TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND HUMAN LIFESTYLE IN A SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND HUMAN LIFESTYLE IN A

SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Introduction

Humans use technology because they have reason. With their intellect, humans want to

get out of trouble, want to live better, safer, and so on. Technological development occurs

because a person uses his mind to solve every problem he faces.

Technological progress is something that cannot be avoided in this life, because

technological progress will run in accordance with scientific progress. Every innovation is

created to provide positive benefits for human life. Technology also provides many

advantages, as well as a new way of doing human activities. Humans have also enjoyed many

benefits brought by technological innovations that have been produced in the last decade.

In the current era of globalization, technological mastery is a prestige and indicator of a

country's progress. Countries are said to be developed if they have a high level of mastery of

technology, while countries that cannot adapt to technological advances are often referred to

as failed countries.

These victorious countries became powerful, prosperous and prestigious because of

technology. Therefore, entering the third millennium, it is not surprising that there is a

growing desire to utilize, develop and master technology. Technological breakthroughs in

micro-electronics, bio-technology, telecommunications, computers, the Internet, and robotics

have fundamentally changed the way we develop and transform technology into production

sectors that produce high-tech goods and services (Buhal, 2000, p.i).

On the one hand, the amazing development of the world of science and technology has

indeed brought tremendous benefits to the advancement of human civilization. Types of work

that previously demanded considerable physical abilities can now be relatively replaced by

automatic machines. Likewise, the discovery of new formulations of computer capacity seems

to have been able to shift the position of human brain ability in various fields of science and

human activity. In summary, the current technological advances have really been recognized

and felt to provide a lot of convenience and convenience for the lives of mankind (Dwi-

ningrum, 2012, p.171).

On the other hand, people cannot deceive themselves about the fact that technology

brings havoc and misery to modern man. Technological advancements, which were originally

intended to make things easier for humans, have led to a new "loneliness" and alienation,

namely the erosion of the sense of solidarity, togetherness, and friendship. For example, the

invention of television, computers, the internet and mobile phones has caused us to become

engrossed in the world of screens. Screens have become our constant companions, and we pay

more attention to them than even our wives, husbands and children. Almost every time we

wake up, we press the television button to look at the screen, go to the office, press the

cellphone button to look at the screen to text, BBM (Blackberry Messenger) or play games,

until we arrive at the office there is already a computer screen or television screen. Likewise,

when returning from the office to the house, the television screen is seen first instead of the

wife and children. SMS and BBM make people experience "amnesia" (forgetting children and

wife or husband). As a result, the relationship between family members is tenuous, with each

other engrossed in their own screens. This is only in one's own household, let alone with

neighbors, perhaps We meet our neighbors only when the white flag (sign of death) stands in

front of the neighbor's house. At that time, we realize that a neighbor has passed away. With a

little pleasantries, we visit for a while before going to the office (Bakhtiar, 2012, p.223).

Screen technology is able to anesthetize humans to submit to the screen and ignore

others. If man is not aware of this, then he will be lonely and lose something very important in

himself, namely togetherness, warm family and social relationships. If the influence of such

technology deepens, people will not realize their true needs. It's like someone who lives near a

chicken coop for the first time. In the first week, it is difficult to sleep even if you can only

sleep for an hour or two because of the pungent odor. The second week is somewhat used to

adjusting to the odor and in the following weeks it gets used to it. After years of living there, I

missed the smell, and I couldn't even sleep without the "fragrance" of the chicken coop.

The technology that is sweeping our lives now is also like the person who feels at home

next to the chicken coop, so engrossed he does not realize that screen technology makes him

marginalized from a basic need. He only imagines according to what is shown on television,

especially when those watching are children who are not yet able to distinguish between the

real and the visual. The demand to ban the airing of Smack Down on one of the television

stations is an example of how big the impact of the show is on children's personalities.

Elementary and middle school children who imitate what they watch and do not hesitate to act

sadistically, resulting in fatal physical consequences and even death (Amsal Bakhtiar, 2012,

pp.224-225).

Humans today have truly become slaves to technology. Based on a survey conducted by

Secur Envoy, a company specializing in digital passwords, which surveyed 1,000 people in

the UK, it was concluded that today's students experience nomophobia, which is a feeling of

anxiety and fear if they are not with their cell phones. Results The survey showed that 66

percent of respondents admitted that they could not live without their cell phones. This

percentage is even higher among respondents aged 18 and 24. As many as 77 percent of

respondents among this age group experienced nomophobia.

