Over the last 15 years, I have observed the significant evolution of communication technology in my life and how its advancements have positively and negatively impacted society. I am going to go in-depth on the expansion of technology and how it has become more embedded into everyday living in terms of education, healthcare, and personal life; the adverse effects that it has also had, like social isolation, addiction, and mental health implications; and the positive effects that it has had on society that I have noticed such as increased connectivity, improved access to information and psychological care.

Communication technology advancements have changed how people interact with their education. When I was in Kindergarten, I remember the day our teacher brought in a new piece of equipment called an “Elmo” document camera that paired with a projector and would allow the teacher to display/project images, documents, and drawings that were placed underneath. This device would allow the entire class to engage with the material and follow along in unison; we all thought it was super cool that we could place our tiny hands, fingers wiggling, under the camera and see it projected onto the wall; however, we collectively thought that the name “Elmo” was even funnier and chose to focus our attention incessantly giggling at that, as all we could think about was the connection to Sesame Streets fluffy red Elmo. This was my first encounter with communication technology in the classroom. Fast forward a couple of years to third and fourth grade when we made occasional class trips down to the school’s computer lab to work on language/vocabulary, number concepts, essential reading and math and putting some fun into reading through the use of interactive games and websites. The most memorable of these learning tools is Raz-Kids, which had a vibrant homepage with a colorful-smiling bird in the corner, and the website was used for reading books. It would give you points for finishing stories and advance you to another level which created an incentive amongst the class to read a lot of books to be in the lead; unbeknownst to us, we were doing all of the teachers’ hard work for them! Moving up into Junior High, we had assigned chrome-book laptops in virtually every class because most coursework was beginning to move online. Online work began mainly because the school board wanted to move towards paperless classes. They did this to reduce waste and help create a greener society. With “decreased paper and photocopying costs” this directly promotes a “green revolution”(Raja and Nagasubramani, 2018). Come high school, nearly all of our course materials and work were online through Google Classroom. We still had to go in person to every class as the teacher gave lectures to which we would follow along and submit the assignment later online. It worked fluidly except for one hiccup, some instructors tried to run online tests, yet they could not figure out how to make an “uncheatable” system, as students could google the answers in another open tab or “write formulas and notes down… with the smallest chance of being caught”(Raja and Nagasubramani, 2018) so most of the tests were still done in person. Ending my graduating year of 2020 in high school, we were dismissed early on one Friday I will never forget, and told that we would be taking a two-week break until the “COVID-19” virus died down. The whole school was buzzing, social media was being blown up with party invitations/kickbacks, and everyone was making plans to have fun because we now had time to kill. Well those two weeks turned into a month, which turned into the remainder of the school year. At this point, school districts were scrambling to figure out how to make remote-online classes work and use a new meeting format called Zoom so that we, Seniors, could finish our exams and coursework to graduate. It was a disaster. We had about 3.5-months left in the year. Because there was so much miscommunication about online learning modules/when to meet/what to do if you don’t have a laptop/etc., they decided to let us choose to either freeze our grades where they were at, or, do extra work to raise them to finish off the year. Most students decided to keep their grades the same, meaning we did no work or anything school related for those last few months. Now in 2023, because of the learning we all had to do, students and teachers alike, we have worked out the kinks and figured out how to smoothly run online classes and make them work.

