Lesson 25 — Activity 1: How Does Technology Benefit a Community?

Technology is everywhere, and we use it for almost everything. What are some of the ways that technology can benefit a community?

Modern technology has benefited human beings by increasing production of goods and services, reducing the amount of labour needed to produce these goods and services, and providing a higher standard of living. Technology has allowed isolated communities to access information in an understandable format and has given them the ability to communicate with various organizations.

Technology has not only changed how we work within households but also the field of agriculture. Agricultural technologies such as new cultivators, inorganic fertilizers, and soil and water conservation techniques have allowed individual farmers to increase crop production considerably. These new methods have reduced the amount of intensive manual labour required.

Using accurate GPS-produced maps, irrigation maps, fertilizing maps, and elevation maps, farmers can gain accurate insights into how their fields behave and exactly how and where to apply water, fertilizers, soil, and herbicides to get the most yield.

Could you live without modern technology in your life?

Think of everything you use that is related to technology from the time you get up in the morning to the time you go to bed.

For example:

• Your alarm or clock radio wakes you up in the morning.

• Electricity is used to turn your lights on in your bedroom.

• Power is needed to take a shower, brush your teeth, and go to the bathroom.

• You use appliances to make your breakfast.

• Vehicles transport you to school and work.

Cell phones play a key role in today's technology. They do not rely on a consistent electrical supply and, unlike computers, can be used by people who cannot read or write. New business models have emerged that make mobile communication affordable. For example, cell phones have become a tool not only for communication but also for financial transactions.

Courtesy of William Iven, Pixabay

The number of cell phones is constantly increasing per capita, and while there are still less cell phones in the developing world than in the developed world, they are having a dramatic impact there. Some benefits of cell phones include reducing transaction costs, broadening trade networks, and reducing the need to travel. As a result, consumers in developing countries often spend a larger proportion of their income on telecommunications than those in more developed countries.

Communication through technology is a fundamental human need, and we are moving into a new era where telecommunications play an increasing role in our lives.

Communication through the use of technology is changing our culture. Communication through technology is becoming more important simply because it enables individuals to fulfill the important needs for closeness, convenience, and control.

Closeness means staying in touch with family while away, bringing relatives from different locations together, and being part of an event or gathering when physical presence is not possible. Allowing users to reach out across distance and allowing users to share more about where they are, what they are doing, and what is going on at any given moment will help them achieve a greater sense of closeness.

Control of your communication situation and of how you are perceived is also an important benefit. Individuals want the security of knowing "someone is always there," for support, for help with decision-making, or for help in an emergency.

Technology has provided convenience by providing more flexible and spontaneous ways for people to visualize what they are talking about. People want to share objects and ideas, show images and videos, and hear sounds without having to interrupt their conversations.

Self-check!

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