Technophobia Essay Research Paper TechnophobiaAn Impediment to

Technophobia Essay, Research Paper Technophobia An Impediment to Personal Development With the onslaught of new technology emerging since the late Nineteen Seventies, and its subsequent divergence throughout the Eighties and Nineties, there has been little time to adjust to the impact of newer technologies nor the sky-rocketing popularity in both personal and professional lives. Most have adapted, many sing it’s praises, however, for those that have not embraced, nor welcomed for that matter, such things as the personal computer, the Internet, and a host of telecommunication innovation, a fear based resistance coined Technophobia, is quickly becoming a serious impediment to personal development. Hardly a new concept, fear based resistance to technology is well documented in history during times of innovation. "Get A Horse!" was commonly screamed at those who drove the first automobiles and riots broke out often during the industrial revolution. The Wall Street Journal claimed electric lighting would be forgotten in less than a week and fifty years ago, the concept of space travel was laughable. As common then as it is now, resistance to change is almost tradition. Technophobia today presents with a slight variation on the theme. Innovation is replaced by inundation. The problem is not changing, it’s adapting fast enough to keep pace with the changes. It is not influencing just one aspect of our lives, it is affecting every aspect of our lives. To quote Michelle M. Weil, a clinical psychologist from Orange, California who has spent more than fifteen years studying technology and its effect on people, (Co-author of the book, Techno-Stress: Coping with technology @work@home@play. Due out this October), "Technophobia is a direct result of people not having the choice to opt out of using new technology. All of a sudden you have to weigh your own fruit at the supermarket. You buy gasoline by paying at the pump 2 with electronic fund transfers; there’s voice mail – it’s an indication of how little choice we have now. Technology isn’t going away. We’re very much in a technological era 1". One of the largest contributors to Technophobia may be the personal computer. From Apple’s introduction of the first all-purpose desktop computer in 1977, to the plethora of low cost systems and financing options available today, concepts such as student’s using computers has evolved from a novelty to necessity. In the work place computer skills advance from "a plus" to "a must" and at home, the personal computer is being utilized as commonly as one would utilize kitchen appliances or a stereo. Not only is new technology pervasive, it seems to change exponentially, creating even more anxiety and stress on those that have not kept pace with the times. Taking for example the afore mentioned computer. The rule of thumb for computer shopping once stated that if you bought the most computer you could afford, a new system would remain current for about five years. Today, the duration has decreased to one, maybe, two years and by 2003, it is expected to drop to as little as four to six months. So what’s the point in learning about technology today if it’s only going to change? The salient point being that anything you learn today can be applied toward tomorrow and in the quest for excellence, no skill is ever wasted. The inertia of changing technology seems well in motion and it is unlikely that the trend will end anytime soon. Thus, for those seeking to excel and succeed in school, work or their personal life, it becomes clear that hesitation to learn about new technology will only hinder them and thus Technophobia becomes a serious impediment to their personal development. References Carlton, J. (1997) Apple The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders. Randomhouse. NY Ferrett, S. (1997) Peak Performance – 2nd ed. Mcgraw-Hill. NY Hayes, D. (1997) Technophobia? Fear Not! http://www.kcstar.com/biz/techno/stories/techno15.htm Lewis, B. (2000) Careers & Management. www.infoworld.com Stodder, D. (June 5, 2000) The Pervasive Invasion Intelligent Enterprise, pg. 14. Stross, R.( June 12, 2000) In praise of start-ups. U.S News & World Report, Page 48 Vogelstein, F. (June 12, 2000) Is it sharing or stealing? U.S. News & World Report, Page 38, 31f