Technot Trash Is Wrong

Everyday we hear about the astounding technological advances discovered year after year. Thirty years ago, who would have thought that we would soon be able to communicate with a person half way around the world through a computer? The possibilities of technology are endless and beyond belief, but are these possibilities always beneficial in society, or are they causing more harm then help? Authors Pete Hamill, Grant Fjermedal and Roger Rosenblat take a look at certain forms of technology and the beneficial and detrimental aspects that have and will come from its advances.

From waking up to an alarm clock in the morning, to texting our friends during the day, to using an electric toothbrush at night, we have all relied on the use of technology. Today, technology has become an essential part of most people’s everyday lives. With the rapid growth of technology, we are continually discovering new ways to make our lives faster and simpler. However, there have been many debates regarding how these new methods have concerning side affects. A lot of concern is shown on our societies dependency upon these new innovations; our inability to cope with life without these useful but not necessary tools.

In today’s American society we as a nation are evolving technologically. By just a click of a button products, goods, services and information are readily available and easily accessible. However, the question a raised to how beneficial technology is and how this fast pace world affects us. Realistically, with each era the more feasible thing is to alter with the time. On the other hand, by altering ourselves to fit with the pace of society, now we need to factor in the pros and cons of this alteration.

Every year people in the U.S create about 660 million pounds of tech trash. Tech trash can pollute the environment because electronics can have dangerous chemicals like lead and the chemicals could leak into a river and pollute the water. How do we stop this? One way is to use electronics as long as you can. Also you can donate electronics to a charity or a neighbor. Another way is to look for a certified e-waste to recycle your electronics.

Techno trash (or e-waste) is one of the negative impacts of new technology. It is the rubbish created by discarded electronics. Developed countries such as the U.S export 50% to 80% of their techno trash to poorer Asian countries. The discarded technology is processed by workers who do not have the right equipment to handle and safely recycle these tech materials. This puts the workers and community to high levels of toxic materials, which could turn towns and the surrounding area into contaminated dumps. The e-waste that isn’t transported to Asia ends up in local landfills and poses risks to the surrounding environment and communities. Technology is made up of a mixture of dangerous chemicals. The toxic chemicals can cause serious damage to the environment. Some of these chemicals include beryllium, cadmium, lead and

Techno-optimist or techno-pessimist? That is the question. Technology throughout time has no doubt changed our way of life. Travelling to destinations quicker, curing new diseases, or figuring out how to cease a wide famine are examples of how technology has made advances over time. The solutions that scientists create spark a tool that others cannot live without. But what if these technologies bring out negative effects rather than their desired purpose? Sometimes, innovators create new inventions that bring unintended consequences. It could range from less communication face to face, side effects from new medicines, or pollute the earth’s atmosphere.

Watching the documentary, Death by Design, undoubtedly opened up my eyes on the consequences of the advances of technology. This documentary does a great job informing the audience of the industry's unsafe and unfair labor conditions due to people’s addiction to smartphones, laptops, and tablets. The film makes people ask themselves if owning a smartphone is actually worth it. Americans don't physically see the consequences of technology because it's mostly seen in China. Because of these companies, 60 percent China’s water is unfit for drinking. It also interesting to know that when americans “recycle” their phones they are just sent back to China to be burned. This causes long term costs to the environment and pollutes the air for hundreds

Graduation day, we made it. Where do we go from here? The answer to that question is just as different as the students who are standing before me. Some of us are leaving Itt-Tech, some of us will return for the bachelor’s degree. As for me, I have no idea what is next. But; I know one thing for certain and two things for sure, I’ll be a better person when I get there than I am today. I have learned a few of life’s most critical lessons during my venture at Itt-tech.

