Modern civilization is essentially a technology-driven civilization, where the pervasive impact of technology is evident in all walks of life. Many years have passed since the Industrial Revolution brought metamorphic changes to our society, and our socio-economic preferences shifted from agriculture towards industry. Modern technology was introduced to change the traditional mode of industrial production, and riding on the rapid surge of industrialization, various industrialized nations ventured into Asia and Africa to establish colonies and exploit their natural and human resources. These resources were ultimately deployed in the production process. Industrial powers embarked on a massive expansion, and the continents of Asia, Africa, and Latin America witnessed an unprecedented surge in colonial expansion, undertaken to fulfill the insatiable imperialistic tendencies of the industrialized powers of Europe.
The Impact of Early Technological Advancements
From the 1920s and 1930s onwards, technology began to invade and shape our behavioral patterns in a completely different manner, with a few path-breaking inventions. One significant development was the invention of the aircraft, which realized the long-cherished dream of mankind to flap its wings and soar high in the sky. With the Wright brothers taking the entrepreneurial initiative in this direction and making the first solo flight in 1903, a lot of interest was generated in this field. The specific field of aeronautics witnessed rapid research-based development, bringing seamless innovation with unfailing regularity. Positive consequences were observed in the form of faster transport and communication when aircraft were finally used for commercial transportation. Commuting and transportation became much easier and faster all across the world. However, the negative contribution became evident when aircraft were used extensively during World War II, leading to massive devastation in Europe and Asia. The debilitating bomb attack on Pearl Harbor, USA, became the compelling reason for the US to join the Allied forces and shape global destiny by annihilating the Axis powers.
The discovery of submarines was another important point worth mentioning, as the extensive use of submarines is presumed to be a subtle trigger for this devastating war that initially engulfed Europe and later the entire world. Another silent but rapid change was witnessed in the automobile segment, with thorough research-based contributions that made it possible for automobile companies to offer a variety of choices to consumers, particularly in the developed world. These are just a few examples, but in reality, technology unfolded in myriad ways, expanding its impact across multiple sectors and human society, thereby facilitating a perceptive change in our way of life.
The Silent Revolution: The Rise of Computers
While the march of technology remained uninterrupted in all walks of life, the next major change, or silent revolution, was witnessed when computers were introduced to facilitate and rationalize the complicated mode of industrial production. As the appeal of computers caught human imagination, massive research and investments in this field resulted in their extensive application in our day-to-day life. Work processes were rationalized, with manual transaction processing giving way to computerized modes of transaction, leading to faster, error-free delivery and improved customer satisfaction. Computer education emerged as one of the most preferred disciplines for students to excel in. New programming languages started appearing with unfailing regularity, and we witnessed a slew of fascinating applications of computers in our daily lives that literally subjected our perspective to a metamorphic change.
In India, computers were introduced on an extensive scale, specifically in the service sector, during the 1980s and 1990s. Pen and paper, along with typewriters, gave way to various word processing packages, and users slowly and reluctantly adopted the usage of computers. The corporate sector witnessed extensive use of computers in all aspects of activities, including large-scale production processes, which resulted in better, faster, error-free delivery of output at the cost of human employment.
Technology in the 21st Century: Communication and Transaction Processing
Having done a brief recap of the period spanning from the early twentieth century until its end, it is interesting to take a closer look at how and to what extent technology has invaded our daily lives and shaped our social behavioral norms in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. While the impact has been expansive, I will focus on two of the most significant impacts: communication and transaction processing.
Communication Revolution
Never in the history of human civilization has communication been as fast as it is today, courtesy of the proliferation of numerous social media platforms across the world—Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and so on. The consequence? No topic under the sun or no part of the globe remains inaccessible to modern man. It is no exaggeration to say that modern communication, specifically non-verbal communication, probably moves faster than light. The direct fallout has been the creation of numerous global fraternities of like-minded individuals who freely exchange their ideas on their preferred platforms.
During the last fifteen to twenty years, with the proliferation of social media, we witnessed a sudden spurt in political activism and judicial activism across the world. The all-pervasive power of omnipotent communication has been evident whenever political, social, or any other form of tyranny has tried to raise its head and ignore popular sentiment. Communication, moving at an electrifying speed, has rallied like-minded individuals, resulting in the formation of resistance groups, which in turn bred and nurtured political as well as judicial activism on an unprecedented scale.