Meanwhile, another research conducted by Zogby International at America United

States showed that 24 percent of 1,950 respondents consisting of adults said the internet had a

significant impact on their lives. According to the research company, most people said they

could not live without the internet and needed high-speed connectivity. Twenty-two percent

of the study participants admitted to accessing Facebook while on the internet and 10 percent

visited Google. When asked about their predictions about future information technology, 40

percent of the respondents envisioned that in the next few years a chip would be implanted in

the bodies of all citizens of the world. This chip will monitor health conditions and detect the

person's whereabouts. Some of them also believe that the various work that humans do will

switch to robots. Zogby added that technological advances will also be felt in the health

sector, especially in the development of techniques cloning techniques to create human organs

and cell systems.

Discussion

Technology Advancement

Technology Concept

Humans did not initially recognize the concept of technology. The presence of early

humans in pre-history, only recognized technology as a tool to help them find food, tools in

hunting, and processing food. The tools they used were very simple, made of bamboo, wood,

stone, and other simple materials that they could easily find in nature. For example, to make a

fireplace, they use rocks that can create sparks.

In the beginning, technology developed slowly. However, along with the advancement

of the level of culture and human civilization, technological development is developing

rapidly. The more advanced the culture, the more developed the technology because

technology is the development of a rapidly advancing culture (Adib, 2011, p.254).

Technology literally comes from the Greek word "tecnologia" which means a

systematic discussion of all arts and crafts. The term has the root word "techne" in ancient

Greek means art, or craft. From this literal meaning, technology in ancient Greek can be

defined as the art of producing the means of production and using them. This definition then

developed into the use of science in accordance with human needs. Technology can also be

interpreted as "the know-how of making things" or "the know-how of doing things", in the

sense of the ability to do something with high value, both in terms of benefit and sale value

(Martono, 2012, p.276).

In a pragmatic concept with the possibility of applying academically, it can be said that

science (body of knowledge), and technology as an art (state of art) which implies a sense

related to the production process; concerning how various resources, land, capital, labor, and

skills are combined to realize production goals. "Technology conventionally includes mastery

of the physical and biological world, but it also broadly includes social technology, especially

social technology of development so that technology is a systematic method for achieving

every human goal" (Dwiningrum, 2012, p.153).

Henslin explains that the term technology can cover two things. First, technology refers

to tools, which are elements used to accomplish tasks. Technology refers to equipment as

simple as a comb to as complex as a computer. Secondly, the skills or procedures required to

make and use the equipment technology. Technology in this case does not only refer to the

procedures needed to make combs and computers, but also includes procedures to produce an

acceptable hairdo, or to enter the internet.

Sociologically, technology has a deeper meaning than tools. It sets a framework for a

group's non-material culture. If a group's technology changes, the way people think will also

change. This also affects the way they relate to others. For Marx, technology is a tool, which

in the view of historical materialism only refers to a number of tools that humans can use to

achieve prosperity. Weber defines technology as the ideas or thoughts of mankind itself.

Meanwhile, according to Durkheim, technology is a collective consciousness that is even

predicted to replace the position of religion in society (Martono, 2012, pp.277-278).

The development of technology will undergo several cycles. Jacob explains some of the

development cycles of science and technology into five stages. The five stages are expressed

as five condrative cycles, which is a cycle that will repeat every 50 years. The five cycles are:

first, starting with the technological revolution (1760); second, marked by the unfolding of the

railway network (1848); third, starting with the invention of the conveyor belt (1895); fourth,

marked by the invention of atomic energy and mass motorization (1945); and fifth, marked by

the development of micro-electronics and biotechnology.

Technology shows its phenomena in society as impersonal and has the autonomy to

transform every field of human life into a technical sphere. Sastrapratedja (Dwiningrum,

2012, p.154) explains that the technical phenomenon in today's society has the following

characteristics:

 Rationality, meaning that spontaneous actions by techniques are transformed into planned

actions with rational calculations.

 Artificiality, meaning always making something artificial unnatural.

 Automatism means that methods, organizations, and formulations are carried out

automatically. Similarly, techniques are able to eliminate non-technical activities into

technical activities.

 Techniques develop in a culture

 Monism, meaning that all techniques are unified, interacting and interdependent.

 Universalism means that techniques transcend cultural and ideological boundaries and can

even dominate cultures.

 Autonomy, meaning the technique develops according to its own principles.

