my room blows cool air, and it’s the reason I can drive my car. Whether it be big or small, technology has most likely played a part in how it was built or how it works. With technology playing such a big role in our lives it’s hard not to think about how it may be affecting us negatively overall and more specifically our reading, writing, and even thinking. However, as someone that uses technology as a part of my day-to-day life, I personally believe that it benefits me more than harms me.

When I say that technology is a part of my day-to-day life, it is an understatement. I’m constantly surrounded. For example, if I walked you through my morning routine it would be impossible not to mention any use of technology. I use a ladder to get out of my bed, I open the door to my room, I brush my teeth with my electric toothbrush, I use running water to wash my face, and those are only to name a few. Other things that I use daily if not weekly are machines at the gym, AC/heat, my digital camera, and a washer and dryer. These are big examples, but technology is not only big important things but very small items that we don’t even recognize as technology. With all these examples I’ve given not once did I mention a phone, computer, apple watch, or TV? It’s so common for people to stereotype those things as technology but completely forget that technology is so much more than that.

When there is talk about phones, computers, etc. it tends to lead to the conversation of, “Is this type of technology hurting us or helping us?”. A lot of people, including Nicolas Carr; the author of “Is Google making us stupid?”, argue that this technology is hurting us as a society. In Nick Carr’s words, turning us into “pancake people”. However, after really deepening my understanding of what technology is I tend to disagree with the fact that we are collectively turning into “pancake people”. I believe this because when thinking about my life and how I use technology, I can only think of a few ways that it distracts me or has negative affects on me. On the other hand, I can think of so many ways that technology can and does positively impact my day-to-day life. I by no means would call myself a “cathedral person” as Nick Carr calls the people who didn’t have access to the internet because I have my flaws with technology. I find myself scrolling for longer than need be, and I find myself getting lost watching my favorite show instead of being productive. I think we can all admit that we take advantage of technology sometimes and use it in ways that are not always the most productive. The flipside of this is that there are so many ways that we can use our technology to be productive. We use these forms of technology to research, write papers, educate ourselves, communicate with others, voice opinions, and that is only to name a few.

As everybody knows, the Covid 19 pandemic completely changed the way we do things in our day to day to lives. Our lives were consumed by technology in many aspects. We did school completely online, adults worked online, we communicated with our friends online, we lived online. With all this time online, learning new things and having new experiences with technology, I personally just realized how amazing technology can be. Imagine if we didn’t use technology during that time period? We all would be a year behind and probably need to retake a year of school. We wouldn’t have been able to contact people who are important to us for a long time, maybe even losing relationships in our lives if we hadn’t of stayed connected through social media. There are downsides to being online so often, there’s no arguing there. It’s bad for our brains and for our eyesight being on a computer all day, and don’t get me wrong I am extremely grateful to be back in a classroom and able to hangout with my friends and family in person. However, if you look at the situation technology during covid allowed us to continue to learn, grow, and communicate and I believe that we should be grateful for it.

One thing that I haven’t mentioned yet that ties right in with topic is the internet. It’s such a simple word that has a bottomless meaning. The internet is endless and is filled with anything and everything you can possibly think of. We can get anything we want to know about the world instantly at the tap of a few buttons. Theres often an argument about if this is beneficial or not for humans. Personally, I am more on the side that it is beneficial. I believe this because I know that I am not going to be a genius in every subject, and I may not know anything at all about some things. However, if for some reason I needed to know information about something random that I would never have learned then I have that luxury to use the internet and learn about it. The truth is, is that we live in a world that moves at a very fast pace. Change happens all around us all the time. So why not use these changes to our advantage?  

Technology benefits me every day and helps me to better myself in ways that would not even be possible if I didn’t have the aid of technology. I can research easily, drive my car, do my laundry, and so many other things. I don’t believe that anything is perfect, especially not technology. I do see and understand the downsides of it and how it can be harmful to us, but if we use it responsibly then it can really help us to keep up with this fast-moving and changing world.