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Technology & Culture Sample Essay & Outline

The current world has a characteristic of increased use of the modern technology. The ability to develop relationships based mainly on shared common interests and mutual understanding has made modern technology the best development in the world. In the past, human beings used to interact physically and discuss issues or share ideas using human effort. However, public spheres are swiftly changing and new ways of doing things are being devised every day (Bell, 2006).

People use the modern technology to comprehend the most difficult issues facing mankind. From the super true love story and Oryx and cake documentaries, it can be noted that modern technology has positively affected the human life. The two stories illustrate how digital, military, economic and biological technologies have affected the modern life. They explore such matters as data mining, drones, educational value, surveillance, exploiting human connections and transgenic. The analysis in the succeeding sections focuses on effects of technology on society.

To start with, biological developments have shown that the human body comprises of millions elements known as genes. Genes are considered the basic element of the human body. Scholars and researcher have attempted to explain the relationship between genes and human behavior. For quite sometimes, it was not clear whether biology can determine the life of an individual. This is because it was not agreed upon whether biologically inferior people should be under control of the superior ones.

First and foremost, biology was quick to indicate that the structure dictates the degree of equality. Therefore, it is evident that inequalities are dictated by innate disparities among human beings. Claiming that the race of life is significantly fair and that different individual has different intrinsic capacities to control is not adequate to describe the observations of inequality. New technology has been able to identify three ideas that can help in understanding the idea of inequality.

Firstly, it has been noted that human beings differ in basic abilities due to innate disparities (Murphie & Potts, 2003). Secondly, scholars have been able to note that the innate variations are biologically inherited. Finally, it is now clear that human nature warrants the development of hierarchical societies. It is important noting that biologists but scientists did not discover the idea of biological influence on societal traits. It is a theme of the modern world and has been developed further to show that innate disparities are restricted to personal differences. Hence, races and nations are said to be characterized by intellectual and temperamental variations (Murphie & Potts, 2003).

Similarly, it has also been argued that intelligence differences among humans is greatly based on genes (Bell, 2006). Therefore, unlike it was previously believed manipulating the environment causes little influence on the degree of intelligence. However, there is still an argument that the human intelligence is affected by environmental conditions although the extent of the effect is not known. Scholars have noted that the change in cultural environment can influence abilities by numerous orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the variations among people are abolished by mechanical and cultural inventions (Murphie & Potts, 2003). Therefore, variations that can be manifested in one environmental setting may not be identified in another setting.

In conclusion, it has been noted that biological differences may cause inequalities among human beings. However, although there are biologically based average variations in strength and physique among different individuals, the differences are rapidly becoming irrelevant due to development in electricity empowered steering, hoists and electronic controls. Hence the percentage of differences in a society that is caused by gene variation and environmental condition is not the sole determining factor of superiority among people. This is because growth in technology have made all humans equal in terms of task performance.

References

Bell, D. (2006). Science, technology and culture. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.
Murphie, A., & Potts, J. (2003). Culture and technology. Houndmills [England: Palgrave Macmillan.

Modern Day Serial Killer Sample Essay & Outline

The advent of mobile phone technology served to make the world a global village. This technology eased the burdens incurred in the process of communication, and especially so where long distance communication is involved. Over the years, mobile phone technology has evolved, and the recent development of smart phones was a game-changer in the mobile phone industry. However, as with all beneficial technology, mobile phones have had their fair share of disadvantages. The worst of these disadvantages is the road carnage that mobile phones have caused in the recent years (Sturnquist, 2006). The use of mobile phones in texting while driving has led to the death of many a driver.

Texting while driving should be banned if sanity is to be restored on the road. The recent death tolls as a result of texting while driving serve to highlight the importance of this matter. It is necessary that texting while driving be outlawed to prevent the loss of innocent lives on the road (United States, 2008).

Causes

Texting while driving has become a common phenomenon among many teen and adult drivers alike. This is primarily because texting is heralded as the primary method of communication by many mobile phone users. Unlike previous generations that preferred calling to texting, this and subsequent generations consider texting a basic necessity. The need to keep in touch with friends in a simple and less exhausting manner has forced many teenagers, and young adults to ignore their safety on the road by texting while driving (Cornwell, 2010). This has been a great stumbling block in the fight against texting while driving since many individuals easily disregard the danger the place themselves in when
texting while driving.

