Among the many advantages of high technology are improved distribution of information, improved health care, preservation of some resources and less work on many tasks. Disadvantages of high technology are too much information, over-treatment of medical conditions, drains on other resources and human over-dependency on technology.
Information is more available and accessible than ever before. A few clicks on a computer keyboard bring up volumes of data on most any topic. The benefits are undeniable. Students find it much easier to do research, and common questions are easily answered. The downside is that not all of the information available is accurate, and consumers must take care to verify all information. Cyber-crime is also on the rise, and breaches of privacy occur frequently. Health care has improved dramatically with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic technology. Diseases are diagnosed more quickly, and methods of treatment are more effective. The danger of over-diagnosing and treating is an issue, however. While computers and media have helped reduce some of the need for paper, other resources are drained by high technology. It takes a great deal of energy to run machinery and gadgetry. Doing certain tasks is much easier with technology, but humans have become too dependent on it and often do not function well when the technology is unavailable. Texting, for instance, is replacing talking in so many instances that communication skills are declining.