Over the years technology has grown and advanced in many ways. One can define technology as the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area. In other words, technology makes it easier for people to satisfy their needs and desires. Technology ranges from cellular phones to nuclear weapons, there are millions of things in the world that have had their share of attention and evolved into more useful tools. Mostly any and every improvement made regarding technology effects the world. The question at hand is whether or not these advancements in technology better or worsen society. .
One area of technology that has greatly changed society is the Internet. Not only has the Internet changed the way we live, it has changed the way we communicate. I recently conducted survey regarding the telephone versus instant messaging. Robert Longo, one of the people who was surveyed stated, "I prefer instant messaging, rather than picking up a phone." One reason for that may be the fact that it costs less. Communicating with family overseas costs less via the Internet, than it would with the best long distance plan any telephone company has to offer. AT&T boasts its overseas plan of seven cents a minute, while America Online only costs $19.95 a month, for as many minutes as you want. Though talking on the telephone requires the use of a person's voice while, instant messaging require people to type the words they wish to express to the other person, they are both similar in that they are forms of communication.
A negative aspect of the Internet is that it is a substitute for human interaction. With the click of a button some say they can find a soul mate. People used to have to leave their houses to meet others. Now they can go to " the people connection" on the Internet, and choose what type of person they would like to "chat" with. Sherry Turkle's essay, Constructions and Reconstructions of the Self in Virtual Reality speaks of the identities people create for themselves on the Internet.
