Should the Development of Remote Technology Be a Priority?


            I came to realize the significance and advancement of remote technology in today’s society after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, I was apprehensive about the concept of remote learning, as it was forced upon us(students) due to the pandemic, which disrupted my pre-pandemic high school life. The use of tools like Zoom Meetings had a negative impact on my school connections. However, I soon recognized the potential of this technology when I saw how it enabled me to continue my education to graduate on time. It helps students develop technical skills that are essential in today’s digital world, such as online collaboration, digital communication, and time management. Upon reflection, I have come to realize that I have been using remote technology in my daily life without even noticing it. For instance, I frequently search for information on the internet, stay connected with family and friends in my hometown using video calls, and social media, and accomplish other tasks that rely on remote technology. These small but essential tasks have become an integral part of my daily routine, highlighting how remote technology has become an indispensable aspect of our lives. This experience brought my interest in exploring the broader impact of remote technology on society. Therefore, I believe that it is worth exploring further advancements and their implications for the future of our society.

Should the Development of Remote Technology Be a Priority?

            How has remote technology shaped our lives and what does the future hold for its impact on society? With the rise of remote work and distributed teams, remote technology has become essential for businesses to remain competitive and adapt to changing work environments. People can connect with others through technology, no matter where they are located, which has opened up a world of opportunities for collaboration and communication. While remote technology has become increasingly important, the question remains whether or not it should be a priority for development. I believe that it should continue to be a priority because of its benefits, including increased happiness, productivity, work-life balance, and reduced stress, making it critical for the future of work; Reduce racism with safe platforms and supervision. Inclusivity in schools requires embracing new tech; offers security to people with disabilities and benefits those uncomfortable with constant observation. 

            Working from home has gotten more and more popular in recent years, and COVID-19 will make it even more widespread in 2020. People tend to work at home instead of going to the office. According to the report “State of Remote Work 2022” published by Owl Labs, a company that specializes in creating products and resources to support remote work, shows statistically 86% of workers would be happier if they could work from home some of the time, and 85% said it would improve their work-life balance. Research has shown that remote workers often feel more productive than those working in traditional in-person settings, which can increase job satisfaction. Thinking from the workers’ view, remote working can reduce the stress associated with commuting, office politics, and other work-related issues, and gives workers more control over their work environment, which can increase motivation. This is important that lots of jobs can be done from home or another remote location, which makes it easier for people to better balance their work and personal life. Also, this illustrates the critical significance of its continued development because it enables people and organizations to adapt to shifting conditions and enhance work-life balance, which increases overall success and satisfaction.  

            Remote technology can play a role in reducing racism by providing a platform for students to feel safe. According to the article “Capturing the Benefits of Remote Learning” by Ashley Abramson, a compelling writer whose work explores the intricacies of human relationships and personal growth, mentions Scott Graves, Ph.D., who said “the supervision by parents and teachers in remote learning likely played a part in reducing bullying. As a result, he’s less worried his Black sons will be victims of microaggressions and racist behavior during online learning.” This explains the beneficial effects of lowering bullying that parent and teacher involvement in remote learning could have. The information also demonstrates that parents are concerned about their children’s safety and well-being in the classroom, particularly when it comes to racial prejudice. The platforms for remote learning may allow parents to worry less about the security of their children at school. Overall, this emphasizes the value of parent and teacher involvement in fostering safe and supportive learning settings as well as the potential advantages of remote technology in reducing bullying and prejudice. This highlights the importance of schools and educators embracing new technologies and exploring innovative ways to promote a more positive and inclusive school culture.

            Moreover, remote technology is not only for work and study. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is a state agency responsible for overseeing services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. A video that resulted from DODD’s interviews with families of people with developmental disabilities who had Remote Support installed emphasized the sense of security this technology offers, Remote Support, shows that through remote support, people with disabilities can have more independence and privacy because they don’t require a physical in-person team of people to watch over them constantly. When the staff asked, “Do you like being on your own without staff here?” Judy said, “Yeah, yeah. All the time. Yeah… I’d be alone by myself in my room. Read books… safe.” The repetition of saying “yeah” and the phrase “all the time” shows that this is essential and agreement for her, and she may prefer being alone rather than being supervised by others. This also suggests that Judy may feel secure and comfortable under remote support. Furthermore, what is said in the video applies to everyone, not only those with disabilities. Many individuals, whether they are employees or students, could feel uneasy about being under observation. They might feel insecure as a result, which would make it harder for them to concentrate and work efficiently. The remote support program perfectly provides a concept and mission of remote technology for the world, which is to help individuals and make them feel safe and convenient. Indeed, this technology needs to be seen and continue to be developed.