Technology is developing rapidly, covering various fields of human life. Nowadays it

seems difficult to separate human life from technology, it is even a human need. The

beginning of technological development that was previously part of science or dependent on

science, now science can also depend on technology. For example, with the rapid

development of computer technology and space satellites, new knowledge is obtained from

the work of these two technological products (Dwiningrum, 2012, p.155).

Based on the description of the opinion above, we can conclude and draw a red thread

that technology is the result of human thinking which is ultimately used by humans to realize

various goals in life, technology becomes an instrument to achieve goals. Technology is also

the result of the development of human rationality. When the existence of technology is

developed in the structure of human action, the existence of technology can also be placed

within the framework of the development of human rationality.

When humans are still in the irrational stage (traditional and affective), humans have

been able to produce various technologies that are still simple. Along with the development of

rationality, humans have produced various techno- logies that are quite complicated, but in the

end the existence of technology is used as a tool to achieve human life goals. Technology has

influenced the pattern of As a result, technology also indirectly influences the actions and

patterns of human life. Technology is also interpreted as a tool that widens class differences in

society. Technology becomes a status symbol for the rich and the poor, who is able to master

technology, then he will be able to master other humans.

People use the concept of new technology to refer to the emergence of a technology that

has an important impact on social life. For people who lived 500 years ago, new technology

referred to the printing process, while today, new technology refers to computers, satellites,

planes or other communication technologies. The change of human life from agricultural-

based to industrial-based is also greatly influenced by technological developments.

Technology Promise

One thing that needs special attention is that every technological development always

promises progress, efficiency, and increased productivity. Indeed, technology was originally

created to make it easier for humans to fulfill all their needs. Here are some of the things that

technology promises (Martono, 2012, pp.289-291).

 Technology promises change

Every new invention will bring about various changes in a society. Like a subsystem,

the presence of new technology as a new subsystem in society will bring consequences, other

subsystems in the system inevitably have to adjust due to the presence of the technology.

Technology will definitely change the pattern of daily activities of individuals. The presence

of television at home, for example, will cause a new agenda to emerge every day, there is a

schedule for watching favorite shows that did not exist before. Bath schedules, meal

schedules, coffee schedules, house cleaning schedules, study schedules, can schedules, and

sleep schedules will be adjusted to the schedule of events on television. Even the furniture in

the house, tables, chairs, cabinets, carpets, sofas, will be customized according to where we

put the television.

 Technology promises convenience

Technology was created to provides convenience for individuals. People do not need to bother

to contact their relatives outside the city, even abroad; they just need to dial a few numbers

through their mobile phones. People do not need to queue in front of the bank teller to do

various transactions, we just need to enter the ATM room and we can do various transactions

using the machine, from taking money, paying electricity, water, telephone bills, buying

credit, buying train tickets, planes, ships, paying tuition fees, sending money to other

accounts, to paying credit bills. When we are hungry, we simply dial a few delivery order

numbers, then within minutes, the food delivery person arrives at our doorstep. We can take

advantage of airplanes to travel long distances in a short period of time; we don't have to

struggle to get to a higher floor in a multi-storey building, we can simply take advantage of

elevators or escalators.

 Technology promises to increase productivity

Large companies are utilizing technology for efficiency and productivity enhancement

reasons rather than employing human laborers who cost a lot of money to pay. Technology

can also increase a company's profits by many folds. Technology can also be utilized as a

control tool to evaluate a person's performance. Finger print technology (a pre-sentence

system utilizing fingerprints), for example, will be able to control the level of employee

attendance in the office.

 Technology promises speed Various jobs will be eliminated.

We can get things done quickly when we utilize technology. The existence of computers will

help speed up work in the office, speed up bookkeeping, technology will also speed up the

process of sending documents, letters or files, and goods. Cooking rice will be faster if you

use a rice cooker. All work and every difficulty will be resolved with technology.

 Technology promises popularity

Humans easily appear in screen through the internet. You Tube sites will facilitate us to be

stylish, to be narcissistic, to show and pro- mote our faces and appearances on the internet,

armed only with a camera and modem to be able to upload the recorded images that we have.

we can be as stylish as we want, and people around the world can easily watch our actions.

Many impromptu artists are very famous after uploading their videos through You Tube, for

example: Sinta and Jojo, and Briptu Norman Kamaru. You can do anything you want with the

help of technology. Not only that, we can find friends and even meet your soul mate through

technology. What was difficult to do in the past is now a reality in front of us. However, there

are also naughty acts of young people who misuse the internet. Just look at the millions of

porn videos that can be easily uploaded and down-loaded over the internet. This reinforces the

idea that we can do anything with technology. We can gain, but we can also lose a lot.

