Conclusions to Forum 4: New technologies, positive or negative?

We’re closing our Forum 4 and it’s time to attempt to draw some conclusions. I noticed that most opinions were coincident about the double nature of technologies. Technologies, most of you agreed, have advantages and disadvantages. Something that has passed unnoticed in the discussion was perhaps the inevitability of technologies. No matter how reluctant we had been to accept computers or cellphones, it’s most probably we had finally been drawn by the force of change. We could ask ourselves, for instance, whether we could keep good contact with friends if we refused to carry cell phones. Some suggested that this would mean displacing face-to-face communication. Contrary to what we usually think, studies on adolescents are showing that new technologies have enhanced personal interaction:

“Friends play an expanded role in the lives of young people. When they come home from school, college or work, socialising does not stop as it used to, it just goes online. Kids and young people are now connected constantly.” (Andrew Davidson, cited here)

Our class could be an example of this. We interact, send doubts and comments and read ourselves online; however this doesn’t mean that we don’t have things to do or say personally. On the contrary, new technologies expand our class, they take our class beyond the institute, but they don’t (and they can’t) replace it.

Of course there are very clear drawbacks to new technologies, and you mentioned many during the forum discussions. But, as Robert put it, “there have always been two sides, one positive and one negative, in relation to these new technologies and pastimes.” Whenever new things appear there are always conflicting views. This is the case for computers and television, but it has also been the same for calculators and even books. New technologies have always been a topic for debate, although, as history teaches us, they have always come to stay. So, if new technologies are unavoidable, perhaps the wisest thing to do would be to get to know them; only through knowledge and experience can we develop a critical relationship with them, being able to exploit their potentials and avoid their dangers.

Finally, as a conclusion to this conclusion, let me invite you to read Reactions to technology: past and present, a post from If I may say so… which I wrote last year after a heated discussion on these same issues. And don´t forget we’re still discussing Do we live in democracy? Don’t miss your chance to participate there as well.