Imagine a few thousands of humans on earth surrounded by many robots. I don’t think every human is going to survive such a selection. That is what Artificial Intelligence is up to. In the 21st century, civilization is facing many challenges related to the welfare of Mankind. Scientists and engineers are busy solving those problems by applying the newly discovered technology every day. The purpose is to either protect from enemies or make life easier and better for humans. But don’t you think we are exploiting these technologies and using them against our survival? Like
- Opium, which is processed chemically to produce heroin and other synthetic opioids for medical use, is also used for the illegal drug trade. Initially, its production was for health purposes, but this drug abuse and addiction are the major sources of expenditure of millions as the government is spending a lot on rehabilitation centers worldwide.
- The discovery of atomic energy was for power generation to propel industries and houses. Today it has become an arm for mass destruction, making us stand at the brim of extinction if nuclear war breaks out.
The above two examples cannot overrule that technology has made our lives easier and boosted our business. The computers and the internet have improved our efficiency and keep changing our life day by day, almost taking over our lives. There are none of the sectors left where technology has not played its part. Here we will discuss a few sectors where technology has taken over.
Health Sector
Today, technology has succeeded in reducing the infant mortality rate, which was too high a generation before. Life-threatening medicines and operations from any part of the world are possible now. Fighting with old age health problems has become easy with these powerful means.
Power and energy sector
Seeing the depleting natural resources, another means to generate power came into existence. Solar and wind energy, which are renewable and abundant sources of energy, were hunted to keep the availability of resources going on. Technology has also helped out in adding nuclear reactors to the list of sources of energy.
Media Sector
Individual and business communication has changed totally with the advent of e-mails and social media platforms. The name of this era is ‘Information Technology Age’, where information travels worldwide with ease and convenience. Technology has increased the efficiency of business operations to a phenomenal level. Connecting to loved ones on the other side of the globe is like talking to the neighbor next door.
Financial Sector
Transferring money or completing any financial transaction sitting anywhere on the planet takes just a few seconds. Technology has given us the fastest, secure, and most efficient means to complete the business deal locally or globally. The boundaries of the national currency will soon diminish with the entrance of global currency — cryptocurrency, in the market worldwide. This is the next milestone of technology.
Manufacturing sector
Compared to the last ten years, the use of robots in the manufacturing industry has increased the output by up to twenty percent. This has improved efficiency and also provided consistency. Besides robots, tech-based machines have also reduced manual labor, making the task easier. The local market can cope with the global market because of this revolution of technology.
Oil and Gas sector
To save the climate from pollution, groundbreaking technologies for oil exploration have improved the efficiency of the industry. Apps have been created to digitize field operations, making the exploration faster. At places, this industry controls the economy of the country, so that means technology has also overtaken the economy.
Education Sector
Technology has made it possible for students to learn virtually irrespective of the location. The distant learning programs have made international universities accessible. To cope with the emerging trends, education has an extra responsibility of emphasizing more on science and technology, thereby ensuring re-skill and up-skill of the people working in the industries.
Conclusion
The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations summarize the world problems at a glance. Digital technology needs to overtake the issues like ending extreme poverty, reducing infant and maternal mortality, creating a literate universe, and promoting sustainable farming to make an equitable and peaceful world. Simultaneously, it needs to take care of equality, security, and privacy of every individual.
However, the arms of technology have not embraced those not connected. They remain deprived of the benefits of this technological era. These people include women, people with disabilities, senior citizens, different minorities, and residents of backward areas. The speed of connectivity is descending or even reverting in some regions. There is a scope for improvement in these areas. The management of technological development, nationally and internationally, at the time of geopolitical tensions is a subject of much discussion. Universal cyberspace reflecting global standards for security and peace is the need of the hour for a united world in terms of technology.