Sciences being my core because I am from that faculty, majoring in Life Sciences. To be honest, my CAP isn't very awesome. In fact, my lousiest grade came from a Chemistry mod that was part of my core modules. Yea, I totally regretted that grade but I can't do anything about it and it probably ruined any chance of my going for exchange programmes.

The modules that I have truly enjoyed, in fact, are not Science modules, but Arts modules. Maybe because I have the option of S/U-ing the module and thus isn't as stressed about them, or maybe because I don't take as many Arts modules as I do for Science... But one thing is for sure, Arts modules never fail to get me to THINK.

And that is the important point of education. To THINK, reflect, and really look at things from other perspectives.

One recent module I am taking (and am probably scoring really badly for it anyway...) is the exposure module for the Communications and New Media (CNM) track. It talks about technology, and new media. And also has a portion that got us to think about the implications of such technology.

We all say that technology improves our way of life. Yes, that might be true. Telephones, cellphones, now smartphones... They improve our life because now we get to stay connected, be contactable, and can even access the internet from a device. Overseas calls make communications easy, and now even with Internet and VoIP technology, it is fast, convenient and cheap.

However, is this connectivity really improving our lives?

Now, I look at my phone, and wished that I didn't have it. I wished that I didn't have to be woken up by the tone of SMS or a call. I wished I didn't have to reply text messages, emails, and stuff as and when it arrives. Yet, because I have a text message on my phone, I am socially obliged to read it and give a reply because there is no option of rejecting the message!

As such, I feel technology may very well be ruining my quality of life as well. Convenience is definitely there, but what it does is permanently chain me to work, even during off-duty moments.

Of course, there is always the option of switching off the phone. Simple. But that is, in a way, abandoning the piece of technology. It does, however, still makes you liable for any messages missed, and to face the consequences in the case something bad goes wrong while you isolate yourself from the phone.

Sigh.

Technology, really? Are you here to help?