“Needed today is a generous dollop of creativity in the human sphere – in particular, in the ways in which we human beings relate to one another personally, carry out our work, and fulfill our obligations as citizens” (Gardner, 2008, p. 101)
The first thing that comes to mind is advances in science and technology. The world’s improvements on and resourcefulness with technology has greatly improved efficiency and effectiveness as well as save money in a wide range of fields from communication to medicine. Technology has allowed us to do more with less – less manpower, less time, less money, and less space. However, the ability to do more with less has come at a cost – the human element.
Let’s consider the fields that were mentioned above. Advancements in communication include E-mail, text message, blogging, Twitter, Facebook, instant messaging, and even form letters such as E-cards. Having access to internet/electronic methods of communicating has greatly improved efficiency, saved money on stamps, and most likely lightened the load of mail carriers (I wonder if that has anything to do with the ever-increasing cost of stamps…). In the meantime, the lost art of handwritten, personalized notes have been sacrificed. How often do you receive a handwritten note from a friend or colleague? And when you do receive them, do you struggle to read the handwriting of the author? I believe that my handwriting has suffered as a result of our technological advancements. Call it old-fashioned, but it I think it is so much more personable to receive a handwritten letter of appreciation or view a loved one’s handwriting stating ‘happy birthday’ instead of an E-card. A pre-created card template in which all I need to do is fill-in-the-blank and change the background color of a pre-selected array of colors does not allow for full creative expression.
What about medicine? There have been so many improvements in the area of medicine that now we are able to develop vaccines for illnesses that used to kill people only years ago, perform operations that years only decades before were considered impossible, and use tools and instruments that allow people to live longer and better lives. There is no denying the necessity and benefits that technology has offered in medicine. But, remember house calls (I don’t because that existed before my time, but I bet it was nice)? I bet this was only possible if a doctor had a smaller case load of patients to care for at one time. But with the increase in technology use came the increase in efficiency as well as the increase in the number of patients that one doctor could juggle and, as a result, the decrease in human contact. Sick patients are monitored by machines and are checked on by nurses every half hour or so.
Don’t get me wrong – I am glad and grateful for technology and I wouldn’t go back to what we now call “The Stone Age,” that time (that I barely remember) before computers were so readily available. These changes are definitely necessary, and perhaps the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, but what a price!
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