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Nowadays,
technological advances and their rapid and wide applications are having a
significant impact on a nation’s traditional skills and ways of life. Some
argue that such impact is so extraordinary that it would make conventional
skills and life styles obsolete. However, I believe they
would continue to thrive by providing alternatives to modern ways of life, and
innovative ideas for modern technologies.
First of all,
traditional skills and ways of life are becoming an alternative solution to the
problems caused by “mainstreamed” ways of life which are greatly influenced by
modern technologies. For instance, a cozy restaurant where traditional,
home-brewed beer is served, offers another experience to people who are bored
with branded beers that have the same flavor and come out of mass production
with new technologies. It is in such a venue where traditional skills are
preserved, people become relaxed and
educated. Providing diversity and thus enriching modern ways of life, such
traditional skills and ways of life would continue to have their place.
Furthermore,
conventional skills provide innovative ideas to the development of modern
technologies. For example, sparkled by how the word “Love” is traditionally
knitted into a sweater by some ethnic minority women in some parts of Asia,
some business managers from textile industry have developed some production
lines by applying the traditional skills to Computer-Aided Designs (CAD). The
products have boosted the companies’ sales which in turn have increased their
investment in preserving traditional skills for further developing their
technologies.
To conclude,
traditional skills and life
styles are increasingly becoming
a useful alternative to the homogeneity brought by global applications of
modern technologies. However, the evolution of technologies is a selection
process, whereby some would become obsolete, but there is no doubt that some
would thrive when their roles are appreciated.
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