This week:
How do you see technology?

Is is a way-cool tool, a necessary evil, or an obstacle to be feared and loathed? How does it affect your work & money life?

Work & Money survey questions change each Wednesday.

Here's what Tripod Members said...

jtb: My work and money depend entirely on technology. I wish it didn't, but I am unable to make much of a living as an actor at this point in my life. That aside, I do think technology is necessary and now that it is something I depend on, I don't know what I would do without it. I think in this all too busy world, technology makes our lives easier, although possibly the reason our lives are so busy is because of technology, and the things we can do today. We are at the point where our work and our lives are so centered around technology, so if it went away one day, I think it would be as bad as the great depression.

kanel: Technology is what made this whole world we live in possible. Without it we would still be in the stone age. It may not be as good as we would like sometimes but it is necessary.

shea: Technology is a way-cool tool in my business (education). We'll do whatever it takes to get students interested, and students are ALWAYS interested in computers!

Degenerate: Technology is a neccessary evil. It is awesome, yet in the end it will destroy this world. Weapons are becoming far too sophisticated. I use technology every day, and will continue to do so, I am majoring in Electronic Engineering (R&D;), so I will see much of it in the future.

rimmer2: We live in the computer age. We can no longer consider ourselves Luddites and ignore the obvious developments in technology. Technology is a revolution, just like the industrial revolution, it will dramatically change the way we do everything, and it will have its critics. How can we loathe something that was brought about by Human advancement and science. It has effected our occupations greatly ofcourse. However in a decade's time what we now consider new and fearful we will see as essential to proper and safer work practises. The advancements in technology should also bring its astronomical costs down so that we can all integrate these new mediums into our daily lives.

jbeidler: We need to find a middle ground between those who are nostalgic for a past that never existed, and those who giddily see technology as our salvation. Let's face it: nobody is returning to the sort of agrarian society the unibomber talks about. We could, but it ain't gonna happen. On the other hand, we have Nicholas Negroponte, George Gilder, and other techno-boosters who believe that technology will eliminate poverty, restore a sense of community, and save our schools. This is a pipe dream. The solution is not more technology, its real changes to our political and social systems.

candyman: I believe that technology is a way cool tool/toy! Without it this culture wouldn't advance!

murgatroid: I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!!! I live for it! Why else would I be here answering this survey! But the WWW is by far the greatest technology of all!

DarkAngel: Technology...It's a monster...But a good one...It helps us to an extent. But then everything does. Even things conforming to older standards. It's not bad. But it's not good. We could all do good with a computer. Minus the fact that we wouldn't leave the house. Maybe if everyone were to agree that technology is a good thing they could find ways of having it improve our standards. I know if there was no such thing as technology like today's, I wouldn't get papers done looking good, I wouldn't meet new friends (online) and I would probably never have the chance to communicate with people around the world. It's a good thing I guess. And then it's a a bad thing. But not really. It takes away a lot of my time. It takes jobs away from people.

geordi: Technology is the only way to go in this changing lifestyle...

mremmler: Technology is a tool to increase the efficiency of what we do. It is also a great equalizer, since historically knowledge has been power. In the information age, we are all getting equal access to the information we need to become powerful!

Kimmy: Technology is a wonderful in that it can be used to perform the repetitive tasks that have to be done in order for us to survive. It frees us from having to spend all our time just seeing to our basic needs (ie. finding food and shelter etc.) so that we can spend more time examining the nature of things, expanding our minds philosophically and spiritually. It helps us evolve; as long as it is used thoughtfully. Creating technology "just because we can" is not the way. Creating technology because we need it, because it's useful, is.

Tragic8Ball: Technology is something that will always be a factor in our ever changing society. No one can stop the advance of technology, as technology isn't something that is to be controlled. It's more of something that happens, over time, because of things that are out of our reach. So I can't say technology (and the advance of it) is a bad thing; I should say that overuse of technology is a bad thing. I love my internet and I love my rivers and trees. But when faced with the decision; which would I choose, I would have to opt for nature. It's been here longer.

skeber27: How could you fill out one of these inane surverys if it wasn't for technology. Some long for the "good old days" but let me tell you as a survivor from them they weren't so hot. Generation X might whine about minimum wage jobs but when I was young it was 50 cents an hour and glad to get it!

grimjack: Technology, I can't say that technology as a whole is cool, because we have things like the Clipper chip and the V-chip, and that starts to seriously invade my privacy. However, other technology makes things like the web and ISDN possible, er.. and my job. So, I dunno. I think it depends on who is using the technology.

peace: I see technology making great leaps in the near future so that one can more easily walk their way through the web of information and resources while one is not hooked to technology. Info customed tailored to my way of thinking....

epettit: A way-cool tool. Who on the net would think otherwise?

