Technology – a strange word, and especially when we relate it to the human touch, it becomes even more queer.
Technology can be traced back to ancient days when man invented the wheel followed by the discovery of metals; which would soon change the face of the human race. Invention of the wheel led to traveling that in turn led to trade and expansion of land that led to war. But did we lose the human touch then?
The very invention of technology was by human hands, and it should be taken as a boon and not a bane and as far as I believe, technology is still firmly under our control; contrary to what my opponents may say.
My question to you all is, did by any chance the invention of the wheel or iron hamper the growth of our civilization? If not, then how can we say that at the time of vast scale modernization and rapid growth in population, technology is something that is aiding in the loss of the human touch? According to prominent author, Arthur Clarke, “Any significant advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”, and rightly so, at the time when people are seeking better ways to live, to eradicate poverty and endure the hardships of life, we are talking of irrelevant matters such as ‘human touch’.
Technology is something that enhances the human touch and hence, prolonging its existence. For, example, I speak in front of a packed quadrangle with my voice, or my human touch, however, would you all sitting in the last row be able to hear me, if this piece of technology or the microphone as we call it would not be here? We crib about the days when people used to store treasured letters, but aren’t we forgetting that we are storing emails as well in our computer, which last longer than perhaps any letter would. We do blame mobile phones, don’t we? Doesn’t it help us to reach out to the ones we love when we need them the most? And would India still be winning Test matches if a biased umpire like Steve Bucknor officiates without technology analyzing his every move? And still we end up saying that the ‘human touch is lost’. What we forget is that technology adds more life to the human touch.
If my opponents still think that the human touch is lost, then perhaps they are at the wrong place. ‘Cause Expressions is a place for expressing yourself, justifying the ‘human touch’ in the field of art. But, if there was not a splendid audio setup, then, there would be no effect of the human touch and this program would have been as good as a body without a soul.
It is not necessary that human beings and technology cannot reside in harmony. It entirely depends on our perception. When you invent a robot – it is human touch as it has been invented by a human being for the betterment of his fellow beings. But side by side, you have to term it as ‘technology’ as it can do more things than an ordinary human being can.
I would like to conclude by saying that it is time we move on, we realize what the present needs, we cannot regret decisions taken hastily and imperfect outputs so we need to embrace the new born baby ‘technology’ and let the human touch just control it, not interfere. Human touch and technology walk hand in hand, you lose one and you lose the other so I say aye to technology, as the human touch won’t be lost…what about you?
Great post, Ritwik. I like your style of writing. Yes, technology is a system we humans invented for our convenience. In these times, your thought is relevant to its core. The irony of it all is not how human touch is lost; or perhaps the debate on two different ways of thinking. The crux lies in the fact that technology is a tool; and we as a responsible species know how to control it. Nuclear energy has immense power; yet let it pass to wrong set of 'minds and hearts' and we can't vouch anyones safety anymore! What I am pointing at is the delicate balance between the two. And machine errors can be rectified, how do we correct wrong way of thinking, hatred and divide. But your post in general is quite thought provoking. My best wishes.
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