Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind :: Technology Technological Papers

Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind A glance back into history illustrates many eras that have come and gone which have left their mark on the world and its people. The industrial revolution changed the face of modern society and yet there is no comparison between its effect and that of the computer. Today, it is difficult to find an area of our lives that computer technology has not touched. The recent attempt by the longshoremen in California to strike was a prime example of the fear of computer technology that many feel. These men stated that they wanted guarantees that they would not lose their jobs as the freight industry becomes more and more computerized. Conversely, the shipping magnets are trying to compete in a world where the computer dominates the way freight is handled and they fear they are being forced to let progress pass them by. We were recently asked in class if anyone could identify a â€Å"computer free† part of our world. No one offered a suggestion since it is intuitive that the computer dominates all areas of our lives. Examples range from how we travel, the way our food is grown, what we eat, how we place restaurant orders, the size of food portions, the practice of medicine, how we shop, what we buy, how it gets to our home. There are countless other examples that could help to illustrate this point. Technologies that we could not even imagine a few short years ago are now common, accepted parts of our daily lives. We have passed through eras of information, networking and e-mail. Are we quickly headed to the point where we have lost all privacy and freedom? Are we moving to the era of personal invasion? Or are we already there? And more importantly, do we care? Have we been on the â€Å"slippery slope† so long that we have lost track of where we are headed and what we are leaving behind? One of the most troubling technologies being developed are highly precise tracking devices which can be used to detect the whereabouts of humans anywhere on earth. We are all familiar with the â€Å"teathers† that our probationers wear around their ankles. They are â€Å"free† to move around and live a relatively normal life since they can sleep at home, drive vehicles and maintain employment while being tracked by a teather officer. Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind :: Technology Technological Papers Surrendering Freedom for Peace of Mind A glance back into history illustrates many eras that have come and gone which have left their mark on the world and its people. The industrial revolution changed the face of modern society and yet there is no comparison between its effect and that of the computer. Today, it is difficult to find an area of our lives that computer technology has not touched. The recent attempt by the longshoremen in California to strike was a prime example of the fear of computer technology that many feel. These men stated that they wanted guarantees that they would not lose their jobs as the freight industry becomes more and more computerized. Conversely, the shipping magnets are trying to compete in a world where the computer dominates the way freight is handled and they fear they are being forced to let progress pass them by. We were recently asked in class if anyone could identify a â€Å"computer free† part of our world. No one offered a suggestion since it is intuitive that the computer dominates all areas of our lives. Examples range from how we travel, the way our food is grown, what we eat, how we place restaurant orders, the size of food portions, the practice of medicine, how we shop, what we buy, how it gets to our home. There are countless other examples that could help to illustrate this point. Technologies that we could not even imagine a few short years ago are now common, accepted parts of our daily lives. We have passed through eras of information, networking and e-mail. Are we quickly headed to the point where we have lost all privacy and freedom? Are we moving to the era of personal invasion? Or are we already there? And more importantly, do we care? Have we been on the â€Å"slippery slope† so long that we have lost track of where we are headed and what we are leaving behind? One of the most troubling technologies being developed are highly precise tracking devices which can be used to detect the whereabouts of humans anywhere on earth. We are all familiar with the â€Å"teathers† that our probationers wear around their ankles. They are â€Å"free† to move around and live a relatively normal life since they can sleep at home, drive vehicles and maintain employment while being tracked by a teather officer.