Moving on to how communication technology has changed the way in which people interact with their healthcare. It has entirely transformed how patients can communicate with their healthcare professionals and the treatments they receive. As a patient, I have seen a transformation in healthcare delivery, with technology improving access to care and enhancing the overall patient experience. Electronic health records (EHRs) have replaced traditional paper records, allowing healthcare providers to access patient information quickly and easily. This has improved patient safety, reduced errors, and made it easier for healthcare providers to collaborate. EHRs became mandatory in 2009 through the HITECH act, which assures the use of electronic medical records, making it much simpler to access needed documents in situations such as applying for schools, jobs, and licenses requiring medical history. In addition, Telemedicine has become more prevalent in healthcare settings over the last 15 years. I have used Telemedicine to participate in virtual consultations and care. This has made it much easier for me to “make it” to my appointments, as I cannot always make the 40-minute drive to the office. Telehealth appointments became an absolute necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic as they drastically reduced the need for patients to go in person. Mobile apps have become another essential tool for viewing lab tests and medical history, tracking medications and refills, and almost immediately contacting their healthcare provider at a moment’s notice if urgent. As a working Massage Therapist, we are considered to work in a healthcare setting, and as such, we create digital records of each of our clients’ visits. We also use texting apps to communicate with clients coming in to ensure they have no illness or COVID symptoms so that we do not spread infection to high-risk clients. In such a direct-contact career, using communication technology such as iPads (See Fig. 1) for quickly typing records and utilizing computers for texting our clients have been crucial to staying in touch to keep everyone safe and healthy. The future of healthcare will undoubtedly see continued advancements in communication technology, hopefully leading to improved healthcare and patient outcomes.

(Fig. 1 Apps used daily in my career for client notes)

Communication technology has notably changed my life and become increasingly embedded in my daily routine. One of my earliest experiences with technology occurred when I was about five years old. My parents bought a new family computer, a bulky desktop model that took up almost the entire desktop. I was fascinated by this new device. It allowed me to play simple cartoon games and would show me anything I wished or could answer any question my little five-year-old brain could muster. Despite the limitations of the technology, I found it incredibly exciting to explore this new system and learn new things. As I grew up, my experiences became more involved. I got my first iPod touch in late elementary school, a slate-gray device thinner than a pencil, but it opened up an entirely new world to me. It was a phone without a phone function. I downloaded a multitude of games, starting with temple run, followed by angry birds and fruit ninja, playing these games for countless hours, feeling as if I was accomplishing so much level after level. In late middle school, I received my first-ever actual phone, a bright green iPhone 5C. I was able to send texts and make actual phone calls. At the time, I felt like an adult and entirely independent. During middle school, years six and seven are when social media began to take flight in my life; if you didn’t have Kik, Instagram, or Snapchat, it was like you didn’t exist. I remember creating my first accounts on each platform, not truly understanding what any of it was, except I could talk to and see people and what they supposedly did with their lives. Social media has only grown since then and has changed how we interact and communicate. It has made it easier than ever to stay in contact with friends and family no matter where they are. Now that I can afford my technology, I ensure I have high-quality devices with everything I need that will last me for a while, no matter the cost. I have been observing technology usage more closely in my day-to-day life over the last two months. I use my black iPhone 14 Pro, space gray MacBook Pro, black aluminum Apple Watch and Airpod Pros daily.  In my research, I have taken a step back and seen how dependent on technology I have become for basic things such as reminders, relaxing, and getting work done. My daily screen time average of technology usage is about 9 hours which is split strictly between my phone and laptop (See Fig.2 & 3)

(Fig. 2 Daily screen time avg. of iPhone)        (Fig. 3 Daily screen time avg. of MacBook)

My devices are all used at various points throughout my daily routine, starting with when I wake up. My phone sets off a slow-rise alarm that does not give me a jump scare when I wake up. Next, I put on my smartwatch and check what is on my “events” for the day to see what classes I might have, what assignments I need to complete, what errands I need to run, and what I might need to do around the house. After I get my day mapped out, I can take a hiatus, knowing that my devices will remind me when and where to be/do things. My phone keeps me in contact with important people, my watch keeps me on track throughout my day, keeping me on top of things, my laptop allows me to complete all necessary work that I cannot do on my phone, and my AirPods keep me focused and block outside distractions. Since all of my devices are Apple brand products, they all work seamlessly together, which adds to the convenience aspect and makes it so embedded into my routine. It is important to note that while communication “technology is seeping into every part of human lives, it doesn’t necessarily lead us towards progress and betterment.”(Arora, 2021). As helpful as it is to have my devices remind me of everything I need to do in my life, this dependance is also harmful to our cognitive abilities such as “self-awareness, ability to think and process information”(Arora, 2021). 