Digital Society

The modern era is identified with the era of digital society. Every human activity will be

driven through a series of digital technologies. This technology is operated by pressing

several digits (numbers) arranged in various sequences. The relationship that is built between

individuals is a digital exchange relationship, each human being only conducts a series of

transactions or interactions through digital symbols. Trade transactions, communication,

everything is driven by digital symbols digitally. Every individual will have a digital identity

that is able to recognize who he is, every human being has been given a sequence number:

through identity numbers (e-KTP), mobile phone numbers, telephone numbers, bank account

numbers, ATM numbers, electricity account numbers, telephone accounts, water accounts,

PIN (Personal Identification Number) ATMs, all using a digital system.

Human interaction is driven by all-digital technology: computers, the inter-net, ATM

machines, telephones, mobile phones, and so on, are all digitally driven. We can buy things

just by swiping an ATM card and pressing a few PIN numbers, as well as paying hotel bills,

buying tickets, and so on. Sending money can be done in seconds just by pressing a few digits

of the amount to be sent and a few digits of the destination account number. It is not money

that is sent, but only a series of numbers that move from one account to another (Martono,

2012, p.292).

Theory of Socio-Cultural Change

Sociologists and anthropologists have different opinions about social change including

(Soekanto, 1990, pp.332-337):

 Gillin and Gillin, define social change as a variation of an accepted way of life, either

due to changes in geographical conditions, material culture, population composition, and

ideology or due to diffusion or new discoveries in society.

 Larson and Rogers, put forward an understanding of social change associated with

technology adoption, namely social change is a continuous process within a certain time

frame. The use of certain technologies by a community member will bring about a social

change that can be observed through the behavior of the community members

concerned.

 Soerjono Soekanto, defines social change as any change that occurs in social

institutions a society, which affects its social system.

Symptoms that can result in social change have characteristics including (Martono,

2012, p.13):

 Every society will never stop evolving as they undergo both slow and rapid change.

 Changes that occur in certain social institutions will be followed by changes in other

social institutions.

 Rapid social change can result in temporary disorganization as a process of adjustment.

 Change is not limited by the material plane or the spiritual plane as both have a strong

reciprocal relationship.

From the definition of change above, it can be concluded that socio-cultural change is a

change that involves many aspects of life such as art, science, technology, rules of

organizational life, and philosophy. So, technology is one of the factors that influence the

occurrence of socio-cultural changes.

Social change has three dimensions: structural, cultural and inter-actional. First, the

structural dimension refers to changes in the structure of society, including changes in roles,

the emergence of new roles, changes in the structure of social classes, and changes in social

institutions. Second, the cultural dimension refers to cultural changes in society. These

changes include; (1) cultural innovation, which is an internal component in a society. The

easiest cultural innovation to find is the emergence of new technology. The increasingly

complex needs of society force individuals to think creatively in an effort to meet these needs.

(2) diffusion, is an external component that can drive social change. A culture gets influenced

by other cultures, then triggers cultural changes in the society that "receives" these cultural

elements. (3) integration, is "relatively more subtle" form of cultural change. This is because

in this process there is a unification of cultural elements that meet each other and then create a

new culture as a result of the unification of various cultural elements (Martono, 2012, p.6).

Third, the interactional dimension refers to changes in social relations in society. This

dimension includes (Mar-tono, 2012, pp.7-8):

 Changes in frequency. Technological advancements have led to an increase in the

frequency of individuals meeting each other face-to-face. All needs for interaction can

be met by utilizing technology. A bank customer does not need to repeatedly meet with

a bank teller. The function and role of the bank teller has been replaced by ATM

(Automatic Teller Ma- chine or Automated Teller Machine) machines that are able to

serve customers for 24 hours anywhere, without having to queue for a long time, or

write certain forms.

 Changes in social distance. The development of information and communication

technology has shifted the function of "face-to-face" in the interaction process.

Individuals do not have to meet face-to-face in order to communicate and interact

directly. Even when two individuals are thousands of kilometers away, they can still

communicate.

 Changes in intermediaries. The work mechanisms of individuals in modern society are

mostly "online", which means that individuals do not need "other people" much in the

process of sending information. In the past, a king who wanted to deliver news to a

neighboring kingdom would send a soldier to deliver a letter to the neighboring

kingdom. However, in modern times, information between countries can be directly

conveyed without going through other people as intermediaries.

