International Human Rights Day: Here's How Technology Is Making Our World All Better

One of the factors that confirm human evolution is the discovery of fire. Fire gives people cooked food, warmth in winter, help us survive and develop throughout centuries. But fire has also devastated many of assets and lives of human. Like everything else in life, it always has positive and negative sides, the important thing is the way people use it.

At the moment, technology is the kind of thing people are wondering about. Technology is a very useful thing for our human life, enabling people to connect, study and research, but also brings a lot of trouble, such as influence on populism and politics. It looks like technology does more bad than good.

But on the second thought, these happened all by human use, the purpose of the user decides whether technology brings advantages or disadvantages.

Through Human Rights Day, take a moment to review the great changes that technology has brought to communities around the world. This day is the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly endorsing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Better infrastructures

More than 1 billion people worldwide live in slum conditions. These are highly populated, poor, and socially disorganized places. Because of such characteristics, governments around the world find it very difficult to redevelop and improve their habitat. But technology has kicked in.

For example, people in the Nairobi ghetto often have to face the hunt for water purchase. They have to queue at one of the local bank lounges to buy 22 liters of water per person.

The launch of M-Pesa mobile payment service has allowed users to pay for water through the bank to the Water and Sewerage Company in Nairobi without having to wait all day at the bank. This makes it easier for residents to get clean water directly to their homes.

More social mobility

Technology advancements do not always go with social mobility, the Western world is a good example. There is criticism that technology has driven "gig-economy," leading to increasing inequality in society. However, there is some evidence that technology has provided a great deal of support to individuals with the tools they need to get out of poverty.

Beam, for example, is a tool used to help homeless people improve their skills and rebuild their lives. Beam encourages users to take practical "crowdfund" training courses to build and practice the skills required to achieve financial independence and the pursuit of their living goals.

In the United States, Outreach Grid helps homeless consultants and enforcement entities understand homelessness in their city so as to provide the best care.

More voices heard

There are stories, problems when a person says they will not receive the approval and support from other people. But with the help of technology, people are more likely to be listened, have the opportunity to share more. There have been important and sensitive issues not solved before have been being spoken up.

Over the last two years, there have been many calls for equality and fairness through online social networks. Diversity is the key to success in any field and industry. Large-scale campaigns such as #MeToo and #Oscarsowhite have grown to fight for the lack of diversity in every industry. This increases the pressure on businesses and individuals in society to improve their judgment and increase balance and fairness in everything.

Of course, the Internet has both negative and positive sides. It brings many advantages to human life, but it also causes serious harm when people use it incorrectly. Without these platforms, however, society could not have made such great strides.

At present, the Internet has given a chance to people to get closer, understand each other better, improve their lives, etc. Hope the purpose of technological development will help people's lives get even better instead of using it to win for yourself or harm one another.