Engadget Job Board
Lead Software Engineer, Platform at WB Games San Francisco
WB Games San Francisco - San Francisco, CA, United States
Director of Engineering at Shopkick
Shopkick - Redwood City, CA, United States
Marketing / SEO Coordinator at Soundsnap
Soundsnap - Brooklyn, NY, United States 
Just decades ago, today's technological features would have been major plot points of science fiction movies. Fast forward to today and not only are they everyday part of our lives, they're necessities. They get us ready for our day, drive us to our destinations and shape our decisions about our well-being. New technologies haven't just revolutionized the way that we live, they're making our lives easier, cleaner and more secure on a daily basis.
From how we learn to where we live, here is a list of the top formidable ways technology has impacted our lives:
It's Made Business Easier, Faster and More Accessible
Gone are the days when little guys got stomped over for corporate giants. Today's technological advancements have made way for more and more underdogs and new businesses. Just a few decades ago, businesses were fully limited by communication. The internet didn't exist to allow for emails, mobile marketing, telecommuting or social media interactions. Now businesses can build and turn ideas into reality all with the click of a computer mouse. Innovations in technology have allowed just about anyone to create a business and turned local businesses into global ventures.
For populations of the world where the Internet is still a luxury, technology is making it a reality. Leading tech leaders are bringing internet access to some of the world's most remote areas.
Unmanned solar-powered aircraft and balloon-powered Internet services are getting more and more people in touch with the opportunities of those living in the modern world.
Not only are these technologies providing others the tools to improve their lives, they're also helping the world become a more connected place.
Costs Are Becoming More Affordable
From the transformation of products to services and the development of automated labor, things are getting cheaper. Innovations are lowering costs, freeing up cash and helping consumers to make and save big bucks.
Thanks to technology today's consumers get to transform their products into services. Communications and social media advancements are allowing people to save money and make money by sharing products they used to have to buy. Cars, bikes, tools and even clothes are becoming shareable services thanks to improved communication, security and tracking technologies.
Costs are also chaining accessibility to these products as well. Consider computers. Personal computers today are significantly cheaper than when they first debuted in the 70s. Our smartphones hold remarkably more information and features than the first computers ever did— and now we can afford them.Today, lowered costs driven by automated manufacturing have allowed practically anyone to access the next big thing. From iPhones to drones, people can buy the latest innovations at an attractive price point from their home.
More People Have More Access To Healthcare
Technology has long been considered the ultimate driving force behind improvements in the healthcare sphere. Advancements in technology have allowed for better and more accessible treatments, improved care, efficiency and stronger disease control. Today's developments continue to change the face of healthcare in all of its facets but at an even faster rate.
It's life changing for patients too. For them, the Internet has empowered their decisions about treatment and access to care providers. Patients can make educated decisions about their health care on their own, without the costs of consultations. For doctors in rural countries, telecommunications has improved access to medical resources and information. Physicians can communicate with experts across the globe and improve patients' diagnoses and treatment without stepping out of an office.
The Human / Environment Balance Act Is Getting Better
Maintaining a degree of balance between our own needs and those of our environment can be tough work when everyone wants a Tesla. Technology has allowed us to travel the globe, observe wildlife up close, and take in new customs all from the comfort of our homes. Still, while our caveman days are long over the impact on the environment these advances have created has been devastating. Our useful products have also been wasteful. We've transformed our world into one that is ripe with pollution, climate, deforestation and erosion crisis. Fortunately, today's most current technological developments are allowing us to mitigate and even offset the wreckage.
Not only is technology changing manufacturing, it's setting the standard for global enterprises. Every day new devices are being developed and produced to promote energy conservation efforts. Energy sources such as solar power and wind power are transforming business product standards. Purifying polluted air and water and treating sewage and factory wastes are becoming part of everyday business initiatives. There's still quite a ways to go, but technology is giving us a better understanding of the requisites we need to achieve environmental harmony.