 Changes in rules or patterns. Many rules and patterns of relationships change as society

evolves. The emancipation of women in the world of work, for example, has changed

the way society views women in addressing "women who go out at night". Previously,

women who often went out or came home at night were often connoted as "bad women",

but now society has seen this as a normal thing because nowadays many women work

late into the night or even work at night.

Changes in the form of interaction. Interactions between individuals are not as rigid as in the

past when interactions had to be done face-to-face. In the current era, interactions can be done

anytime via telephone, cellphone, email, chat, Facebook, Yahoo! Messenger, Twitter, Internet

Relay Chatting, and various other sophisticated technologies.

Social change is divided into two forms as follows: 1). Change in the sense of progress

(progress) or favorable. 2) Change in the sense of regress, which has a less favorable effect

on society. If social change can move towards progress, society will develop. Conversely,

social change can also cause people's lives to regress. On the one hand, technological

advancement is an example of social change that is progressive because it facilitates human

activities in fulfilling their life needs. However, on the other hand, technological progress is

also an example of social change that is regressive because humans become dependent on

technology (techno-logical slaves) instead of humans mastering technolo- gi but technology

mastering humans.

Changes in Lifestyle Due to Technological Advancements

In the past, farmers in my neighborhood still used animal power to plow their fields and

were also assisted by neighbors in planting rice or other crops. But nowadays, with the

development of technology, farmers have used tractors to plow their fields and have also used

rice threshers to process their crops. In addition to technology In the field of agriculture,

technology related to communication has also developed rapidly. In the past, it took a long

time to communicate over long distances. However, today's communication tools are

sophisticated. For example, through cellular phones, nowadays one person does not only have

one communication device. In fact, even teenagers and even children are familiar with

Facebook, email, Twitter, and so on. Those are examples of changes in human life patterns

due to technological advances.

Human lifestyle always changes with the times. An increasingly modern life leads

humans to unique patterns of behavior, which distinguish individuals from one another in

lifestyle issues. For some people, lifestyle is important because it is considered a form of self-

expression. Life patterns are patterns of action that distinguish one person from another,

which function in interactions in ways that may not be understood by people who do not live

in modern society.

According to Talcott Parson (Dwiningrum, 2012, p.51), modern society is described by

the following characteristics:

 Effective neutrality is being neutral, which can even lead to not paying attention to

others or the environment.

 Self-orientation, which prioritizes one's own interests.

 Universalism, which is accepting everything objectively

 Achievement, where people like to pursue achievements.

 Specificity, which is being straightforward in expressing things.

The role of technology in influencing changes in human life patterns is unquestionable.

Humans will not be able to live without technology. Ancient humans, for example, have long

recognized technology as a tool to meet their needs, most of which are made from very simple

materials or materials. Technology can unite people, but it can also separate people. There is

four changes in thinking trends brought about by technological development, namely: First,

the growth of reification, which is the assumption that the wider reality must be realized in

external forms and measured quantitatively. Second, manipulation, which is the high mani-

pulability of the human frame of mind due to techno- logy's ability to transform and process

natural objects into something artificial to fulfill human interests. Third, fragmentation,

namely the existence of specialization in the division of labor which ultimately demands

professionalism in the world of work. Fourth, individualization, which is characterized by the

increasingly tenuous ties of a person to his society and the increasing role of the individual in

daily behavior (Martono, 2012, p.278).

In technological societies, there is a tendency that progress is a process of gradual dehu-

manization until humans are finally subjugated to technique. The perceived dehumanizing

techniques in technological societies can be seen in the conditions of human life itself.

Humans today have been so far influenced by techniques. The description of this condition is

as follows:

 Stressful situation. Humans experience tension due to the absorption of technical

mechanisms. Human beings are merged with technical mechanisms, so that human time

and work have shifted. The fusion of man with technical mechanisms demands qualities

from man, but man himself is not present in it. For example, in the tire industry, even if

a worker is sick or tired, or there is sad news that his child is dying in the hospital, he

may not be able to leave work because it will jam the production line and the wages of

his friends. Such a stressful situation would remove social values and dehumanize the

worker.

 Changes in human space and environment. Engineering has changed the human

environment and human nature. A simple example of humans eating or sleeping is not

determined by hunger or sleepiness but is regulated by the clock. Ling-human

environment has become limited, manu- sia is now only in contact with dense high-rise

buildings, so that the morning sunlight no longer has time to touch the surface of the

human body's skin.

