Work Sample 2 - This is Where I Stand

1220HSL Information Systems for Service Industries

Date: 4th September 16

Course: 1220HSL Information Systems for Service Industry

Lecturer: Jason Harding

In this very second that you read this sentence, it will be the smartest our minds have ever been and for that, we can only thank technology. “New technologies have not only been created by the cognitive skills of their inventors, these technologies have transformed the nature of cognitive skills.” (Sternberg and Preiss, 2011) Technology does not rule our lives, it is not a part of our brain nor does it dehumanize us. It’s our best friend. It gives us the ability like no other, if used correctly. It allows everyone’s brain to grow, blossom, expand and connect. From the past till now, the world itself has grown dramatically and technology will continue to be the world’s teacher.

The 1980’s weren’t just a time of funky clothes, retro music and Pac Man, there was also a strong work force. Although there were some amazing technological advances during that decade, the work force was still quite structured. Nowadays, we can basically turn any hobbie or interest into a career, all thanks to technology. The eighties didn’t give many creative options for work. You were either in manufacturing, mining, mechanical work, maintenance or trades and that’s about it. For women, it was the social norm to be a stay at home mum. (Lopez, 2013) So, if you didn’t learn the trade of the limited job options, you were basically out of work. However, the outstanding and mind-blowing advances of technology has allowed any skill set to have a job. The amount of jobs available to us now is astounding and we can only be thankful for that.

Decades ago, the intellectual mind was a game of Tetris. It was set and structured, and if it didn’t fall into the mold it was essentially ‘wrong’. Kids back in the day were all taught the same structured paper related skills which nowadays are pretty much irrelevant. “The term computer literacy is commonly used to illustrate the fact that paper-related skills such as reading and writing are not enough to be a “productive citizen”” (Sternberg and Preiss, 2011)

As the world blossoms and develops, so does our education system and tools. What’s the purpose of teaching kids these day the same information that was taught 30 years ago? There’s no relevance to the up and coming technological based world. You’ve all heard about the different ways people learn, whether it be visually or auditory etc. Now, technology has allowed teachers to implement the information in a way that ever student can learn. Kids these days don’t even need to be taught how to use and iPad or iPhone. It’s as if their brains are already wired to do so. I watched my 6 year old cousin use an iPhone better than I ever could at the same age. Their amazing small brains are learning much more than we could ever imagine. Why stop allowing kids to grow their knowledge and better their selves? They are the future of our world and we should impart as much knowledge as possible.

I am truly and utterly flabbergasted at how we have developed as a world. Without the collaboration of creative thinking and technology we would probably be stuck in a time of distress. I don’t think our world and humanity could survive without the advances we have made. Can you imagine a world without cutting-edge medical technology? Or social media platforms that allow us to connect with the touch of a finger? We are creative creatures! Humans are doing some really, really staggering things. We have cured diseases, saved lives, designed intricate buildings, made huge social media platforms and improved education.

There is no doubt that each yeah we are getting smarter and smarter. The typical Australian adult from 1900 was ‘pretty dumb’ by today’s standard (Dean, 2015). If you were to yank one off the street and test them with “Raven’s Progressive Matrices or a Wechsler Intelligence Scale and they’d probably score an IQ of about 70. Given that the median score in these tests today is 100, and an IQ of 70 is often regarded as a sign of intellectual disability, that bodes ill for our recent ancestors” (Dean, 2015). Although Tim Dean states that they are ‘pretty dumb’, I disagree. I believe that everyone has the capability to be smarter than they currently are, we all could gain more knowledge. However, it is having those resources available that determines how much knowledge we have. Technology allows us to do that. Phones, laptops and computers are so easily available and it contains the worlds knowledge. From scientific facts, scholar articles, blog posts and videos. It is clear we are getting smarter and the phenomenon known as the Flynn effect is “every decade that passes sees the average IQ in developed countries rise by about three points” (Dean, 2015). Isn’t that amazing? We get to grow, learn, develop and create together, which only improves our world.

Now, social media outlets have stipulated and lot of controversy around the issue of it ‘dehumanizes’ our mind. Abha Dawesar argues that “The self as we once knew it no longer exists, and I think that an abstract, digital universe has become a part of our identity”(TEDTalks, 2013). I disagree with this, the digital world or social media world is not a part of our identity. What we share creates our identity. It is our creative outlet that allows us to connect with p eople and society. Never have we been able to connect with people all over the world from the privacy of our own home, and we are infatuated with that prospect. Identity is defined as “the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another” (Dictionary, 2016). Even with a large amount of time spent on social media or digital devices, it does not become a part of us. We are still individual humans who are all different. No one looks at someone on the street and sees them with a phone and goes “Why are they part phone?” It’s ridiculous! Don Tapscott says “Humanity is building a machine, and this enables us to collaborate in new ways.”(TEDTalks, 2012). As a human race, collaboration is very important for the best possible function of society.

Humans are now social butterflies and connect with so many people each day. Socialization is so encouraged and important. It is the glue that keeps the world together. Without connecting and socializing our society could not function probably. “Our forebears’ intellectual explosion was triggered when they became intensely social creatures.” (Dean, 2015). Word of mouth and learning from each other has become one of the most developmental tools human have available. Skills that can’t be taught by books can now we shared through social media. iPhones and the internet have opened our world. Don Tapscott also says “So this technology push, a demographic kick from a new generation and a demand pull from a new economic global environment is causing the world to open up.” (TEDTalks, 2012).

Technology has significantly made day to day lives a lot easier than before. With the access to phones being ready at your fingertips it makes life very efficient. Our brains have millions of thoughts each day and sometimes it can get overwhelming. The fact we have a creative outlet to jot notes down when we need is impressive. We have the ability to offload all our thoughts and ideas in a second. Technology not only gives us that opportunity, it gives us efficiency. Need a map? Right at your fingertips. Need the nearest food court? Right at your fingertips. We sometimes take for granted the things that make our lives easier.

Knowledge is the world’s most powerful tool. Use it. It’s right at your fingertips. If it wasn’t for technology the world, we know today wouldn’t exists. For that we can only be grateful.