Technology in the 1960's and Today
Technology runs today’s society because it is found in almost every aspect of our lives. Everyday our alarm clocks go off and we immediately roll over to check our cell phones. This a great contrast to technology used in the 1960s. The 1960’s was the beginning decade for technology. It was less likely for people to have televisions in their homes or have their lives made simpler by the latest technology. In today’s world, almost every household has a television, multiple kitchen appliances like microwaves, and some form of smart phone. Based on the A.C. Nielsen Co. 99% of US households have at least one television (Herr). This is a rather large changed from the 1960’s when 87% of households had televisions (Podesta). Modern technology during the 1960’s was mainly based around radios, televisions, and the beginning of video games. All of these subgroups are similar to what today’s technology focuses on, but today technology runs the world.
Since the 1960’s was one of the beginning decades to launch major technological advances, why was the society not as obsessed with it? One of the main reasons could be that the 1960’s society did not view certain types of technology as an everyday thing. It was not as accessible as today; therefore many people did not have it; especially not lower income families. The culture of the 1960’s had yet to center solely around technology. Most social events did not involve going to the movies or playing video games. In today’s society people go to the movies, rent movies, play video games, and live a life surrounded by technology. The internet has become a major factor in current society. Youths of today spend many hours and create whole lives on the internet. A 2011 survey recorded that Facebook had 750 million users and Twitter had 200 million users (Qualman). The reason behind this new obsession could be that our society is becoming more technologically oriented. This could mean that we are focusing less and less on the natural world around us and more and more on a materialistic world. It could be viewed that the youth of today, living in a technological world, is becoming more self-absorbed and disconnected.
Since the 1960’s was one of the beginning decades to launch major technological advances, why was the society not as obsessed with it? One of the main reasons could be that the 1960’s society did not view certain types of technology as an everyday thing. It was not as accessible as today; therefore many people did not have it; especially not lower income families. The culture of the 1960’s had yet to center solely around technology. Most social events did not involve going to the movies or playing video games. In today’s society people go to the movies, rent movies, play video games, and live a life surrounded by technology. The internet has become a major factor in current society. Youths of today spend many hours and create whole lives on the internet. A 2011 survey recorded that Facebook had 750 million users and Twitter had 200 million users (Qualman). The reason behind this new obsession could be that our society is becoming more technologically oriented. This could mean that we are focusing less and less on the natural world around us and more and more on a materialistic world. It could be viewed that the youth of today, living in a technological world, is becoming more self-absorbed and disconnected.