Sometimes, it is easy to let ethical dilemmas in science overshadow the overall benefit of that same technology to society. When technological development accelerates at a rate that society cannot keep up with, there are no proper regulatory measures and periodically, society may misuse it. Notable destructive applications of technology are in weaponry and warfare, such as the atomic bombs used in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. But the same scientific developments that were used to develop the atomic bombs have also contributed to the implementation of nuclear power plants and medical technology like chemotherapy. Although some are inclined to consider technology a curse by citing its negative impacts, technology has contributed positively to society’s development in countless ways.

Technology might not be a necessity in our society, but it has permeated our everyday lives to assist with routine activities. If you consider all of the things that you do in one day, it is amazing - possibly appalling - how much we rely on technology to complete even the most basic tasks.The food that we buy from the store or eat at a restaurant is available at their quantities and costs because of agricultural engineering. Anyone who drives can attest to the value of a navigator. Every time we turn on our smartphones to call a friend, send a message, or browse the Internet, we access technology that has revolutionized millions of lives.

Within the last few decades, significant progress has been made in all fields of science. In the medical field, improvements in nanotechnology have transformed the mechanisms used for drug delivery and cancer treatment. 3D printing, originally used as a time- and cost-efficient means for prototyping household products prior to manufacturing, has found use in medical engineering for constructing artificial organs and even blood vessels. Energy technology has opened the path to renewable sources of energy, allowing us to become less dependent on the diminishing supply of fossil fuels and rely more on sustainable sources. Information and communications technology has facilitated the storage and use of data. With the future of cloud computing, any computer with an Internet connection provides access to a wealth of information.

Technology has emerged useful not only in the scientific community but also in everyday uses through revolutionary and disruptive innovation. Scientists have devised ways to apply the same technology to unforeseen markets. Nanotechnology, for example, can be applied to consumer products like skin care products, clothing fabric, and surface cleaners. Energy technology led to the development of hybrid cars that utilize both gasoline and electric sources for power, creating a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative. Information technology allows sites like Gmarket or Amazon to organize big data and provide customers with a convenient and user-friendly online shopping experience.

The need for scientific progress in society is due to the functional opportunities that technology brings to our lives, not necessarily the technology itself. Although critics might claim that the potential of technology is only apparent in developed countries, active efforts are made to build a better global environment and help local communities in third world countries. Without the technology having first been developed in first world countries, it would not be possible to implement the technology transfer to developing countries. Organizations like Engineers Without Border help bring sustainable improvements to quality of life by providing solutions to needs such as water supply, energy source, or agricultural development. Even the active chapter at KAIST has been working in conjunction with Nepal to use hydropower as source of energy for the local Nepalese community. Technology is knowledge and when harnessed to implement positive changes, its potential can be realized.

Articles on magazines like Discover, Popular Science, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s MIT Technology Review are proof of innovative technology that directly affects society. Unfortunately, the consequences of each individual development are impossible to predict. The growth of technology can only help society if we can safely assume that people will carry ethical and social responsibility over their actions. In a shooting, the gunman, not the gun, is responsible for the crime. When technology is used for destructive purposes, the perpetrator bears the majority of the blame. It is true that technology has had social impacts that changed our ideals and behavior but this does not mean that we should dismiss its potential. The solution is not to try to restrict the growth of technology but to develop feasible and effective regulatory measures over the use of it.