Question: Why do we need technology

Gary Munnelly answered on 12 Nov 2018:

There’s a pretty interesting conversation to be had here. On one level, you don’t *need* technology. In fact, there are people who strive to be as self sufficient as possible without the use of modern technology. They grow their own food, carry water from nearby sources, dig their own latrines, chop wood for fires etc. It’s a very interesting lifestyle which is extremely appealing to some people.

For most of us though, technology is a way of making our lives more convenient. Would you rather drive or walk to school? Is it good that you can text your friends whenever you want to speak to them or would you prefer that all conversations had to be held face-to-face? Would you be comfortable with cooking on an open fire or is the kitchen oven a helpful appliance? How about washing your clothes? Or showering, for that matter! The electric shower gives many of us hot water. Technology can help to make life easier for us, which is just generally useful.

Technology is informed by scientific discoveries and sometimes this results in new technologies that provide better medical care for patients or new ways of treating conditions. For example, the pacemaker or new, smarter forms of prosthetic. So in some instances, technology is a requirement for helping people to deal with circumstances.

So we don’t *need* technology, and if you would like to live without it, that’s possible. But living with technology is generally much easier than living without it.

A very cool question!