 Changes in time and human movement. As a result of engineering, humans are detached

from the essence of life. Previously, time was regulated and measured according to the

needs and events in human life, natural and concrete. But now time has become abstract

with the division of hours, minutes and seconds. Time has only quantity and no value of

human or social quality, so the rhythm of life must be subject to time.

 The formation of a mass society. As a result of engineering, humans have only built a

mass society, meaning that there is no sense of a collective society. Now the structure of

society is determined only by the laws of economics, politics and class competition. This

process has eliminated the values of social relations of a community. The occurrence of

obsessional neuroses or nervous disorders according to some experts is a result of the

loss of social relationship values. The current condition is that humans are often seen as

objects of technique and must always adjust to existing techniques (Bachtiar, 2012,

p.225).

 It turns out that the modern world that carves out material success stories and is rich in

science and technology, does not seem to be enough to provide a solid life provision for

humans, so many modern humans are lost in their progress and modernity. Modern man

loses the moral aspect as a control function and is trapped in a technological cage. Based

on the theory of socio-cultural change, technological progress has led to both progress

and regression in socio-cultural life.

The Influence of Technological Advancement on Socio-Culture

Some forms of changes in socio-cultural behavior due to technology include the

following:

 Male and female personality differences. Many experts are of the opinion that more and

more women are now holding leadership positions, both in the world of government and

in the world of business. Even changes in behavior towards behaviors that were

previously the work of men are increasingly prominent.

 Increased self-confidence. Economic progress in Asian countries has produced an

interesting phenomenon. Economic development and progress have increased self-

confidence and self-assurance as a nation will become stronger. Western nations can no

longer harass Asian nations.

 Pressure, sharp competition in various aspects of life as a consequence of globalization,

will give birth to a disciplined, diligent and hardworking gene- ration.

Negative Influence

Although technology provides many benefits for humans, on the other hand,

technological advances will have a negative effect on socio-cultural aspects:

 Moral decline among citizens, especially among teenagers and students. The progress of

economic life, which places too much emphasis on fulfilling material desires, has caused

some citizens to become materially rich but spiritually poor.

 Delinquency and deviant acts among teenagers are increasing and the weakening

authority of traditions in society, such as mutual cooperation and help, has weakened the

power of centripetal forces that play an important role in creating social unity. As a

result, delinquency and deviant acts among adolescents and students are increasing in

various forms, such as fights, graffiti, traffic violations and crimes.

 Changing patterns of interaction between people. The presence of computers in many

households has changed the way people interact with each other.

The middle class and above have changed the pattern of family inter-action. Computers

coupled with telephones have opened up opportunities for anyone to connect with the outside

world. Internet Relay Chatting (IRC), internet, and e- mail programs have made people

engrossed in their own lives. In addition, the availability of various internet cafes (warnet) has

provided opportunities for many people who do not have their own computers and internet

lines to communicate with others via the internet. More and more people are spending time

alone with their computers. Through the Internet Relay Chatting (IRC) program, children can

chat with friends and strangers at any time (Siti Irene, 2012: 174-175).

Solutions to overcome the negative impact of technological advancement

Technological advancements are part of the consequences of modernity and human

existence on earth. Therefore, the negative impacts that arise as a result of technological

advancements are the common obligation of mankind to overcome them. With a shared

consciousness, we are confident that future generations will be smarter and more dignified.

The following outlines the roles that should be played by families, schools (educational

institutions), society and the state to suppress and overcome the negative effects of

technological advances in postmodern society.

The roles of the family include the following.

 As the first and main socialization agent, the family should be able to instill positive

values and norms to children by equipping and laying a solid foundation of faith to

children. This is so that children do not become arrogant and forget God in the activities

of a modern, sophisticated life.

 Families must be selective in determining the priority scale of technology needs for the

family. This is done in an effort to reduce the way of life of modern humans who tend to

be consumptive to technology products. In addition, prioritization is necessary so that the

technology used actually provides great benefits to the family. For example, if a family

already has a television they do not need to buy a television for each family member that

is placed in their respective rooms, because it will result in waste and is an ineffective and

efficient lifestyle.

 Parents must be updated on technological developments so that they are not clueless. At

least today's modern parents should have the ability to use smartphones, internet basics

(email, browsing, blogging, and cathing), and if possible the use of online social media

such as: yahoo messe- nger, facebook, twitter, skype, and inter-net relay chatting.

 The need for guidance and supervision from parents to their children in the use of

technology, especially information and communication technology such as television,

mobile phones, computers and the inter-net. This effort can be done in the following

ways:

 Limiting incoming television channels so that shows that have a negative impact on

children, especially pornography and violence, are not easily received by our

children.

