HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES

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How Technology Will Change Our Lives in Twenty Years
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How Technology Will Change Our Lives in Twenty Years
The present-day civilization indicates that technology plays a central role in shaping the
society. Recent advances in technology like the Internet suggest that the society will be even
more dependent on technology in the future than today. Trends such as 3D printing, drones,
robots and quantum computing also have major implications on the future role of technology in
the society. These examples and other technologies will be ubiquitous in the coming decades;
these technologies also promise a profound impact on mankind. This study explores how
technology will change our lives as a society in twenty years by examining five key tenets of
development which are economy, education and learning, security, and social and cultural
practices. The study shows that technology will enhance the living standards of the society by
impacting on these five elements of the society.
Technology will be a major driver for economic development in the next two decades.
Robotic technology is fast becoming commonplace in businesses, households and government
entities. This technology drives efficiency in the production of goods by minimizing errors akin
to human labor (Teich, 2009). Other technologies that have artificial intelligence capability will
also support production in unprecedented ways. 3D printing will facilitate small-scale
production, thus providing households with access to affordable and effective solutions to a
variety of needs. The resulting efficiency of production will positively impact the global
economic development. The incomes of households will increase as a result of the increase in
productivity.
Technology will continue to transform education and learning in the future. Many
previous arguments on the role of technology in education suggested that advances in technology
would replace traditional classroom learning within a short period (Lee, 2002). These predictions
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have not yet happened because technology, for the most part, is complementing traditional
classroom learning. In twenty years, however, the role of traditional classroom settings will be
significantly reduced. Teleconferencing and similar applications of information and
communication technologies will enable institutions to simulate traditional classroom settings
without actual physical structures. New technologies will also change the nature of learning by
allowing access to vast sources of knowledge.
Technology will be a key element in fostering security in the society in twenty years.
Recent technologies like the Internet pose major challenges to the individual security of people.
Despite these challenges, technology will enable the society to ensure security in different ways.
Some government agencies have already embraced technology in the form of drones to fight
crime (Andreas, 2003). This technology will eventually reach households and serve as
precautionary measures. People will use drones and robots to vacate buildings in the event of
fires or criminal attacks. Similarly, government agencies around the globe will embrace drones
and similar technologies to enforce the rule of law while addressing concerns over security.
Trends in technology have major implications for both private and social life in the
coming decades. Current technologies like social media offer insights into the future of social
interactions. Technologies like virtual reality will encourage people to use technology-driven
social media at the expense of face-to-face meetings as a way of socializing. These technologies
will further integrate the various world cultures through globalization. Technological progress
also implies that people will become more dependent on technology in the next two decades
(Lee, 2002). This dependence will give rise to risks such as failure of social functionality. 
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Overall, technology will enhance both private and social life of individuals. Technology
will indeed significantly influence the society in twenty years. Existing and new technologies
will foster development in the society by impacting on the economy, education and learning,
security, and social and cultural practices. This impact will enhance the living standards of
people around the globe.
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References
Andreas, P. (2003). Redrawing the line: borders and security in the twenty-first
century. International Security, 28(2): 78-111.
Lee, R. K. (2002). Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the new Century. Retrieved
20 August, 2015 from http://www.zurich.ibm.com/pdf/news/Konsbruck.pdf
Teich, H. A. (2009). Technology and the Future. New York: Wadsworth.