Technology is like the proverbial snowball. While people lived in a relatively consistent state of technological advancement for approximately 10,000 years, the last 100 years has seen more massive changes in technology than the rest of recorded history combined. History is full of stories of temporary advances and regressions of technology – sometimes enjoying a higher standard of living afforded by advanced societies such as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and at other times suffering from a lack of solid infrastructures, as evidenced during the Middle Ages.

Starting an Irreversible Trend

Upon entering the Industrial Age, technology was set on a forward path that has so far, been progressive. As we prepare to move beyond our dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources, advancements that could never have been foreseen are now quite commonplace. Some of the most profound changes to mainstream society came in the area of communications. From the introduction of radio to the masses, this technology grew and expanded to our current network of cell phones, social networking sites and instant worldwide news access via the Internet.

Our Future as a Society

Though technology is evolving at light speed, it is still unclear what psychological and sociological impact these changes will have on current and future generations. How will generations that receive everything they want and need instantly at the touch of a button be different from the thousands of generations before them, who had to depend on a slow trickle of information carried by ship, train or horseback? We simply don’t know the answer. What is clear, however, is that today’s society offers opportunities that wise people will seize and capitalize upon.

How to Make the Most of What We’ve Got

With instant access to information and enrichment via technology such as T-Mobile Android phones, ignorance should be the last thing holding us back. By using basic human curiosity and learning the foundations of solid research, one can easily tell themselves on almost any subject. The wise person can become an expert, advance in their career and help inform and inspire others without ever leaving the path of their everyday life. Sadly, this is not always the case. Just as information is more readily available than ever before, ignorance abounds. An astounding amount Twitter users didn’t learn until the new Titanic 3-D movie was released that the ship and its history (not including Rose and Jack) are real historical events.

To Draw a Conclusion

Clearly, learning to use the technology we have to advance knowledge and learning needs to be a higher priority for society in general. The technology we have is brilliant. Parents, educators and general consumers merely need to focus efforts into helping society reach the potential that this astounding technology can afford us, if only we let it.