 Accompanying children when watching television so that we can direct children that

not everything seen on the screen is a real event.

 Parents check their children's mobile phones incidentally to ensure that they are

utilizing communication technology properly and responsibly.

 Try to put computers and internet channels in public spaces of the house such as in

the family room instead of in the child's room. This is so that children are more

easily supervised by parents.

 Block internet sites that are harmful to children's development.

 Parents become friends with their children on online social media.

 Make an agreement with your children about computer and internet time. This is

necessary so that when they grow up, they can be disciplined and able to do good

time management. In addition, an agreement on time can prevent children from

becoming addicted to computers and the internet and can save money.

Parents take the time to gather, play and chat with family members. By doing so, good

interactions will be established so that harmonious relationships in the family can be

maintained.

Raising awareness to children about the negative impact of technology on their lives in the

future. This effort can be done by giving children the freedom to utilize technology but must

be accountable.

The role of the school is as follows.

 As an institution that plays an effective role in overcoming the negative impact of

technological advances, schools need to establish a clear set of school rules or regulations

for students related to the utilization and use of technology in schools. For example,

schools prohibit junior high school students from bringing cellphones to school. This rule

is not only to avoid unwanted things (cell phone theft) but also to make students more

focused on learning at school.

 In learning, teachers always provide socialization and emphasis on the benefits and

adverse effects of technology for children. Thus, it is hoped that students will become

wiser in utilizing technology.

 Consider the use of information technology in education, especially for minors who still

need to be supervised when learning with information technology. Schools should

implement Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using the technology for

learners.

 Not making information technology the only media or tool in learning, for example,

schools do not only download e-books, but still buy printed books, not only visit the

digital libra- ry, but also still visit the library.

 Teachers should provide ethical lessons in information technology so that information

technology can be used optimally without losing ethics.

 Use software specifically designed to protect children's "health". For example, a nany

chip or parents lock program that can protect children by locking all access to sex and

violence.

 Teachers must be able to be a role model for students in technology who are responsible,

proportional, and professional. For example, teachers do not carry cell phones and pick

up the phone while teaching, teachers do not play online games or Facebook and Twitter

when students are asked to do assignments.

 The school is a pioneer in the use of environmentally friendly technology in sustainable

development efforts. For example, using generators that have low emission levels and

using silencers so as not to cause noise that disrupts learning activities, and utilizing

computer hardware that has been damaged as teaching aids.

 Schools provide extracurricular computer and internet activities so that students are not

left behind in technological advances. In addition, schools can also carry out

extracurricular activities on technology skills so that students are not only proficient as

end users of technology but it is hoped that students will be able to have ideas, creative

and innovative ideas in finding appropriate technology in a simple scope.

The role of the community includes the following.

 Society in its capacity as a consumer of technology should filter the technology that

enters society. In the era of globalization, of course, the community does not have to be

like the Bedouin tribe (Banten) who are anti-modern technology, but our society must

also be aware that we as an eastern society must be able to digest technology that is

beneficial to the progress of our society.

 In its capacity as a producer of technological products, society should not only be

concerned with market orien- ted and profit oriented, but needs to think about the

impact of these techno- logical products on our society in particular and the world

community in general. This means that the technology developed should aim to improve

human civilization, not to destroy it. For example, nuclear technology was developed to

overcome the scarcity of electric fuel not for weapons of mass destruction.

 Practical community efforts include:

 Create a website/blog/facebook group for a particular community (e.g. Yogyakarta

commu- nity group) as a medium of interaction and to keep in touch with fellow

citizens.

 Make special rules regarding permits to establish internet cafes (warung in- ternet),

online games, and play sta- tion so as not to cause chaos and turmoil in the

community.

 Organize "watch together" events on certain occasions. For example, a soccer

match. This way, the community can interact with each other and strengthen

familiarity, brotherhood, and unity.

 Utilize technological advances such as the internet to market superior products

(clusters) and introduce local culture so that it will be recognized by the wider

community and even the world, which has an impact on improving the economic

level and welfare of the community.

The roles of the state include the following.

 As a regulator and facilitator, the state should make special regulations to limit sites on

the internet that have the potential to damage the morality of Indonesian society. For

example, the government through the Ministry of Communication and Information

(Menkominfo) should block pornographic sites, criticize writings or articles with SARA

nuances such as criticism of the making of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, or the

Innocense of Muslim movie recently made by Americans.

