I am 19 years old, and my first computer either had Windows 95 or 98 installed on it. I barely remember the large flat floppy disks. However, I do remember dial up internet. The first games I remember playing were Star Craft, Diablo and Sim City. Years later, I cannot see myself living without high speed internet, and I start to go insane after just a few hours of internet down time.

This morning I went to go do my weekly grocery shopping, except my car wouldn’t start. It turns out my battery is dead. No one is around to give me a jump start, so I call my parents. They are more than willing to make for thirty minute drive to my apartment and take me to go get a new battery.

It is hard for me to imagine what life was like before the technology book hit, because I have been around it most of my life. How did people live without computers, the internet, cell phones or even a car? I know it was done, and people were happy without them. Have these technological improvements done more harm to our society than good?

Cell phones are a great invention, but then text messaging shows up. The majority of motor vehicle accidents in today’s younger generation is due to text messaging. This has gotten so bad that some states are beginning to outlaw text messaging while driving.

Cars help us get to where we need to go, but the damage they are doing to our environment is irreversible. People survived on a horse and buggy. People use public transportation to get around (and it works), however for a lot of people, myself included, public transportation is troublesome. The nearest bus stop is a good 20 minute uphill walk from my apartment, and even then I would have to catch the early bus in order to get to class early enough to get my “reserved” seat.

What do you think, has technology done more harm than good? Is there a way to get today’s youth out of the technology boom and into the real world?

-Justin

[tags]Technology, Cars, Cell Phones, Internet, jfcapasso[/tags]