Technology and Freedom in the Middle East

When I think of technology in the Middle East, I think of the recent Arab Spring and the influential role technology and social media played as a means of empowerment and awareness. It allowed people like us, who would have otherwise been ignorant of the situation on the ground, to understand and see what was going on. Through technology, humans all over the world are becoming increasingly connected. Through technology, human rights violations and similar atrocities are being called out by global citizens much more frequently.

I was raised in a household in which technology was seen, for quite some time, as the "Great Satan," if you will. My parents tried to keep me away from the television and computer whenever possible, citing claims that technology is bad for human health. There are also theories on how technology is also detrimental to social interaction and other aspects of society. However, I have grown to believe that the benefits of technology far outweigh its drawbacks.

For one thing, oppressive regimes, especially those in the Middle East, are finding it more difficult to keep the populace ignorant. In my English class the other day, we discussed the intolerably strict regulations imposed upon women in Iran with regard to their veil and how they act as mechanisms to occupy women's minds with insignificant worries. 

Your wheel is showing, sister!

Because these women are forced to constantly adjust and "fix" their appearance, it is difficult for them to ask more important questions, such as "Why do we wear the veil, when men are the true offenders?" However, with technology, people are constantly exchanging information. They are sharing their thoughts and beliefs, and they are becoming knowledgeable their situation. Through social media, some might discover for the first time that this is not how the entire world lives. There is hope.

Although technology used to be a governmental tool to spread propaganda, technology itself has also been and is spreading. As technology improves and becomes more prevalent, the population becomes more aware and informed. No one can single-handedly control the Internet or the satellites and satellite dishes, and "that's bad for anyone trying to suppress information." (Read Zakaria's article on technology and youth in the Middle East here.)

As informed and thoughtful citizens, however, we should consider both sides of the issue, so please bear with me while I explore the possible negative effects of technology in the Middle East. In 2010, Saied Pourheydar was beaten and interrogated by Iranian intelligence officers "wielding transcripts of his mobile phone calls, e-mails and text messages." (Read more on it here.) This is one example of the harmful effects technology can have. Although technology allows for greater freedom, it can also restrict that very freedom by monitoring, well, itself. And if the people, who feel that they are safe on the Internet thanks to technology, are careless, they may end up like Pourheydar.

To make matters worse, although governments cannot completely shut down technology in their respective countries, they can retaliate. Zakaria mentions two examples: the Egyptian government's five day denial of Internet service and the Iranian government's denial of cell-phone service during protests. But as Zakaria also mentions, there is an extremely high opportunity cost for the regime to take such action. "Can banks run when the Internet is down? Can commerce expand when cell phones are demobilized?" The answer is definitely not.

From this thought experiment, I have concluded that in almost all cases, technology is beneficial to freedom. Technology gives people voices, and when people have voices, some degree of freedom often follows. After all, oppression depends on uninformed masses that cannot communicate with others or each other. And just because oppressors are using technology to block technology does not mean technology itself is disadvantageous for freedom. It simply means that oppressive governments are trying their best to nullify what was originally a means of obtaining freedom.

Technology and Human Interaction: Part Two

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Technology and Human Interaction: Part One

#technology #socialinteraction #awk

If you can't make small talk with strangers in an elevator, where can you? And what does this say about our ability to interact socially with each other? Unfortunately, it seems our generation's ability to communicate with each other directly without mediums such as Facebook or text messaging is rather lacking. Or at least, so say the "old people" who aren't with the times. Well then, it seems I am an old person.

Such concerns about the deteriorating quality of human interaction have been raised before: so what? What’s the value to talking face-to-face, anyhow? In a world of technology, I see fewer and fewer children playing outside as they did back in my day. They are all inside playing Angry Birds on their iPads and Wii Sports on their Wiis. The implications of this are quite detrimental. In the early years of life, children learn to build friendships, trust, cooperate, and so on so forth. 

