TECHNOLOGY
Role of Technology in Enhancing Creativity: Does it Exist?
Or is the technological era just limiting it.
In the Information packed culture, technological progress has been a blessing more than a pain.
Advancement in Technologies must be assigned a supreme badge for spurring digital revolutions, thereby transforming varied aspects of human lives. Undoubtedly, Technology is a gift to humankind; however, not each technological move tends to favor growth.
For instance, the bitter side of Technology, where both noble ideas and human intentions produce undesirable outcomes (biological weapons, atomic bombs, depletion of natural resources, etc.), puts human survival under threat.
In the book “The Dark Side Of Technology,” Author Peter Townsend gives us an informative look into human progress and the unexpected consequences that technology brings. If problems stemmed by technology are overlooked or not studied, its negative effects can paint a vulnerable future.
In totality, technological advantages can be forward-looking if it’s related measures remain correctly evaluated. Whereas growth back-pedals if associated risks related to Technology are under-valued or de-prioritized.
That said, the blame shouldn’t remain entirely dumped upon the rising pace of Technology. Somewhere it's the responsible self of humans that determine the extent of its optimally best utilization.
As we all fairly know, the human brain is potentially stronger. Or, to put it more aptly, highly creative than the artificially loaded technological brains. Thus, human power can exercise more substantial functions. However, when we keep aside the debate of who is powerful than whom, here, manpower versus Technology, then we can better arrive at a rational conclusion.
Much better solutions arrive when human growth and technological benefits are carried hand in hand. We can well interpret it through how Technology has given life to creative subjects, helped in their exploration and expansion rather than placing a limit on humankind’s creative growth.
As I mentioned at the start, embracing Technology isn’t easy. Our ability to implement the Technology effectively aligns to open the channels of creative fulfillment or attain mastery over it.
The experience that we create with Technology gives value to everything. As once observed by the American Psychologist B. F. Skinner, “The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.”
If Technology remains embraced by us thoughtfully, then technological advantages can be best summed in the words of Alvin Toffler, whose works discuss modern technologies and who observed that “The great growling engine of change is technology.”
Rewind to the Shakespearean days. In those classical times, creative pursuits like writing or any form of content generation were all in press forms. When Technology walked into modern times, creative ventures metamorphosized from press to digital.
Today technology has become the need of the hour. On using it artistically, the Technology exercises to expand human imagination.
An article published in Forbes has clearly emphasized how Technology doesn’t quell Creativity. Evidence suggests Technology has enhanced Creativity and transformed human experiences. As such, we as social species remain no longer separated by geographical distributions of time and space. Thus, be it anywhere or everywhere, we are technologically interconnected.
Through tech growth, we can also easily make a virtual trip to our favorite landmarks, whether it’s our visit to the famous Sydney Opera House or seeing the Northern lights or engaging with the beauty of the Taj Mahal, or walking in an African desert. If you’ve ever dreamt of being an archaeological treasure hunter, then through the creative hands of Technology, one can get a ride to explore The Pyramids of Giza and The Sphinx.
Although we can hardly replace the adventurous vibe brought by real-life experiences, we can at least explore the place virtually.
Besides the trip, this human-friendly Technology helps us get access to various learning models. Whether we aspire to play a musical instrument or learn to paint like Pablo Picasso, everything is sourceable.
Information in the internet decade doesn’t pressurize us to take a long voyage around the sea and then wait to discover the insights. Instead, sum of all knowledge is stored only a few clicks away, and we can access it accordingly then and there.
In fact, the truth is that by automating various parts of our creative muscles, framing and reframing imaginations, and by broadening our possibilities, we people can become creative and productive. Today’s technological generation has paved the way for a highly creative society where most of our work operations are tech-based.
While the global pandemic is still at its worse where variants after variants are arising, Technology, in these chilling times, acts as a savior for numerous job-holders. Plus, online education, online schooling, grocery buying, banking operations, online shopping, etc., have become easily accessible through the innovations brought by Technology.
Numerous creative economies or businesses have been functioning seamlessly ever since the introduction of digital innovation and alternative approaches prompted by technologies. We can rightly credit Technology as a tool that has revolutionized and revitalized human lives even during one of the darkest moments that the history of humankind is presently witnessing.
Focusing precisely on Creativity, the welcoming of Technology has given wings to the dreams of many. Unlike the good back old days, an individual today can explore their creative potentials more efficiently, and through technological usage, the pace of their success gains momentum.
Most importantly, technology’s proper utilization helps a person to turn their passion into professional careers. Many digital platforms provide a growth opportunity to an individual and help them climb the success rope almost effortlessly.
In all its essence, Technology has aired in creative skills and opened the doors of accessibility along with supporting multiple careers.
It exterminates the barriers to creative excellence by providing us access to extensive information bits and expanding our creativity box. In the digital generation, identifying failures has turned easy. At times, it is also cost-effective as compared to our analog world, where processing failures is a much cumbersome and tiring task.
Technology’s search domain provides a route to seep through the information. We can explore great ideas, experiment with them, and effortlessly test our knowledge and understanding. Just a technological device makes us time travel and test theories in incredible and unique ways.
In today’s times, there are varied forms of Technology, some of which are wearable and others that are everlastingly accessible. But what amazes me more is that in present times, we can monitor every aspect of our lives in real-time through the quantified self. With Technology on our sides, we also meet our qualified selves.
Thus, we become competent enough in our respective personal and professional spheres.
Being an Engineer, technology has always been one of my core disciplines and area of study. Adapting to engineering and technological pursuits has always helped me to widen my scope of experiences for betterment.
Technology comes as human-made artificial humans encoding real-time life experiences, whether it’s about learning a new skill or decoding answers to fascinating questions.
Nowadays, many literary devices have emerged to embark upon Creativity.
For instance, because of technological accomplishments, access to a wide range of books has become easily accessible. There are e-books, audiobooks, and other applications that help track your reading status. A keen individual aiming towards creative professions or other people in general who simply want to gain insights can leverage the benefits by using Technology to its best.
Although major technological establishments are costly, the smiling aspect of Technology serves the general public in cost-effective ways.
When it’s about particularly exploring creative domains, one simply needs to create a Gmail account to get started. Of course, flying high and reaching the sky of your dreams requires persistence and perseverance against repeated failures.
In combination with our never-say-die attitude plus embracing the bright side of Technology direct us towards our goal attainment. Technology as the utility tool assists me in learning things that I aspire, be that writing, job-seeking, or getting inspired in general.
With that, when technology trespasses into a land of issues like hacking, trolling, bullying, there is another facet of Technology (cyber-security cells, for example) that aids in resolving the wistful problems.
“In a virtual world of infinite abundance,” mentioned Jaron Zepel Lanier, “only creativity could ever be in short supply.”
Instead of considering technological devices as lifeless objects, we must treat them as channels for growth. If we optimally use them, Technology becomes Creativity’s treasured friend.
