Glass half full on technologyToday, technology is simply everywhere. Nowadays people seem to go through withdrawal if they leave their cell phone at home, almost as if it were a lifeline. According to a new study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average American youth, ages 8 to 18, spends more than 7.5 hours a day using a smartphone, computer, television and/or other electronic devices. There is no doubt that this statistic has increased over the years. In the 21st century, we are quick to judge the negative aspects of how the Internet and technology affect us, but should we? Or has the time come to realize that technology is now the way of life? In the article “Google is Making Us Stupid,” Nicholas Carr explains how the Internet affects our thought process on what I would call looking at the glass half empty. While Carr makes a great point, I think there are many ways to look at the glass half full when it comes to technology. The Internet has played a significant role in the way we learn today. Decades ago, students used libraries to gather information. Libraries nowadays are something of the past. Now students can use websites like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Duck Duck Go. Carr describes why he switched from library books to using computers: For more than a decade, I've spent a lot of time online, searching, browsing and sometimes adding data to large Internet databases. The web has been a godsend for me as a writer. Research that once took days spent in library shelves or periodicals rooms can now be done in minutes. A few Google searches, a few quick clicks on hyperlinks, and I got the revealing fact or pithy quote… middle of the paper… lately, there are a lot of ways to look at the glass half full when it comes to technology. When we use the Internet, we open the door to endless information and opportunities. Whether it is examining multiple resources with different perspectives in a time-efficient manner, learning in a way that best suits you, or using connecting applications to communicate with family and friends, it should be considered a privilege to use a powerful tool called the Internet . We are in control of how technology affects us. Use these tools to your advantage. As Carr said, “Maybe I'm just a worrier. Just as there is a tendency to glorify technological progress, there is a tendency to expect the worst from every new tool or machine (7).” This is our society. We created what technology is today. Either you join the techno community or you fall behind the present and future.