Is it possible to develop an intimate, emotional relationship with others through texts and phone calls?I say no. All you have is a voice (and not even that for texts); that may induce nostalgia but it lacks the indescribable intimacy that results from direct communication. I feel nothing from talking to my friends over the phone. My belief is that any important interaction should be personal, so I view phone calls as a quick, efficient form of interaction that should not drag on for longer than 10 minutes at maximum. By talking directly to a person, I can actually feel the warmth and intimacy in our relationship.

At the same time, technology has some beneficial effects on social interaction (otherwise this topic wouldn’t be so debated). For instance, although it may not be for everyone, online dating and marriage sites have helped a number of people. And certainly, it makes short, simple messages a lot easier. If I need to ask a friend about homework, I no longer have to go knock on his door; I can simply text or call him instead. And if I'm looking for a friend in a quiet location like a library, texting is much easier than yelling or calling. So technology does indeed have its benefits.

In the end, indirect forms of communication (that is, through technology) are undeniably more efficient. It also allows for broader interaction in the sense that friends and family from all over the globe can text, call, and video chat. Depending on your point of view, technology can be an amazing beneficiary of human interaction. However, it seems to me more like we are simply getting more quantity at the cost of the quality of our relationships.

Well isn't this just a beautiful scene?
http://quoteinvestigator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/einsteintech02.jpg

For a fairly unbiased article from the New York Times on this topic, click here.

Click here to read Part Two.

Coexistence in the Classroom: Is it Possible?

Here's a question you've definitely heard before: should we allow technology in the classroom (at the high school level)? Last year, my school district decided that yes, we should. However, not only did it allow for laptops in the classroom, but it also made Chromebooks into a requirement for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Every day, I observe students with their Chromebooks, and I find myself wondering if this technology improves learning.

There are a plethora of arguments that can be made both for and against the use of technology in classes. Unfortunately for those for such use, I am against it. For one thing, college students are paying for their education; it's up to them to waste their tuition by playing games in class if they want. Public high schools, which are funded by local property taxes, should not give students the option of rejecting their education.

Of course, there are other reasons beyond economics as to why high school students should not be allowed to use laptops in classes. One argument I hear often is that writing down material helps students retain it--muscle memory. Supporters of laptop use in classrooms would argue that technology allows students to take notes on more of the lesson. But are you really learning by typing? There's no memory involved, and if your notes are that much longer, just how many students will take a second look at them?

Sure, maybe laptops do hinder learning in this way. "But," supporters for laptop use might claim, "laptops increase productivity and provide students with numerous tools." Well, it seems I'm attending the wrong high school, since most students here use laptops to browse sites unrelated to classroom material. "Then restrict those sites," supporters would argue. But just how many sites can you block? Sure, you might restrict Facebook and Youtube, but what about Reddit or Imgur? Would something like this blog be blocked, too?

Maybe this would work in a high level environment in which students are constantly focused on schoolwork. Unfortunately, the majority of high school often is not, and laptops may even give them a greater incentive to not focus in class. For example, my friend always scrambles to finish his English homework (due the next period, by the way) during AP Japanese.

Despite my current beliefs, I am open to any arguments regarding the use of technology in a high school setting and would like to hear what others have to say. What do you think? Has technology improved the high school learning experience?

Update: Today, I obtained a Chromebook to see for myself what ramifications will result from using it in classrooms. Will my learning experience improve, contrary to my expectations, or will I prove myself correct? This may not be a perfect nor an objective experiment, it will definitely be an informative one.


For some more analysis on the effects of using technology in classes, check out this post on a similar blog.

Source: http://watermarked.cutcaster.com/cutcaster-photo-100361979-Computer-teacher.jpg

The Opportunity Cost of Technology

Africa. As far as most of us know, it's the land of the poor and uneducated. Almost everything we hear about Africa is about corruption and warfare running rampant. Although it's undeniable that such stories may be true in certain areas of Africa, many people describe Africa as a beautiful place with extraordinary scenery not available anywhere else.

