Computers have completely changed nearly every facets of our lives. Though with such revolutionary changes comes both positive and negative impacts. In some ways computers have made the world a much safer place, but on the other hand there are ways such technology have made the world less safe.

One way that computers have made the world safer is through safety systems in new cars that rely on computer technology to reduce accidents from human error. In recent years we have seen lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, backup cameras, advanced cruise control that can maintain a certain distance from the vehicle in front, automatic emergency braking, and integrate dashboard interfaces to remind drivers of speed limit. These features on rely on advanced computer components to function and are increasingly becoming the standard in many cars.

Computers have also made our homes safer whether we are at home or away from it. Technology such as doorbell cameras, break in detection systems, motion detectors, smoke alarms that can all be monitored from your mobile device in real time.

Computers have also greatly improved healthcare. There are various apps and other wearable devices to monitor health conditions. There are smart watches and even smart rings to monitor heartrate, oxygen level in blood, etc. Smartphones can function as a pedometer. Depending on the device and software used, such as the standard iOS Health app, this data can be shared directly to your healthcare providers.

With every positive technological impact it can be manipulated or abused to harm people. In this ways computers have made the world less safe. With parts of our lives such as banking and healthcare becoming increasing digital we are often putting Personal Identifiable Information and other sensitive data at risk of being breached. With the rise of social media also comes with cyberstalking and online harassment that could easily leak over into the real world. Consider SnapChat which features a map showing a location of all your friends based on their activity or location tagging on Instagram. Then with such rapid changes in vehicle and home safety due to computer technology, humans can grow complacent and over reliant on these technologies. Just because your car has blind spot monitoring doesn’t make checking your blind spots with your eyes any less important. The addictive nature of smart devices can also become a distraction from potential risks such as nearby cars, tripping hazards, etc.

Computers have changed so much of our lives often if positive ways, but this is not always the case.