The development of social media has made it easier to communicate with friends, family and colleagues than it was before the development of social media. The popularity of social media continues to soar as social media sites and platforms continue to rake in massive profits. However, social media are also a key reason why many individuals cause road carnage. Recent technological advancements in the telecommunications sector have seen users be able to synchronize their social media accounts with their mobile phones. This has allowed many social media users to receive messages and updates on their social media platforms directly on their phones.

While this keeps the users updated, it is detrimental to the driving safety of the same users (Sturnquist, 2006). Many users receive countless text messages and social media updates on their phones all through the day, a factor that prompts them to respond to these messages and updates, even while driving. This has resulted in increased deaths on the road, and even more injuries to drivers, passengers and innocent pedestrians. Ironically, many mobile phone users find it better to text than to call while driving. This ignorance has resulted in many deaths and accidents on the road.

The distracting nature of texting is one of the reasons that it should be outlawed in the first place. Unlike calling, texting requires eye contact and plenty of attention if the message is to be clearly written. This is dangerous considering that driving demands the total attention of the driver, and especially keeping their eyes on the road. It is necessary that all drivers pay close attention to the road while driving as this gives them complete control of the situation. When a driver is texting, they concentrate on forming the words in their mind, and in addition to this, keep their eyes glued on the phone to ensure that they type the correct message. This completely distracts the driver, and the result is more often than not, dangerous driving or an accident.

Dangers

The dangers associated with texting while driving come in all shapes and sizes. The endless web of possibilities associated with this behavior is also very scary. First and foremost, the possibility of causing accidents is heightened when the driver in question is texting. Texting distracts the driver and in the process, makes it possible for the driver to swerve off the road or off their lane. On a two-way road, this could mean that the driver either swerves off the road and cause an accident or they could also swerve off their lane and directly onto oncoming traffic (Cornwell, 2010). Either way, both accidents bear high possibilities of causing fatalities for both the driver and the passengers, if any.

On a freeway, the possibilities are even more disastrous than on a two-way road. This is because the driver can easily crash into the traffic ahead or the traffic in the next lane (Teigen, 2009). The high speed thresholds on the freeway only increase the risk associated with texting while driving in this environment. The accidents that have occurred on freeways as a result of texting often involve a large number of vehicles, and a corresponding number of fatalities.

Recent surveys into the nitty-gritty of texting while driving have proven that texting while driving increases the possibility of causing accidents more than committing any other traffic violation. Particularly worrisome is the response time that is significantly reduced when texting while driving. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation institute into the risk of crash associated with different cell phone activity revealed startling results.

The study found out that, in heavy vehicles, text messaging had a risk of crash that was 23.2 times as high as in non-distracted driving. In the same kind of vehicles, reaching for an electronic device had a risk of crash 6.7 times as high as in non-distracted driving. In light vehicles, the risk associated with reaching for an electronic device was 1.4 times as high as in non-distracted driving. This study revealed plenty of information on the dangers associated with texting while driving. These revelations pale those of any other traffic offence in the book. For this reason, the dangers associated with texting while driving are higher than those associated with any other traffic offence.

Solutions

The technological world seems to be one that is self-sufficient. This is because technological developments that increased risk of road carnage through texting have also provided solutions to this modern day serial killer that remains on the loose. Many technological experts have now developed mobile phone applications that prevent users from texting while driving (Cornwell, 2010). One such application is ‘Textecution’. Developed for the android platform, this application inhibits the texting capability of the cell phone if it is moving at a speed higher than 10 miles per hour.

The application is designed to sense the motion of the device relative to the motion of the vehicle, and prevent the user from texting at speeds higher than 10 MPH. While this does not utterly prevent users from texting while driving, it goes a long way in preventing increased fatalities on the road. At a speed below 10 MPH, the extent of accidents that one can cause is significantly reduced. This is extremely beneficial to increasing road safety, seeing that it locks out users from using their devices on freeways and other busy roads.

