The Life Story of Technology ( pages 1-83 )

     War brings out the worst in people, but it is a proven fact that it also brings out the best in people. Technology would not be where it is today if it was not for war. World War I, WWII, and The Cold War brought together some of the most brilliant minds all over the world to fix and invent technology, on an amazing scale in a short period of time. Yes it is true that technology advances as time goes on, but war accelerates technological advances astonishingly. To think that personal computers emerged from tally sticks and abacus's is unbelievable. By no means do I condone war, but advances have been achieved because of it. Ancient civilizations wanted a way to calculate the weather and their location at sea, but never did they envision their inventions setting the way for the computers we have today.

     As time progresses humans need faster, cheaper, and more efficient ways to get things done. Starting from creating a numeric system to solving differential equations, the human mind is limited. Thus, computers came to existence! The fist declared digital computer was Atanasoff Berry Computer, a computer that was built in a basement that "could only add and subtract binary numbers, but the machine presaged the future." (Swedin and Ferro pg 27) From that moment MANY computers came to existence, whether they were created for business or government purposes is a thing of the past. Thanks to technology banks can process thousands of checks a day and airlines can book your flight in just minutes. However, technology as brought us weapons such as the atomic bomb and helped mankind reach outer space. 

     Technology will always be an important aspect of society because in a way it determines who is the superpower in the world. Technology is so important that Swedin and Ferro state "The greatest war in history, World War II, was fought on the battlefields and in the laboratory." (pg 47) Guns and soldiers have always played an important part in wars, but with the invention of smarter and faster computers thanks to technology thousands of lives can be spared. Who knows maybe one day Artificial Intelligence will succeed and machines can be used to do human tasks. I am not a huge fan of AI, but I do feel that it is inevitable because mankind pushes the envelope. A few decades ago technology helped humans create machines that are the size of buildings, but the tasks that these machines did can now be done by a cellphone in your pocket. Who knows what technology is going to do next, but I am very eager to find out!