            Yet at the same time, a large portion of individuals think that workers will need to spend less time using basic cognitive and physical skills and more time using social and emotional skills as well as technical skills in the future because of remote technology. The academic report “The Future of Work after COVID-19” by a group of six partners at the McKinsey Global Institute, who have contributed to the work collectively, shows “The share of time German workers spend using basic cognitive skills, for example, may shrink by 3.4 percentage points, while time spends using social and emotional skills will increase by 3.2 percentage points.” This shows that a sizeable portion of people think that as future technologies grow more prevalent, workers will need to emphasize social and emotional abilities more. However, while remote technology can automate some jobs, it’s more specific for helping humans with their work. Workers still need to have a strong foundation of fundamental cognitive and physical skills, and still require physical stamina to operate and carry out manual labor, critical thinking abilities to evaluate information and reach conclusions, and communication abilities to work well with others. There is no such thing as one skill needing more focus than the other, demonstrating that every skill is important.

            In addition, there are facing many challenges like risks and security in the remote technology industry. From “Managing Legal and Tech Risks of Remote Work” by Raul Rubio, head and partner of IT law at Baker McKenzie, explores several legal and regulatory issues with remote technology, such as data privacy issues, compliance to labor and employment rules, and intellectual property protection. Given the sensitivity of the data that remote employees handle and the possibility of breaches or misuse, it explicitly calls attention to the issue of data privacy as one of the most serious concerns. Indeed, firms investing in effective security systems and encryption processes to safeguard sensitive data is one way to address the problem of data privacy. Additionally, businesses should regularly educate and train remote workers on data privacy best practices to make sure they are aware of any potential hazards and are aware of how to secure both their own data and the data of the firm. Finally, it’s critical for organizations to comply with all applicable privacy rules and regulations. By adopting proactive steps, they may lower the risks connected with data privacy and lessen the effects of any potential breaches or abuse of sensitive information.

            In summary, the development and continued adoption of remote technologies have made it feasible to communicate, work, and learn from anywhere in the world. As we’ve seen, these technologies have a lot to offer both the individual and society as a whole. They have helped us enhance our general wellness and productivity, strike a better work-life balance, and lower our stress levels. Remote technology could also address problems like racism and bullying in schools and increase the protection and safety of people with disabilities. As we move forward, it is important to recognize the critical role that remote technologies will continue to play in shaping our world. We have the ability to encourage their development and use them to improve both our own lives and the lives of others. We can create a future where distance is no longer a hindrance to our capacity to realize our potential and improve the world for everyone by embracing the potential of remote technologies.

            Examining the long-term consequences of remote work on job satisfaction, staff retention, and business culture would make for a fascinating topic for future study. Even while remote work is more and more common, it is still a relatively new phenomenon. Researching how remote employment affects these variables may yield useful information for both businesses and individuals. Further investigation might also look into the possible drawbacks of working remotely, including social isolation, exhaustion, and a lack of resources and support. We can better help remote workers and develop a positive, long-lasting remote work culture by looking at these potential negatives.

Works Cited

“State of Remote Work 2022 .” State of Remote Work 2022, Owl Labs, 22 Feb. 2022, owllabs.com/state-of-remote-work/2022.

Abramson, Ashley. “Capturing the Benefits of Remote Learning.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1 Sept. 2021, www.apa.org/monitor/2021/09/cover-remote-learning

Remote Support, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, dodd.ohio.gov/about-us/resources/tech-first/RemoteSupport

Lund, Susan, et al. The Future of Work after COVID-19. McKinsey & Company, 18 Feb. 2021, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-after-covid-19

Rubio, Raul. “Managing Legal and Tech Risks of Remote Work – IE Law Hub.” IE Law Ahead, lawahead.ie.edu/managing-legal-and-tech-risks-of-remote-work/.

Reflection

            Reflecting on the experience of writing this essay, I realize how important it is to keep pace with technological advances. The research process not only made me understand the current state of remote technology but also made me wonder how much it has evolved over the years. It’s interesting to compare how my parents lived as a kid to how I lived and see how much technology has changed.

            As I researched, I found myself spending more and more time finding reliable sources to support my thesis. It made me realize the importance of reliable information and its impact on the credibility of an argument. I learned that good sources could provide strong evidence to support my claims and make my essays more convincing. Through this project, I also learned that remote technology is not limited to the world of work and study. It has had a profound impact on society, from communications to security and civility. While remote technology has many benefits, such as increased connectivity and convenience, there are also challenges that need to be addressed. For example, cybersecurity risks and privacy concerns. In conclusion, writing this paper was a learning experience that broadened my understanding of remote technologies and their impact on society. I look forward to a bright future where technology continues to advance and positively impact our lives.