Evolution of Communication Technology Influencing Our Lives

Bangladesh is still a developing country, but it will graduate from the category of Least Developing Country in 2026. Unlike our neighbouring countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand, and others, it is still in the early stages of development. In terms of communication, our country is not very developed. We have yet to realize the benefits of improved communication technologies fully. Our country’s literacy rate, which now ranks 128th globally, is relatively low compared to our neighbours, which means that people here cannot effectively utilize our technology.

Communication is essential in our daily lives. It is one of those things that we require to survive and exist. Communication technology, like all other technologies, is rapidly advancing. As a result of this progress, the world has gotten a lot smaller. The internet, the mother of all communication, has put the entire world at our disposal. However, people react to these changes in different ways. The new generation and the elderly generations can be divided into two respective categories. These adjustments are interpreted differently by these two target groups.

Communication is an integral component of our daily lives. We always require communication technology to survive in this world, and it is evolving at a breakneck speed. Not all forms of progress are beneficial. People must understand how to make use of this technological breakthrough. People were not enthusiastic about the initial wave of technical innovation. However, as time passes, people change. They quickly recognized that the wonder of communication technology could make their lives a lot easier.

“There is now one cellphone for every two individuals on Earth,” according to a Washington Post report. Not all forms of progress are beneficial. People must understand how to make use of this technological breakthrough. Though sophisticated communication technology has many benefits, the downsides or negative aspects appear to be more prevalent nowadays. At least 30 countries, according to Fletcher (2010), have more cellphones than inhabitants. This indicates that individuals are overly reliant on technology. According to statistics, children today spend an average of six hours every day in front of the television, on the phone, or listening to music. Overstimulation of the visual and aural senses stifles creativity and social skills.  Excessive television viewing leads to a lack of interest in physical activity, emotional issues, inattentiveness, and a diminished capacity to discern between fiction and reality. It is difficult for many people to function without their cell phones, which is a classic indicator of addiction.

According to Ramey (2012), life does not need to change for the younger generation due to increased technology; in fact, the contrary is true. We have become overly reliant on technology in almost every aspect of our lives. In his article, he stated that technological growth is increasingly dependent on human lifestyles. It was developing new and enhanced materials concerning our demands and wants at first when it was all new to us. However, as time passed, it ran out of possibilities. Then we began to decide what we required and desired, and technological advancements followed suit. He also stated that technological improvements have helped corporations and organizations save time and money on production, which has benefited small firms that have been able to capitalize on these advancements to obtain a competitive advantage. Small enterprises have made use of super-fast internet to reach target customers with lower operating costs.

According to Koschei (2013), the younger generation believes that they are superior to the older generation in every way. He also stated that the older generation pines for the days of their youth and are nostalgic for them. It’s absolutely fine and normal to him. According to him, the effects of these micro-generation gaps are more apparent the younger a person is. Technological advancements have occurred gradually and with little cultural impact throughout most of history. Even a massive event like the invention of the automobile did not result in cultural alienation. Those who had never been in the car could still grasp the basic concept, and the development of the road system and car culture did not result in a complete divide between “car people” and “non­car people.”

In his paper, Nickson (2014) discussed the current state of youth and how they are unable to live without technology. He also discussed the manufacturers or creators of these technological marvels and the techniques they use to reach their possible target customers. According to him, a new technological item isn’t necessarily aimed at young people, but it is assumed to be. They market their product to individuals from all walks of life, yet it appears that only the younger generation accepts and understands it.

Strange (2014), on the other hand, discussed the negative consequences of technology’s rapid progress. In his article, he focused on A.I., also known as artificial intelligence. He referenced Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, and added that Elon Musk believes that a terrible future is destined for us. He believes that if A.I. technology reaches its full potential, society will be destroyed. People will no longer want to interact with anyone. They can interact with their computers in a virtual environment. It will be the end of humanity if that day ever comes.

In a New York Times article, Williams (2011) addressed the quality time spent between family members in the twenty-first century. He compared the previous scenario to the current one. There is only one family. There is only one room. There are four displays in all. There are four realities. It may appear to be a domestic version of “The Matrix,” with families sharing a common room. Yet, this has become an increasingly frequent evening ritual, with families linked into whole separate planes of existence through technology. As a result, in 2011, the American living room might sometimes appear to be more of an entangled confluence of data flow, with everyone nestled in a “cyber-cocoon” than an oasis for shared activity, even if that activity is simply watching television together.

Though progress in Bangladesh has not reached such an astounding level, the progress that has been made in this country is extremely impressive. Regardless of social class or income level, almost everyone now has a cellphone. Smartphones are in the hands of the majority of people in the middle and upper classes. The majority of smartphone users are connected to their devices most of the time. They forget that there are individuals in front of them with whom they may converse without having to look down at their phones. People spend most of their time on the internet, on Facebook, Instagram, and many other social networking sites. Instead of socializing in real life, they are more indulged in virtual socialization.

The majority of individuals are aware that their lives are changing as a result of advances in communication technology, but they are unaware of the specific changes. People are spending more time on the internet, their phones, and their tablets as a result of this innovation, which is largely bringing negative impacts to their life. They spend more time in the virtual world than they do in the real one.

The younger generation may be more interested in communication technology improvement than the older age. As a result, the lives of the older generation will be less affected than those of the younger age. I also believe that the older generation pities the younger generation because they believe the younger generation is more connected to the virtual space than to reality.

I also believe that people of a previous generation would be dissatisfied with the new changes in their lifestyle that have resulted from advances in communication technology. The new generation finds it simple to understand what is going on around them, but the old generation does not. As a member of the younger generation, I believe that the more we advance, the better society will become. However, the older generation may disagree.

Mohammed Tawsif Islam, Officer, Accounts & Finance/Research Assistant, Centre for Governance Studies.

Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy.