Boon or bane?


Technology has no doubt changed our lives. The world is shrunk and anything and everything is possible under the sun today. But, sadly the techno advancements do have their own negatives too.

A recent report said that a five-member gang looted 11 temples in Karnataka and took away valuables worth Rs 3 lakh in the past five months, Their biggest accomplice in the robberies was Google Maps. It has surprised not just the cops but general public too.

What is more shocking is that the five are professionals from various fields and they come together to loot during their lean period.

They do online search for temples in remote areas and draw up plans to rob with the help of Google Maps. Police say these burglars used technology well and collect demographic features of the area as they felt it was risk-free for them. Google Maps is a web mapping service that offers satellite imagery, street maps, panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle and air, or public transportation.

It is time people should understand that technology is a boon as long as it is our slave. It’s when we let it become a master, that it becomes a bane. Things like Google Maps, Internet, mobile phone, automobile have made significant difference to people’s lives. But, one should choose it wisely. It is in our hands. Youngsters should be educated on how to use technology. They should understand that it is a double-edged weapon.