However, while recent information on the topic of electronic waste is extremely beneficial I wanted to go back to earlier in the decade as well, because I wanted to understand how not only how the topic had been covered previously by journalists, but in discovering how the problem had been addressed as time changed. Juliet Eilperin’s article for The Washington Post is an excellent example of the leg work that has already been accomplished on the topic of electronic waste. Though her article is from 2005, she clearly explains why electronic waste is a rapidly growing issue that is causing concern. From reporting that forty percent of lead found in landfills domestically comes from improperly disposed of devices and how that for many years the United States exported waste to China, which overwhelmed both their storage and disposal capacity (Eilperin), she doesn’t hold her punches. She is also one of the few that talks about the impact electronic waste exported from the United States has on Asian countries, which is a very real problem as the heavy metals leach into their water supplies and wreck havoc on their communities. Like, Eilperin, John Markoff’s earlier 2002 article for The New York Times, also explores the impact of electronic waste from the United States on Asian countries such as China, India, Pakistan and

With technology advancing day by day, it’s hard to say that there are no pros to it ─ but the cons are no less.

Technology is used on a daily basis to accomplish specific tasks or interests. Modern technology increases human capabilities and this technology has evolved with years. Technology simplifies life in so many ways and everyone defines technology in their own way. They’re new types of technology on the market, this technology simplifies our daily lives. They’re endless demands as consumers of technology, people use technology to accomplish simple tasks every day. Technology’s used in business, education, communication, healthcare, entertainment and so much more. There’s an unquestionable impact of technology on society. Whether considering the plow, vaccinations, or the internet, technology has had a huge impact on society. While not every advance benefits society, there’s many positive effects of technology. Modern technology makes life more convenient now more than ever. Modern technologies like broadband internet makes it possible to access relevant information at any time anywhere. Today’s technology makes it simple for students to learn from anywhere through online education and mobile education, which improves the education system. It also improves the health system, most hospitals have implemented modern technology in surgical rooms, which may reduce the number of mistakes made by doctors. Modern technology’s more convenient than when it was simpler because, it provides an easy way to access information, improves the education system, and it improves the health system.

Technology surrounds us. Like water in the ocean, people are swimming in technology each and every day. From the radio playing a favorite song to a text received about the results of a game, people use technology constantly. However, there is a point at which people are overtaken by technology; when the wave engulfs us and there is no way out. People are becoming more and more dependent on technology. Ever since technology began heavily integrating itself into society, many major uses have developed, but at a cost that brings on dangerous side effects, both mental and physical, as shown by the potential Y2K bug, that will continue unless active measures are sought out by those so dependent on technology.

“Kids are too obsessed with their selfies and not what is going on around them!”

Think of the last time you watched the news. Did you see anything about technology and suicide? It probably made you think your loved ones. Your children or grandchildren. Your family. Just the other afternoon I was watching the nightly news. Then a story came on about how technology is linking to suicide. In our youth . We hear a lot about phones, suicide, disorders. Particularly mental disorders. How internet is causing damage to our brains. To the youth in particularly. Not like drug or alcohol but similar. Think about it teens are all around the world are constantly on their mobile devices. We are constantly texting or whatever. Constantly staring at a screen. Like it is a job or prize. Young teens are constantly having some type of device in their hands that can make you be on the internet. I agree with Maria Bradshaw a reporter who wrote the article that is an over usage of mobile devices. Like an addiction. However, I do not believe that mobile devices link to suicides in young people or mental disorders.

In the 21st century, everyone feels the need to be up to speed with all of the new gadgets and technology. When new technology is released, people drop everything they’re doing to run out and buy it. But what happens to their fairly used devices that have been labeled “out of style”? They are thrown away and become electronic waste. Types of it, E-Waste as it is better known as, includes unwanted or broken circuit boards, computers, monitors, mp3 players, keyboards and DVD players. Approximately 82% of these end up in landfills or incinerators. Most people fail to realize that electronics are made from valuable materials that can be recycled, such as gold, silver, aluminum, copper, nickel, and sometimes-even platinum! Some E-Waste products are extremely hazardous to humans and to our environment. Polyvinylchloride, mercury and lead are all harmful substances found in electronics. Fortunately many states and countries have created laws and made it very well known to their citizens on how to deal with E-waste.