As much as communication technology has provided positive aspects in my life and convenience, it also has had its share of negative impacts. A significant negative impact I have noticed is social isolation. Social media reduces face-to-face relations by providing an alternative form of communication that is more convenient and less time-consuming than trying to meet in person. With social media platforms and communication technology, I can stay in contact with anyone anytime and anywhere, which is much easier for me as I have a hectic schedule. With this reduction of in-person time, it feels so easy to stay current with friends and family without us having to put in the genuine effort it takes to have a real, deep human connection. This is dangerous as it means we neglect real-life social relationships and that will contribute to social isolation and loneliness. Another harsh impact is addiction, and technology causes addiction through a few fundamental mechanisms that are important to look out for. We can get caught in a “dopamine cycle” because using technology and social media triggers the brain’s reward system to release the feel-good chemical Dopamine. When we quit using tech for a time, our instinct is to use our devices more and more, which causes us to desire more stimulation from them. Lastly, using technology to cope can be a dangerous path to watch out for. Using it to escape the real world allows us to completely avoid unwanted emotions and situations by diving into digital distractions. The “sense of comfort and evasion provided by smartphones seems to help avoid unpleasant thoughts, emotions or experiences by providing a variety of new stimuli.”(Limone, 2021). This, however helpful it may be at the moment, can lead to mental health implications that will put us at an increased risk for “certain psychological illnesses such as depression… and anxiety”(Limone, 2021). I am guilty of all of these at one point or another, but overall, I have found that using technology in a structured way can support your mental health and happiness.

Now focusing on the positive impacts of communication technology that I have noticed. The first is increased connectivity. Communication technology has radically changed the way that people from all over connect. FaceTime/Zoom/Skype and other forms of video chats make it possible to talk to anyone in the world in real-time. I can’t recall the number of times my family used video chats to talk to relatives during holidays, called to sing happy birthday to family and friends, or even when I would call to talk about life with friends that live in another state. It is not always possible to have in-person contact; for example, 99% of my extended family lives in Canada and my family cannot just go see them on a whim but we still want to keep in touch, or during the peak of the pandemic, when almost all in person meetings (work, school, healthcare appointments) were not allowed due to social distancing restrictions, we utilized technology to stay in touch. Another positive impact is improved access to information. Most libraries and schools have computer stations or computers to check out to take home, so families not as fortunate to have all of these devices still have a means to stay connected and access information, making education and learning more accessible than ever for almost everyone! In contrast to using technology to cope in an unhealthy manner, we also live in an age where we have an “enormous potential to transform mental health services through improved access to evidence-based digital resources and interventions” (Hollis, 2020). In this article, Hollis also mentions that with digital tools, we can improve normal face-to-face therapy encounters for all people who truly need it, by using online sources that are “more effective, more accessible and more cost-effective”. This leads to more positive results as it can fit the customized needs/lifestyles of each patient.

I have been lucky enough to have grown up in a timeframe where I have seen extreme growth in the evolution of communication technology and how its advancements have brought about both positive and negative impacts on society. While technology is so intertwined into our everyday living, it is vital to strike a balance between living online and in the real world. Doing so can foster a healthier relationship with technology and improve our overall well-being. 

References:

Arora, S. (2021). Humans becoming excessively dependent on technology — and it could harm future. ThePrint. https://theprint.in/campus-voice/humans-becoming-excessively-dependent-on-technology-and-it-could-harm-future/686799

Hollis, C., Livingstone, S., & Sonuga‐Barke, E. (2020). Editorial: The role of digital technology in children and young people’s mental health – a triple ‐edged sword? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(8), 837–841. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13302

Limone, P., & Toto, G. A. (2021). Psychological and Emotional Effects of Digital Technology on Children in COVID-19 Pandemic. Brain Sciences, 11(9), 1126. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091126

Raja, R., & Nagasubramani, P. C. (2018). Impact of modern technology in education. Journal of Applied and Advanced Research, 3(S1), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.21839/jaar.2018.v3is1.165