Kitoak: I'm a computer programmer, so I find technology necessary...and also at the same rate it is really cool..I have friends from all over the world, can met people without going anywhere. I can find information about anything I want. I also find it and obstacle, for I have to keep up with it, and if I don't others think, I'm BS'ing them about what I know, and also when I give a simple explaination it is some- times way above their heads and I don't even realize what I've done. So It is a major factor in my work and life...I average about 10 hours a day on a computer, programing, surfing, or doing one adventure game or another.

mackster: It's the greatest challange and most wonderful experience I have had. I love to strech my mind and learn new things. It's a blast to attack new technology. I will be first in line when the next generation of techno gagets is ready for sale. I like a challange and in this forum it will alway be there.

createch: Technology gave me a work life, as a "office systems specialist." I am a computer literate secretary, which never would have happened had it not been for word processing as I loathe typewriters. I am ready and willing to incorporate it into my career, the only obstacle I have found is that others find it difficult to make a part of their work and increase their effectiveness. Take E-Mail: rather than waiting for someone to answer the phone, or have time to call me back, I can send Electronically a comment, suggestion, inquiry, direction etc and have it returned to me at a time that is convenient to them, and while they (and I) are working. I work in an educational setting and would like to see less paper used and better communication through this one jewel of technology!

Clandestine: Technology helps to bring about the advancement of the people. But, do we really wish to advance? Should we be able to go out and search the stars as we will one day be able to do? Should we strive to make it so that we never have to see the light of day in order to survive? What shall become of man as he advances himself into seclusion? Things we need to think about in the upcoming future. The year 2000 is just around the corner.

Galapagos: Technology is merely a tool that is neither good nor evil. Just as a pair of scissors may be used to cut paper or someone's throat, all forms of technology may be used to help or hinder. Also, as computers are the ultimate achievement of mankind to date, they can be used to help or hinder to the extreme. They automate tasks that help businesses and consumers deal with life at a faster rate, but at the same time put honest workers out on the streets. They allow for immediate access to money via ATM and network-based transactions, but they also give access to your finances to unscrupulous people. Technology cannot be blamed for how humanity uses it; that blame can only fall on the shoulders of mankind.

Janamejaya: We live in a world standing on the benifits of modern technology. It has brought a lot of benefits but it has reduced man to an applicant of different technologies. The only problem with that is that in the long run, we may end up with a class of people who live with technology while the others end up as users of the technology. I say this because newer technology will be difficult to understand by the common man. This may lead to sociological problems . But we cannot forget the infinite uses of modern technology. In brief, it is a mixed bag . I depend entirely on technology for my living.

norreo: Technology is a direct result of man's ability to use his mind; this is good. Sadly some of the minds work for the wrong reasons. Technology is a big part of my job (power plant operations) and makes it easier and safer. Safer not only for me, but also for the community I live and work in. I do not fear technology, only some of the things men do with it.

Gemgirl: Technology is a much needed tool of our time. Like everything, though, too much of one thing can only do harm. That is why we must see technology as something we use with special care and consideration. This power mustn't be abused. Should all of us keep these thought in the mind, our world would not have to fear technology so much.

shail: Technology is a necessary evil of our times. It will remain so in future as well. In terms of human development mankind has reached a stage where there is no going back on technology. The issue which confronts us today concern the Philosophy underlying human development and the technological revolution. Should technology serve the self interests of a privilegded few only ? Be they the rulers of a powerful nation or owners of multinational bussiness groups or the people inhabiting this planet? How do we continue to use technology where the control is still in human hands. On the other hand no one can deny that without technology sustainable and eco-friendly development is impossible unless we are willing to go back to the dark ages.

widel: When you use a hammer it becomes an extention of your hand. In the manner technology becomes an extension of the mind.

interbang: Technology is a tool that, when implemented carelessly and with little thought to the utilitarian moral implications of it, can be very detrimental to society. BUT, when technology is implimented and handled with extreme care, by those who are unbiased specialists in the specific areas the technology would be dealing with, technology can live up to its definition: science used to benefit people.

christabel: What separates us from most of the other creatures on earth and what is giving us the overall advantage is the simple fact of our capability of creating and using technology. For good or bad, towards salvation or destruction, technology is a product of who we are, who we once were and wo we will become. It affects all our lives, without question, in all aspects and it alters and shapes not just our future but the future of the earth and all the living things on it.