Technology and Happiness

With the rise of the internet, some people argue that privacy no longer exists. From the 2013 revelations of government surveillance of citizens’ communications to companies that monitor their employees’ internet usage, this argument seems to be increasingly true. Yet, Harvard Law professor Charles Fried states that privacy, “is necessarily related to ends and relations of the most fundamental sort: respect, love, friendship and trust” (Fried 477). However, Fried is not arguing that in a world where privacy, in its most simple terms, is becoming scarce that these foundations of human interactions are also disappearing. Instead, Fried expands on the traditional definition of privacy while contesting that privacy, although typically viewed

There have been many studies done on the negative psychological and sociological effects of technology while some may be true technology has its share of positive effects on society. The advances of technology have aided in the access to information from relatively anywhere. According to Hepburn (2013) “By the end of 2014, the number of Internet users was expected to be almost 3 billion, two-thirds of whom live in the developing world, and the number of mobile broadband subscriptions was expected to reach 2.3 billion globally” (as cited in Yáñez, Okada, & Palau2015, p.89). It has become easier to stay connected to family, friends, access personal information, and has improved educational opportunities. Technology is always evolving and changing for the better. “Mobile technologies and networks are increasingly expanding in their sophistication and capacity, and new applications (software programs) are enhancing the ways in which individuals interact” (Giota, 2014).

After World War II, America experienced unprecedented economic success in the world because of its advanced capitalistic system, and its prosperity lasted for over three decades. Back then, the top American companies dominated the technological markets, so they made substantial profits. Because of less competition both at home and abroad, firms and employers can easily charge a price that covers all of its production cost. Thus, employers had no problems offering relatively high salary, wages, and other benefits to their employees. This is one of the main reasons that we had a strong middle-class at that time. However, we have a shrinking troubled middle class today. Many Americans are complaining about salary stagnation, reduced benefits, and rising inequality. All of these changes have everything to do with global economy. All firms are facing fierce competition now, especially after China and India are becoming more open to the world market since last decade. As

It is universally accepted that happiness pushes human society to progress. Happiness brings euphoria which all human beings naturally enjoy. To magnify happiness, people study philosophy to contemplate what brings happiness thus inventing new devices to ease their lives. Philosophy teaches people that acceptance, sharing and love arouse happiness. Consequently, new inventions implement their spiritual understandings about happiness in real life by facilitating communication. In Daniel Gilbert’s article “Reporting Live from Tomorrow”, he proposes that because there is not a single human encyclopedia in the world, communication is necessary to human beings and happiness stems from communication. Traditionally, people needed to make tremendous effort to communicate, but fortunately, new technologies bring easier communication. A good example is that electronic devices are extensively used now. However, immoderate usage of new technologies are harmful. In Richard Restak’s article “ Attention Deficit: The Brain Syndrome of Our Era”, he exhibits that attention deficit which is referred to as a psychological disability, is becoming a label of modern society. With almost addictive symptoms, people pass the boundaries of proper use of new technologies again and again and are now emotionally dependent on them. However, is it possible that people can get true happiness through electronic-devices communication? Although technology heightens people’s happiness temporarily, the fake

America during the 1920’s is often described as a time of prosperity and change that allowed the United States to peak. However, what is commonly overlooked is that this era was conflict filled in which society was blinded by luxurious lifestyles and the entertainment industry; preventing any solutions from being formed that could deal with the various issues. It was the people’s ignorance and the problem filled cities that slowly pushed America into the great depression within a decade. After World War I finally came to an end on June 28, 1999 through the Treaty of Versailles, the United States became the most powerful nation in the world since it was the least affected by the war compared to Europe. In fact, American industry and economy

Now the world of development is faster and faster, a lot of mobile applications are make the people distance more and more closer. In the “I Had a Nice Time With You Tonight” article. JENNA WORTHAMT She has 3,000 miles away from her boyfriend, and they often use smartphone applications to get closer and chat with each other. She pointed out that the convenience of these applications can make people become more closer, and this is not like the phone or text formal. In the new app “you and me”, the entrepreneur is committed to allowing more couples to use the software for one-on-one meetings. Although this software is not a real alternative, but does not affect the actual time together in the real world. In Ms. Friedman's blog, she noted that 74% of couples believe that the Internet had a positive impact on their relationship. In my view, although the virtual world spent most of the time, but it also brings a lot of positive impacts.

The 1920’s were a time of success, fun and liveliness around the world. This spirit arguably most greatly manifested itself in America, the homeland of progress and modern ideals. From music to dress to the newly rich and their lavish lifestyles, people emanated excess in all ways. The post-World War I economy boomed due to elevated trade with foreign countries, who purchased American goods and materials, as well as worked to pay back the large amounts of money they had borrowed in order to fund the Great War (Routledge et al. 1). With the revolutionary idea of credit spending popularized, people began to purchase modern gadgets, like toasters, radios, and cars to match their newfound lifestyles (Routledge et al 1).

The economic boom of the 1920’s enhanced the everyday life of Americans. Mass production of goods made prior tasks, such as washing clothes, simple and allotted woman to have leisure time. The assembly line utilized by Henry Ford made the production of automobiles cost less lowering the price for consumers. The amount of cars sold from 1921-29 went up from 1.5 million to 4.5 million. (Document 9) With more leisure time because of useful inventions people sought activities to occupy their free time. Radios grew increasingly popular and steadily increased to be in 10 million households in 1929. (Document 9) The economic power held by the U.S permitted technological advances to be attainable, which unconstrained the daily lives of many Americans.

Today, he says the two spend more evenings staring at their phones than they do at each other.” (Morris). The article provides information that families are affected by technology and can not keep conversations or continue relationships. Similar to Montag and his wife being so intrigued in their technology they forget about each other and the bond they could have if they had conversations after work or at the end of the night rather than making their devices seem more important to them. “If one partner in the relationship disengages from a face-to-face interaction while engaging in technology...the other person may experience a sense of threat to their need to feel attached and in control in that relationship.” (Morris). The lack of communication in a relationship due to technology seems to push away others in the friendship or relationship, the article proves that when others are more interested in their phone or other devices other party/parties feel distant and pushed away and do not want to continue the relationship.People can start building stronger relationships by putting down their pieces of technology and making time to have a real conversations with the people they

After recently suffering through a recession, America began to prosper economically. During the 1920’s the nation’s manufacturing output rose by more than sixty percent (Brinkley, 634). There were many technology advances during this time period. The automobile became one of the most important industries in the nation (Carr-Wilcox, March 4, 2013). Auto manufactures had to purchase steel, rubber, gasoline, oil, and tools, which in turn gave rise to these industries. The radio became a popular technology. By the end of the 1920’s almost every family in America had a radio in their household. Even the bases of the earliest computers were being made during the 1920’s. Technology had a huge impact on the communication of people in the twenties.

Modern America can be considered one of the world’s economic and industrial leaders. This didn’t happen instantaneously. It was a long process that took centuries to occur from when America was first colonized by England. America started slow and far behind England and other European countries in the technology race but a diverse culture and the work ethic of American people all helped to push this country forward. From antebellum America in the 19th century, to the Progressive Era in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and finally to the New Deal period in the 20th century, many changes occurred as millions of people lives were affected greatly during this time. Throughout these eras in U.S. history, there was a general

Whilst there is still arguably much room for improvement, it is not difficult to infer that the immense speed at which the United States progressed regarding it’s economy, technology, and social structure in the early 20th century is undoubtedly what made it such a successful and pioneering nation, and why, through the influence of social reform, industrialism, and imperialism, it has gone on to become such an influential powerhouse in the modern

In the article “I Had A Nice Time with You Tonight, On the App,” Wortham writes about her experiences with apps allowing for communication and suggests that technology is necessary to maintain relationships particularly long-distance ones. She explains that her smartphone apps allowed her to maintain and improve relationships with her long-distance boyfriend as well as her nearby friends and family because

Technology has brought its own benefits and drawbacks to today's society. In 'The End of Solitude", William Deresiewicz addresses the negative impact that the instant gratification of technology has on people. Deresiewicz argues that televisions, cell phones, and the internet have taken people into their own worlds where you're never alone and at the same time never have to interact with another person. I believe while technology has its downsides, it has also brought everyone together in different, quicker, and more convenient ways then ever before.

While Anna Akbari author of the essay “A Personal Guide to Digital Happiness” affirms, “One question I keep coming back to: How does technology affect our happiness? As Albert Einstein remarked, "Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness? The simple answer runs: Because we have not yet learned to make sensible use of it." (2) So how do we make sense of this technology and can it make us happier people? Akbari expounds, that she started this quest to find happiness in the digital age with online dating. One of her dates was with an anorexic emo guy with pink hair and full of angst. On their first date, he informed her that he was “kind of a depressive guy”, so she tried to empathized, stating that she had people close to her who have suffered as well and that she understood. “He then looked at me and stated firmly, with disdain, "No. You cannot understand. I've met people like you. You're one of those happy people." I've never forgotten that scathing accusation -- that I had the nerve to be happy. I'd never thought of people in those terms: "happy" or "not." Since that date I've grown increasingly obsessed with the concept of happiness, and judging from the abundance of literature being published on the topic, I'm not the only one: there are books to tell you how to be happier at work, how to