So why, then, do we see the entirety of Africa as a poverty-stricken battlefield? The simple answer is technology. In case it wasn't already evident, technology has revolutionized how we live our lives. It does make menial tasks easier and faster! Unfortunately, technology in Africa is not as widespread as it is in the United States. Consequently, we see Africans as people who require our guidance, which may not be right for them.

It is impossibly easy to do laundry and cook with the use of technology. All it takes is a matter of minutes and a bit of effort. But take that technology away, and can we really do either of those tasks? I know I personally can't do laundry without a machine and I definitely can't cook (with or without technology, actually) without a stove.

As I've mentioned repeatedly before, many Africans lack the tens of machines buzzing in our houses. What this means is, they have found a way to do laundry and cook without technology. What if a sample of Americans were suddenly dropped off in the remote areas of Africa (yes, places without malls!)? The water that they drink would have to be boiled, then cooled, for laundry, baths, and drinkable water. The fires they need to heat this water and cook food would have to be made using the right types and amounts of wood.

The Africans, then, might seem to be the superior and enlightened people. They would know where to farm, hunt, and settle. They would be knowledgeable about the different plants to avoid and woods to gather. And they would be a lot more efficient than we would. In this type of setting, we would be the needy, uneducated people. My book is currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, which deals with this scenario that I just described. I strongly recommend this book; it's my favorite book that I've read in high school.

But if Africans were to come to America, they might be just as confused by our technology as we would be by their lack thereof. Perhaps the right conclusion is that the Africans are not a backwards people. In fact, they are certainly not a backwards people. If we were to remove all external influences from Africa, it would likely thrive on its own and eventually develop things like technology (but that's for another time). Perhaps the only conclusion that we can agree on is that there are no backwards people; there are only different people. The opportunity cost of technology are the skills necessary for a life together with nature, without technology.

Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible:

http://www.kingsolver.com/images/large_covers/the-poisonwood-bible.jpg

Technology: A Way of Life

"Hello, world!"

World, welcome to my blog. If you're just visiting, why not stick around for a bit? Maybe you're as curious about the relationship between humans and technology as I am. If not, I'm here to make you curious. I hope you'll join me as I explore how technology has revolutionized our world in every field, from politics to social networking.

Last year, my school ran a pilot experiment in which AP Chemistry students received tablets and laptops to use in their classes. Since then, it's plagued me whether technology in classrooms is a good idea or not. Don't get me wrong--I love technology. Like many of us, I couldn't go a day without technology (okay, maybe I could, but that's beside the point). But I began wondering, should laptops and similar technologies really be endorsed for use in the classroom?

As time passed, I realized how important this human-machine relationship is. Not only to me, but to everyone. There are very few people who haven't heard of Google or Microsoft. If I were to hit the streets and ask strangers if they know what Google and Microsoft are, I am positive at least 99% of them would say yes. Now, if I were to ask the same thing, but replace the two technology giants with Mayo Clinic, that percentage would be drastically lower. In this age of information, technology makes the world go around.

It's truly astounding how much impact technology has on our global community. In an instant, information from Asia can be transmitted to the Americas. The United States can spy on lands separated from us by entire oceans. Google goes down for five minutes, and internet traffic drops 40 percent. Amazon stops functioning for half an hour, and millions of dollars in sales are lost. Our phones can video chat, call people in Antarctica, and watch our home from a remote distance.

You and I now understand how much influence technology has, but not everyone does. Because our way of life is a result of technology, we should be aware of how technology affects the world. It creates scandals, opportunities, and markets. It improves medicine, education, and communication. But at the same time, it also causes medical conditions, learning distractions, and impersonal relationships.

I write this blog not to endorse or scrutinize technology, but to explore its effects on every aspect of our lives. So why not stay a while? I assure you (Brad Inc. is not responsible for any of these claims it fails to uphold) that by the end of this blog, we'll have learned a lot together. And maybe, just maybe, by understanding what makes our world go around, we'll be better global citizens for it.