Kranzberg's First Law: Technology is neither good nor bad, nor is it neutral

Kranzberg's First Law is my single most important take-away from this semester. We've taken on a lot of complex issues dealing with technology and mass communication, and I've learned that there is a whole lot more gray area than black and white. Technology is advancing more rapidly than we can keep up, and we're learning as we go along. Too often people try to make sweeping generalizations about technology and the effect it's all having on us, but the reality is never that simple. I've learned to think deeper about the far-reaching impact technology is having on our lives and to always consider both sides of the coin. Sure, Tinder might lead to shallow hook-ups and selfies might make us more narcissistic, but they're also platforms for connecting with new people and expressing ourselves in ways we couldn't have before.

In the next 15 years, biotechnology will provide countless new ways for people to manage their health and fight infection. Tiny bugs could be implanted in our bodies and detect pathogens long before people would have discovered them otherwise, accelerating the treatment process and prolonging life. But there will also be people who can't afford biotechnology to constantly monitor their glucose levels or heart condition. Advances in health care will likely widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots, requiring that we consider more than ever the ethical implications of our decisions.

The internet has made possible things we never could have achieved before. It lets us connect with like-minded people across the world. It gives us an outlet for artistic expression and infinite sources of information. We have a wealth of resources at our fingertips, and we've never been more empowered or more capable. But there's also a downside. We might be sacrificing our deeper connections in real life for more fleeting, superficial ones on the web. The constant presence of our iPhones might be pulling us away from truly living in the moment. And some argue we're developing broader, shallower pools of knowledge as our attention is increasingly divided between a flock of competing sources. There are incredible benefits to technology, but they don't come without dangers.

I've learned that with tech, we don't always win and we don't always lose. And sometimes it creates both winners and losers. Technology gives us the tools, but what people choose to do with them, and who controls them, are much more important than the technology itself.