What fuels technological growth, and is this growth global, or is it isolated to a few countries
Travis Ogle
What fuels technological growth, and is this growth global, or is it isolated to a few countries?
Throughout history, there have been thousands of breakthrough developments that have impacted society. Each of these developments has the potential to bring great benefit to humanity but also to cause damage. Technology is one of these developments. It has allowed for greater influence, efficiency, and access to information. However, it also has the potential, when used unwisely, to result in damage. Ephesians 5:15-16 (English Standard Bible, 2001) says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” This warning to the church at Ephesus reminds us to live with wisdom because time can be wasted and evil is present in the world.
More people have more access to technology than ever before (Lawrence & Weber, 2020). This fact has incredible potential both for benefit and harm. It is worth exploring what is fueling the unprecedented growth of technology and who is being impacted.
The Growth of Technology
Few people today would argue with the premise that technology is growing exponentially as seen by everyday scenarios such as the child playing on an iPad in the grocery store with their mother or the athlete with a fítbit or iWatch on their wrist measuring everything from their heart rate to the number of steps taken in a day (Cassard & Hamel, 2018). These are a few examples of how technology impacts almost every area of life.
The belief that it makes life better and easier fuels the rapid growth of technology. This growth engine has two parts: developers and consumers. First, a small segment of society has the resources and competency for technology development. Both factors are a part of what drives developers. It has been over 50 years since a human being set foot on the moon, but the human drive to pioneer new places still exists. As a result, tech companies spend millions of dollars each year on research and development. Additionally, history has proven that the advancement of technology is lucrative, so developers are driven to produce new or improved products.
Second, society’s attention to and demand for technology gives credence to its rapid growth. People believe technology makes life easier. While there are certainly downsides to the internet, smartphones, and social media, society has proven through financial investment the demand for bigger, better, and more. As long as there is access to technology, there will be growth.
The Reach of Technology
A select group of countries conducts the development of technology. What those countries are developing is being exported around the world, including remote places. In an article entitled “Exploring the Drivers of Technology Acceptance,” Timothy Teo, Tenzin Doleck, Paul Bazelais, and David John Lemay provide research results from students in Nepal. Teo et al., (2019), in which Dawadi & Shakya (2016) was cited, write about Nepal, one of the poorest and least developed nations, by saying, “Nepal has been spurred by rising mobile phone penetration and proliferation of interest access” (p. 497). Even with rapid growth, the digital divide continues to be substantial. Currently, less than half the world has access to the internet. According to a 2017 United Nations report, “more than 52 percent of people on the planet still do not have Internet access” (Lawrence & Weber, 2020). With the rapid development of cell phone coverage and WIFI access, this divide could shrink substantially in the next 25 years.
References
Cassard, A., & Hamel, J. (2018). Exponential growth of technology and the impact on economic jobs and teachings: Change by assimilation. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 20(2), 76-81. https://doi.org/10.33423/jabe.v20i2.328Links to an external site.
English Standard Bible (2016). Crossway Bibles. (Original work published 2001)
Lawrence, A. & Weber, J. (2020). Business and society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy (16th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Teo, T., Doleck, T., Bazelais, P., & Lemay, D. J. (2019). Exploring the drivers of technology acceptance: A study of Nepali school students. Educational Technology Research and Development, 67(2), 495-517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-019-09654-7
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