Some people believe that technological developments lead to the loss of traditional
cultures. I partly agree with this assertion; while it may be true in the case of some
societies, others seem to be unaffected by technology and the modern world.
On the one hand, the advances in technology that have driven industrialisation in
developed countries have certainly contributed to the disappearance of traditional
ways of life. For example, in pre-industrial Britain, generations of families grew up in
the same small village communities. These communities had a strong sense of identity,
due to their shared customs and beliefs. However, developments in transport,
communications and manufacturing led to the dispersal of families and village communities
as people moved to the cities in search of work. Nowadays most British villages are
inhabited by commuters, many of whom do not know their closest neighbors.
On the other hand, in some parts of the world traditional cultures still thrive. There are
tribes in the Amazon Rainforest, for example, that have been completely untouched by the
technological developments of the developed world. These tribal communities continue to
hunt and gather food from the forest, and traditional skills are passed on to children by
parents and elders. Other traditional cultures, such as farming communities in parts of
Africa, are embracing communications technologies. Mobile phones give farmers access
to information, from weather predictions to market prices, which helps them to prosper
and therefore supports their culture.
In conclusion, many traditional ways of life have been lost as a result of advances in
technology, but other traditional communities have survived and even flourished.