On the flip side, we have also witnessed the emergence of diabolical elements intent on spreading false information and rumors, all designed with the sole purpose of obfuscating the truth, misleading the impressionable mind, and ultimately ushering in chaos and anarchy to achieve their vested interests.
Economic Impacts
The socio-economic impact of this supersonic age of high-tech communication is also worth evaluating. Emails have now become the most preferred mode of official non-verbal communication across the world. The economic impact has been evident in the dwindling use of paper and a substantial reduction in the economic significance of the paper industry. Typewriters have been relegated to oblivion, along with the clerk-typists who operated these machines and enjoyed their own importance in various corporate setups of bygone decades. Modern organizations have become far leaner, comprising tech-savvy youngsters involved in a wide range of activities, from client negotiation, communication, and record maintenance to decision-making and deal execution, which sit at the top of the organizational job hierarchy.
In short, while we have witnessed the emergence of numerous technology-driven corporations addressing issues related to advanced communication modes and focusing their endeavors on fine-tuning modern communication methods, a vast sector—hitherto a part of the old economy—has slowly faded into insignificance due to its dwindling relevance and inability to reconcile and upgrade itself to face the onslaught of technology in the realm of communication.
Technology-driven communication has also left its mark in the domain of personal communication. Quick exchanges through WhatsApp, Snapchat, and similar platforms have highlighted the redundancy of manual communication using pen, paper, and the postal department, which used to carry mail judiciously from one end of the globe to the other. The postal department still exists, but certainly not with the aura it had some thirty or forty years ago when we all relied on them to facilitate the inflow and outflow of our much-cherished communication. Mobile phones have become a household necessity across the world, and communication, which used to take a week or two in the past, now takes seconds to reach us. The strides have been rapid and evident, with both pros and cons.
Transaction Processing Transformation
The next significant impact of technology has been witnessed in transaction processing, particularly in banking and financial transactions, which are now completed in the blink of an eye. Cheques, withdrawals, and long serpentine lines in bank counters have gradually faded into obscurity. Mobile transactions and net banking are the order of the day. The turnaround time for banking transactions, particularly crediting and debiting funds, has been reduced from a few days— the norm until the beginning of the twenty-first century— to just an hour or so.
Massive transactions in digital mode have accelerated the process of economic transformation as faster funds flow has rationalized the payment mechanism on a global level to a great extent. The transition has been smooth and fast, with user-friendly technological interfaces gradually acquiring and rationalizing the entire process mechanism in the financial ecosystem.
Another impact of this has been observed in the emergence of e-commerce, which is significantly disrupting the age-old brick-and-mortar model of transactions. Customers no longer have to visit traditional outlets to fulfill their essential requirements. Instead, modern technology and user-friendly e-commerce applications available on various mobile platforms make it possible for consumers to exercise their product preferences judiciously from the comfort of their homes, with hassle-free, time-bound, door-step delivery. This impact has been particularly positive for the elderly and infirm, as they no longer have to endure the hassle of outdoor shopping, even in adverse circumstances.
Social Ramifications of Technology-Driven Life
So far, so good. But what have been the social ramifications of such a technology-driven life? Clearly, it has taken a toll on social grace and our social lives. The scope of social interaction has drastically diminished, leading modern individuals toward a far more introverted existence. Information is being shared on social platforms through virtual means, but the charm of in-person group interaction has been consigned to the pages of a bygone era. The warmth, personal touch, and feelings for a fellow human being are slowly but gradually being replaced by mechanical behavior, which clearly demonstrates complete subjugation to modern technology, with its all-pervasive impact on our day-to-day social lives.
Conclusion
The march of technology has indeed brought about significant changes in our lives, particularly in the realms of communication and transaction processing. While these advancements have undoubtedly made life more convenient and efficient, they have also had profound social and economic implications. The challenge moving forward will be to balance the benefits of technology with the need to preserve the human elements of interaction and community that have been so integral to our society.
