Human Vs Technology

Technology is defined as the discourse surrounding techniques. However, the dictionary defines technology as “a technological process, invention, method, or the like.” The term invention, applies to the way most people think of technology and the ways in which it has been interacting with human nature throughout history. In order to form a relationship between technology and human nature, we first need to know what exactly human nature is. It is defined in the dictionary as “the psychological and social qualities that characterize humankind.” Since technology is considered to be new inventions, and human nature is considered to be social characteristics, we can determine the relationship between the two. Does one affect the other? It would seem that human nature is affected by technology, because new inventions tend to have an impact on society and people’s lives, but it also seems that technology is affected by human nature, because without society’s changing attributes, there would be no need for new inventions. Therefore, it is safe to say that the relationship between technology and human nature is a never-ending cycle of each being influenced by the other.

Human nature can determine what types of new technologies are created. For example, when people from other towns or areas needed to relay messages to one another, such as in the military or government, it was slow and inconvenient to deliver these messages on foot. They needed a faster way to communicate, so the Pony Express was invented. Horses are not only quicker than people, but they can carry heavier loads, making it possible to relay many messages at a time. Eventually, with budding technology, people found an even more convenient way to communicate. The telephone had been invented and it was possible for anyone to communicate directly with whomever they pleased, and waiting for a response was no longer an issue. Many decades afterward, when people began to travel more often and jobs sometimes required long distance business trips, the cell phone had been invented to accommodate everyone regardless of where they were. Also, another need for communication in the military between countries, before the invention of the cell phone, the internet was invented. It was used for underground operations and secret information, and made communication from country to country a lot less complicated. Because of its success with the military, the internet was released to the international public for private use and quickly became very popular, especially with the younger generations. After a short while, social networking sites were invented for people to keep in touch with friends and family and to meet new people from various cities all around the world. These technologies were greatly affected by society’s needs.