Some people who are concerned about our environment think the world would be better if we returned to a simpler time, before industry and cars polluted the world. Granted, there have been many problems.But let's not lose sight of what has gone right. Technological advances have made our lives better in countless ways. In an earlier, simpler time, I would be dead now. My inflamed, stone-filled gallbladder would have simply ruptured while my loved ones sat about in helpless despair and the local witch doctor waved leaves and chanted useless mumbo jumbo.
But due to technological advances, not only do we know what the problem is and how to fix it, we have found better methods of operation (pun intentional.) A surgery which used to be quite extensive, requiring a seven inch incision and three or more weeks of recovery, now requires four small incision holes and a week of recovery. A marvelous tool called the laparoscope is less than 1/2 inch in diameter and has magnifying lens on both ends. It is inserted into the abdominal cavity. A computer takes the laparoscopes images and magnifies them on a monitor. Using micro tools, doctors operate looking at the screen, seeing images as they would be seen through a large incision. This method is being used to fix other ills such as appendicitis and hiatal hernias as well.
After getting home from the hospital and a couple of days rest, I learned about what was done to me using an internet search. Yes, technology has done much good. Used with concern for all living things, it can only make the world a better place.