Technology: A Good Technology or Bad?
Technology is no longer a problem. Businesses are threatening our privacy by stealing our personal data without our knowledge; tools such as personal assistants monitor us without our knowledge and there are frequent breaches that place our personal information at stake. Is this all negative? The same tools we're concerned about could also make our lives better--from making doctors connect faster than ever to patient data to digital bus routes that make transport more efficient. What's the conclusion? The bottom line: Technology by itself does not make you an improved or less. It's how technology is used that makes an impact.
What are the pros and cons of collecting information?
We wrote a blog article just a few weeks ago on Big Tech creating a platform that would allow healthcare professionals to access patient records. It would allow healthcare providers to access complete patient records, which could result in improved health and more tailored care. There is also the possibility that Big Tech could access the data without consent or knowledge from the patients.
These discussions go beyond healthcare technologies. AI is now an integral part of our lives. It influences the feeds we receive from social media and our daily commute with traffic suggestions. It also monitors our bank transactions to identify fraudulent transactions.
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Many are concerned about the kind of data AI demands and the ways in which their data could be utilized (for instance, facial recognition that could indicate that we're under surveillance nearly every day).
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However, AI can also improve life for many--from aiding people with disabilities to communicate, to enhancing the production of food and monitoring wildlife.
Do the potential benefits of these technologies outweigh the negative effects?
It's not the way it is used that matters.
Technology doesn't have to be bad or good. It's how we utilize it, and the culture that surrounds it. VPNs are a good example. They can either protect your privacy or collect your data depending on which VPN you choose to use.
Technologies that are designed to collect data can be utilized to enhance the lives of people provided there are appropriate rules. However, it is a question of whether there's a push for these regulations that holds groups who violate these regulations--and people's privacy--accountable.