Another application that is working to prevent cell phone users from texting while driving is ‘DriveSafe.ly’. Unlike its counterpart, this application is not centered on cutting out communication completely. This application is designed to read out incoming messages, as well as emails, aloud. The key benefit is that it does not give the driver an opportunity to respond to these messages manually, and instead sends an auto-reply such as “I’m driving” or “I’ll call later. I’m driving”. This software operates like a double-edged sword, seeing that it allows the driver to remain updated, as well as sends a reply to the sender of the message. This has been extremely useful in the fight against texting while driving (Kiesbye, 2012).

Another application that is in use to prevent texting while driving is ‘iZUP’. This application is designed to completely disable one’s phone when driving. The only exceptions to this are dialing 911 to call the police or dialing any 3 pre-approved numbers. This serves to eliminate any chances of driver-distraction completely; a key requirement in preventing accidents caused by texting while driving.

In spite of all these development, there are some mobile phone users who simply cannot overcome the urge to text or to reply to texts while driving. Seeing that human beings are creatures of habit, some drivers bear an ingrained habit of texting and calling while driving. For this breed of drivers, ‘ORIGOSafe’ was developed. This is a safe that is designed to lock away the mobile device, just as a normal safe would operate. The phone is locked away prior to the onset of driving.

The key advantage of this safe is that it sounds an alarm should one attempt to remove the phone in the course of driving. Although this device sits on the top end of the price range, it serves it purpose well in preventing texting while driving for many of those ‘addicted’ to this dangerous behavior.

Conflicts of Interest

Texting, dialing and general mobile device use while driving has been greatly opposed (Cornwell, 2010). However, there are some dangers that also arise with preventing mobile phone use while driving. The most pressing issue remains to be safety of the driver and passengers. Many drivers expose themselves to dangers such as carjacking and kidnapping.

In such scenarios, having a working phone in a moving vehicle can be the thin line between life and death. This is because a mobile device would allow one to call, or if unable to, at least text for help. For these reasons, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) of which many leading mobile phone developers are members vehemently opposes applications that prevent texting while driving. The CEA cites public safety as the reason behind its stance. A good example would be a robbery in a bus. In the event that all mobile phone users are denied their texting and calling privileges in a moving vehicle, then no one would be able to report the robbery. The CEA argues that it is not sensible to impose harsh restrictions on mobile device usage in vehicles simply because a few drivers are unable to consider their safety and that of others on the road.

While the CEA’s argument may hold water, I do not believe it favors public interest. This is simply because the chances of such events occurring are trace compared with the chances of road accidents happening due to texting while driving. What makes no sense is to put millions of innocent civilians at risk of death by roads accident due to the texting and calling behaviors of a few individuals (Kiesbye, 2012). It is necessary to have in place measures that protect innocent drivers, passengers and pedestrians from drivers who put their lives at risk by texting while driving.

Conclusion

The nature of road accidents is that they are instantaneous. All it takes is one moment of distraction to cause a serious accident that claims many lives. It is often argued that accidents are seldom caused by bad drivers, but mostly by distracted drivers. I completely agree with this statement, seeing that it is the truth. The reality of the matter remains that texting while driving, be it manual or through voice command, distracts the driver and lowers their concentration on the road (Teigen, 2009).

This is a dangerous feat since it bears the potential of causing serious and fatal road carnage. In order to ensure that every individual, whether a driver, passenger or pedestrian is safe, strict measures must be adopted. The visual inattention and cognitive distraction caused by texting and dialing while driving are major factors that contribute to road accidents (Goor, Goor, 1982). In 2013, more than 300 individuals died and 300,000 were injured as a result of texting while driving. This number has pushed texting while driving to being a top killer, even above driving under the influence of alcohol. A paradigm shift is necessary in dealing with the menace of texting while driving. After all, one can never cross great seas if they are afraid of losing sight of the shore.

References

Cornwell, M., & State University College at Buffalo. (2010). "You won't LOL when you're DOA; quit texting while driving": A project in Public Relations.
Goor, R., & Goor, N. (1982). In the driver's seat. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
Kiesbye, S. (2012). Distracted driving. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.
Sturnquist, D. M. (2006). Mobile phones and driving. New York: Novinka Books.
Teigen, A. (2009). Texting while driving could spell D-A-N-G-E-R. Denver, Colo: National Conference of State Legislatures.
United States. (2008). Improving roadway safety: Assessing the effectiveness of the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration's highway traffic safety programs : hearing before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, July 16, 2008. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.