The True Cost of Technology

It is estimated that in the twentieth century 160-180 million human beings were killed. The deaths occurred largely through warfare, imprisonment, and human-manufactured starvation.

At the beginning of that century, the killing was done largely on a one-to-one basis; by soldiers fighting on the ground in World War I, for example. But with the passage of time, technology made it possible for people to distance themselves from the physical act of killing. Sailors on board one ship could torpedo another ship—they no longer had to look the other person in the face. The killing became anonymous, and with anonymity the killing became easier.

As technology continued to advance, increasingly effective weapons were devised along with the planes and missiles to deliver their deadly cargo.

Looking forward to our future in the twenty first century, we see technology continuing to develop. But with that technology, humanity is able to further distance itself from the results of its actions. Men sit safely in command centers far from the fighting and decide to send missiles against a far-removed and faceless enemy.

Lest we shake our heads in wonder at how people can do this, we need to examine our own use of technology. Our increased dependence on electronic gadgetry for work and home is not without serious results.

Consider our computers. Odds are good that we’re the single user of our computer, which took around 1.8 tons of chemicals, fossil fuels, and water to produce. If we use a desktop, it will produce 0.1 tons of CO₂ per year. (If it’s a laptop it will use less energy to run.) Used an average of three years, it will then be put in the trash, still functioning but no longer wanted, and be buried in the local landfill. Others are sent overseas, often to Africa or China to be disassembled and buried.

That’s a lot of chemicals, energy, and water use. And it’s for just one computer.

We love our technology, but we need to realize that there’s a cost—to us, our children and their children, and to our planet. Considering the consequences, we need to start questioning whether the price is too high.