As technology improves the future looks bigger, better and brighter

Let us rewind back two hundred years ago. There are no lights, no televisions, no mobile phones, poor farming methods and no modern medicine. Can you imagine yourself living in a world like this? If you think science does not affect you, think again. Science affects us all, every day of our lives, from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep. Your digital alarm clock, the light you switch on and off, the car you drive to work, your mobile phone, the decision to eat a baked potato instead of chips and the antibiotics that fight your flu have all been developed for our benefit, courtesy of science and technology. Technology is constantly changing and improving around us and can only mean bigger, better and brighter things for the future.

The decision to move with the times and embrace science and technology has led to the modern world we now live in. Although there has been debates in the past about the advancements of science and technology and whether they have caused more harm than good, in my opinion the answer is very clear. Without the understanding of technology enabled by science the modern world would not be very modern at all. Thanks to discoveries made by men such as Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell we no longer live in a world of darkness and isolation. Instead we can now see through the darkness at the flick of a switch or ring our friends and family at the touch of a button. It must be acknowledged that these men have contributed significantly to improving all of our lives for the better.

The past number of years has seen an epidemic of social networking sites around the world. Bebo, Facebook and Twitter have all become household names. Although initially targeted at younger people, particularly teenagers, Facebook now boasts over 800 million active users ranging from teeny boppers to older aunts, uncles and even grandparents. Imagine my shock when I logged onto my Facebook account one day and saw I had a friend request from a woman named Joan Maher. Low and behold, Nana Joan had entered the world of Facebook! At 75 years of age her decision to embrace technology had resulted in her mastering the ability to use the internet. Thanks to a programme run by transition year students where they teach people how to approach and use the internet Nana Joan is now e-mailing, blogging and a regular on Facebook.

My Grandmother's new found love of the internet has made the stereotypical Grandmother image a thing of the past. Another thing that has been thrown into the past is the idea of rooting out an old map before setting out on a road trip. Gone are the days of getting lost while venturing to an unfamiliar part of the country. Gone are the days of stopping strangers with confused and frustrated expressions on our faces and asking for directions. Our saviour, the sat nav, has been invented. What does this delicate device do I hear you ask? Simply type in the address of where you wish to go and the sat nav will show you how to get there. Magic isn't it?

Not being the most enthusiastic geography student meant that the decision for me to invest in a sat nav was easy. My own sat nav has been christened Mary. Though not always accurate (she has led me down some back roads!) Mary has been my saving grace and has always brought me home.

So as technology continues to improve and change the world around us, one must ask, are we prepared for this kind of world? Some might have their reservations but, in reality, we must move with the times, embrace new forms of technology with enthusiasm and strive to use it for the benefit of the world around us.