 Create strict rules and sanctions against internet abuse and internet crime. For example,

punish the perpetrators and distributors of pornography, cooperate with Interpol to

prevent and handle cases of internet crime (cyber crime).

 The government should set a good example for the public in using technology wisely,

economically and environmentally friendly. For example, state officials do not waste

money on expensive official vehicles, are not wasteful in using electricity, and do not

abuse power and position to get special facilities in the field of technology.

 Make appropriate policies related to advances in transportation technology. For

example, fuel subsidies (Premium Fuel) only for transportation vehicles, and limiting the

ownership of two-wheelers and four-wheelers to reduce the level of pollution and

congestion, setting standards for vehicle exhaust emission levels without reconstruction,

setting a maximum tonnage limit without illegal collection by officials, providing better

mass transportation facilities, and implementing a more efficient and sustainable fuel

conversion program.

 Develop Research and Technology Institutions (Ristek) as an effort towards self-

reliance and progress. For example, strengthen the aircraft industry (IPTN), Krakatau

Steel, Pindad, automotive (Esem-Kiat car), and other industries that are possible to be

developed.

 Do not sell strategic state assets such as communications, mining, petroleum to

foreigners, which will eventually lead to excessive dependence on foreigners.

 Strengthen agricultural technology towards food self-sufficiency so that we are not

likened to a "dead rat in a rice barn".

 Enhance the promotion of culture and tourism by utilizing information technology to

help increase non-tax revenue.

 Strengthen the people's economy and cooperative sector to prevent foreign capitalism

due to industrial progress and technological diffusion.

 Make policies related to the national education curriculum that is oriented towards

instilling the values of national character and culture, which has a global perspective.

This effort is intended to prepare the next generation of the nation that is reliable, with

mastery of high technology, has global competitiveness but still shows Indonesian

identity and personality.

 A strategy for the development of science and technology (science and technology) that

is not value-free but value-based, especially religious values as well as noble cultural

values and the development of science and technology personality of the nation. This is

so that in this technological age we remain a religious nation with a superior personality,

not a secular nation that glorifies technology and negates God in its life activities.

Conclusion

Sociologically, technology is one of the aspects that influence every human activity,

action and behavior. Technology is able to change the pattern of relationships and patterns of

interaction between humans. The presence of technology is something that cannot be

separated from human life. Human activities will more or less be influenced by the presence

of technology. Today's technological advances are characterized by increasingly sophisticated

tools in the fields of information and communication, satellites, biotechnology, agriculture,

health equipment, and genetic engineering. The emergence of a digi- tal society in various

fields of life is evidence of technological progress. Communities and countries around the

world are competing to master high technology as a symbol of progress, wealth and prestige.

In Postmodern society, the law "whoever controls technology will control the world" applies.

In the era of globalization, technological advances take place so quickly that sometimes

humans do not have time to adapt to these advances. The result is anomy in society because

they do not have a clear guide to life. Societies that are unable to master technology will

experience cultural lag and will be threatened by its existence.

Technological progress is like two sides of a coin, where on the one hand technological

progress provides many positive benefits for humans to make it easier for humans to meet

their needs. However, on the other hand, technological progress has caused complex negative

effects that exceed the benefits of technology itself, especially related to human life patterns

in the socio-cultural dimension. Technology threatens death through various diseases,

environmental damage, global warming bal, creating tension, providing various risks,

shackling human beings through hidden control systems, and dehumanization. One thing we

need to remember is that technology is always double-faced, at one moment it can be a friend,

at another moment, it can also be a foe.

The efforts that we can make as a solution to overcome the negative impact of

technological progress is by instilling awareness to each individual about the importance of

understanding the negative impact of technological progress. With a simple SWOT analysis,

we can turn the challenges and negative impacts of technology into opportunities to advance a

society and country. This requires the active participation of families, schools, communities,

and the state in preventing, reducing, and combating the negative impacts of technological

advances. As modern humans, it is unwise and impossible to say no to technology, but what

we must do is consider our needs for technology, consider the good and bad of the technology

and still use ethics, and not too much so that we do not get caught up and become slaves to

technology. We must realize that technology is not the highest aspect of human life. Nor is it

the pinnacle of humanity's culture and civilization in its evolution towards the perfection of

existence. However, technology is a tool used by mankind to make it easier to do things in

their life activities.

Technology Advancement

Technology Concept

Humans did not initially recognize the concept of technology. The presence of early

humans in pre-history, only recognized technology as a tool to help them find food, tools in

hunting, and processing food. The tools they used were very simple, made of bamboo, wood,