The advancements made in technology over the past few decades have been amazing. They have literally changed the way we do almost everything. What technology has not made obsolete it has made easier to do.
Statistics show that in 2017, 68.4 percent of Americans owned a smartphone as opposed to five years earlier when only 40 percent of Americans owned one. However, the smartphone is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways in which technology has become a part of our lives.
Sometimes we don’t realize how technology has changed our lives. Here are seven ways that you may find surprising.
1. It Almost Stopped Saturday Mail Delivery
Not so long ago if you wanted to communicate with someone who was far away you had to write them a letter. These days the post office has been hard hit by the internet, with social media so widespread people can keep in touch with those far away a lot more quickly.
The post office’s loss of business has put it in billions of dollars of debt. In fact, the post office wanted to cancel the delivery of Saturday mail. However, so far it has come under fire and has been unable to do so.
2. Handwriting Is Becoming A Lost Art
Handwriting can never completely go away. However, handwriting usage has declined significantly. Perhaps, this is why the postal service is losing so much business.
Using keyboards to type on and off screen is the norm and rarely are you required to actually handwrite these days. For example, remember when you had to sign your credit card receipts for all point of sale purchases? These days, with the advent of chip credit cards the need for signatures is on the decline, all you need is your pin number.
Kids once competed in school to see who had the best handwriting. Do you remember those times in class when kids would pass secret handwritten messages when the teacher wasn’t looking? There is no need for that anymore, all kids need to do is text, instant message or go on social media to send a message.
3. It Is Changing Teaching And Learning
Do you want to get a degree? Or perhaps you want to learn a new skill. There is no need to waste time on commuting anymore and going into a physical classroom.
These days all you need is an internet connection and you can study as much or as little as you want on your own time. You can keep in touch with your tutors by video calling or instant messaging if you have questions.
Communicate with other students in the class via a special virtual chat room so that the entire process does not seem so lonely. Now, more than ever learning has been tailored to suit the individual learner via technology.
4. It Put Knowledge At Our Fingertips
There was a time when encyclopedias were the hub of all knowledge. One famous encyclopedia brand famously ended its physical publication a few years ago.
It had been laid to rest by the advent of Wikipedia and Google. There is no need to go to the library and forage through encyclopedias alphabetically to find information anymore. Now all you have to do is use the internet, information is now at your fingertips.
5. It Has Created New Careers While Making Some Obsolete
There are certain careers that were once staples, no one would have ever thought they would become unnecessary. However, many jobs have been made obsolete by the advances that have been made in technology while others are on the brink of becoming obsolete.
Here is a short list of some obsolete jobs:
- Encyclopedia salesman
- Switchboard Operator
- Typist
- Film Projectionist
Here are some that are on the brink of extinction:
- Travel Agent
- Cashier
- Bank Teller
- Librarian
The advancements made in technology has not only threatened careers it has also created them. Here are some careers that were born out of technological advancement.
- Social Media Manager
- App Developer
- Drone Operator
- YouTube Content Creator
- Website Managers
While things have changed a lot, the advancements in technology are forcing people to learn new skills and creating new opportunities.
6. It Changed The Way We Buy And Read Books
The Ebook has taken on a life of its own. Even if a book is physically printed there is still likely to be an online version that you can carry anywhere via your device.
In fact, the advent of Amazon has made it easy for you to simply log in and search for a book. You can choose to have it delivered physically but in most cases, you can get it instantly by opting for a digital copy.
There was a time when a home library was much coveted by those who wanted to have knowledge at their fingertips. Now even that is unnecessary since you can store all your books in the cloud and access your digital library at any time.
7. How Technology Has Changed Our Lives As Parents
If you are a parent the advent of technology has required that you take on tasks that a decade ago you would never have imagined you would need to do. Now as a parent you need to teach your children about communication via the internet and digital safety.
You also have to help your children to become more active physically. Gone are the days when outdoor activities such as hopscotch, tag, and even camping trips were the preferred choice of entertainment.
Now you are more likely to find kids on their tablets or playing the latest video game. The sedentary lifestyle is now the norm and parents now have to implement technological rules and boundaries.
One way to create a balance is to bring technology to the outdoors with remote controlled toys. You can also implement time restrictions on the use of tablets and video games.
Final Thoughts
Exploring how technology has changed our lives is very eye-opening. Technology has come a long way. It is changing the world at a rapid pace and sometimes it is hard to keep up.
However, there are pros and cons to everything. It is fair to say that overall most technological advances have been good because they have helped to make lives easier. It is up to you to embrace or discard what you want.
If you would like to learn more about technology, please visit our blog where we have articles that you are sure to find interesting.
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