Technology is Driven by Speed and Efficiency
1.1 Introduction
Learning about the history of information technology throughout the semester has put into perspective the different difficulties and advancements mankind has made in mainly communications. To start, we learned about the primitive ways of communicating which would include signals of any kind, such as gestures with hands. As the class went on, we eventually learned about brand new technologies such as the cloud storage system and even big data. A common theme that I found in the class was that speed and efficiency pushes progress. Even in the three essays, these two themes were found consistently. Tracking the different essays that were written was especially easy with the ePortfolio. It allows for easy access of previous papers or assignments and quick navigations through them as well. Looking at the ePortfolio and the different papers that were written, it is easy to say the main driving factors of technology are speed and efficiency. To begin, it is pertinent to first look at an older piece of technology such as the Telegraph.
2.1 The Telegraph’s Lasting Marks
The driving factors of technology are especially apparent about 200 years ago when the first long range message sender was made, which was the telegraph. It was the first time in history that a message was sent form one location while simultaneously being received in a different city. This took place in Civil War times and allowed for faster and more efficient communication ever seen. In fact, just like in artifact 1 “the technology quickly spread around the country and was utilized immediately which was a key factor in allowing the North to defeat the South in the Civil War” [1]. If the telegraph was not created many different things could have happened in history, for example the Civil War may not have been won by the North, the technology had huge impacts at the time it was created. The theme is extremely apparent in this example, where the faster and more efficient technology takes the place of older technology. The equipment was quickly integrated into the business aspect of communication and the political aspect of faster communications. Before, the technology that was used for communication would be concepts such as mail by railroad or by horse back. The telegraph allowed for the travelling time of the message to be significantly cut down in order to make the communications service much more efficient. The telegraph didn’t last extremely long, but it did have a huge impact on future communications technologies. The driving factor in making the Telegraph a widely used equipment was it being faster and more efficient than any of the other technologies before it. The Telegraph even paved the way for even better inventions such as the internal combustion engine.
3.1 The Internal Combustion Engine and Speed
The internal combustion engine was a huge advancement in every day life in the entire world. It increased efficiency in the transportation business, the communications business, as well as numerous other businesses that have reaped the benefits of the engine. The internal combustion engine is especially efficient because it can be used in many different transportation methods, “Other huge impacts the ICE has made so far is also increasing mobility in other aspects of the transportation not including automobiles. The ICE also is used in airplanes and plenty of other transportation methods.” [2]. The usability of such a durable engine in so many different aspects makes it so efficient and so much faster than many other options. The internal combustion engine was implemented in the early 1900’s and is still commonly used today, because even after decades it remains as the most efficient way to generate thrust. It also goes along with the theme that the more efficient and better idea takes the place of the previous idea. Before the internal combustion engine was created the steam engine was the most commonly used engine. The steam engine was quickly overshadowed by the idea of a much more efficient engine. The internal combustion engine had a huge impact on life around the world and even paved the way for more inventions. One invention that had an impact just like the internal combustion engine had was the wireless mobile telecommunications technology.
4.1 Wireless Mobile Telecommunication
Wireless mobile telecommunications technology is something that everybody knows about extremely well today. Everybody uses this technology almost every day whether it be with a laptop, a phone, or some kind of other device. It powers everything from our text messages to our social media. One concept that is unfathomable is the idea that “Wireless allows people to communicate and connect anywhere now because of the wireless aspect of the new telecommunications” [3]. Wireless communications allow families and friends to stay in contact faster and for longer now. People are now just one click or one dial away from a genuine and worthwhile conversation. Along with this, there is now never a dull moment with technology since, “Users are able to quickly access an application such as Netflix and stream videos or entertainment with the mobile telecommunication technology.” [3]. These different technologies can feed off mobile communications and allow the user to access applications everywhere they go. This technology also took the world by storm because of its efficiency and speed. Now, users could easily use their pieces of technology to access anything they need while on the go. This technology has made the world a much faster place. The technology has also taken the spot of previous technologies that required cables and slowly, cables are disappearing from even homes now. The impact of wireless mobile communications has had a huge impact on society because of it’s speed and efficiency.
5.1 Conclusion
Looking through the ePortfolio at the different papers it is easy to see that speed and efficiency drives technology. In every aspect of business, transportation, and in every industry, the faster and more efficient product stays and takes the place of the previous out of date product. The Telegraph was a prime example when it took over the Civil War Era and provided the first form of long range messaging. Since then, new technologies have rendered the Telegraph out of date. The internal combustion engine, which is still used today took over technologies such as the steam engine to take over as the main method of engineering a product that creates thrust. The internal combustion engine was and still is the most efficient and fastest engine on the market, so it is still used today. Wireless mobile technologies have also changed how people work. The technology allows people to move faster and be more efficient, because the technology is the first of it’s kind to allow users to use it while travelling. These different forms of technology have had huge impacts on the world, and prove that the faster and more efficient a product is, the more likely it is to succeed.
Bibliography
[1] Walton, Anthony. “Artifact 1 The Telegraph and Morse Code.” 03 May 2017. Web.
[2] Walton, Anthony. “Artifact 2 Internal Combustion Engine’s Impact.” 03 May 2017. Web.
[3] Walton, Anthony. “Artifact 3 Mobile Telecommunications.” 03 May 2017. Web.