英語優秀作文：developing countries

　　This is just one way to think of the bigger issues about the relationship between new technologies and productivity. Some economists argue that one of the reasons productivity growth is so slow in the developed world is because the statistics used to measure economic growth fail to account for technological advancements. In 20xx, Hal Varian, who is now chief economist at Google, argued that US productivity wasn’t sluggish at all (paywall). Rather, all the innovations made in Silicon Valley have making the country more productive, but official measurements fail to capture these efficiencies since they are reflected in things like the time saved shopping, calling taxis, and the like.

　　In the grand scheme of things, it’s hard to argue that we would be better off without smartphones. But will we eventually reach a point of diminishing returns, when the constant distractions made possible by powerful computers in our pockets do more harm than good?

　　In developing countries, smartphones are being used to spread vital health information, foster cashless societies and provide education.

　　Of course, they are liable to distract us; leading to heads buried in screens when they otherwise might have been appreciating the finer things, but it's hardly a surprise given the wealth of opportunities now available at our fingertips. Before we tut about smartphones making people antisocial or unproductive, we should remember that they can be used to talk to thousands of people and access possible crucial information.

　　Here’s how smartphones are making us dumber:

　　People forget how to talk. So often when I’m at social or professional events I look around and see people buried in their phones. If there are 100 people at a gathering I’d estimate one-quarter of them are texting or using their phone. Have they forgotten how to talk? Maybe. Are they too anxious to talk? Perhaps. Phones have become a pacifier of sorts, a security blanket, and a source of comfort to many. While at social and professional events, let’s get back to good old fashioned communication and have a conversation, sans phone.

　　Smartphones affect our sleep. This makes us less sharp during the day. So many of my patients talk about how they keep their phone by their bed and on during the night and they do it because a text might come in. Going to bed under such conditions won’t allow you to fully relax and get into a deep sleep. Shut the phone off completely and deal with any texts or messages in the morning.

　　People can’t focus. A smartphone offers a multitude of apps, services, and features, leading to stimulation overload. Because of this, peoples’ brains are on overdrive and they multitask, not allowing them to devote their full attention to one task, leaving them less productive

　　People die at the hands of texting. Tragically looking down for a second or two to text while driving can lead to a fatality. Fines issued by law enforcement don’t seem to deter users from doing this. Ultimately it will come down to people valuing life (theirs and others’) over what they deem to be the urgency of a text.

　　People can’t read a map. There’s such a dependence to use the phone to give us verbal step-by-step directions that people don’t have a sense of where they are. They essentially have come to rely on a computerized voice to get them from point A to point B instead of their own brain, sense of direction, and ability to look at a map and know where they are. What happens if the phone breaks or powers off? Will you be lost?

　　Peoples’ identities are defined by their smartphone. Not just are they a status symbol, but without them, people feel “lost, empty, and naked.” Many of my patients described this separation in such dramatic terms.

　　Peoples’ ability to complete basic tasks is diminished. Autocorrect and tip calculators pretty much eliminate the need to know basic math and spelling.

　　Selfies. A culture of self-absorption and self-aggrandizing has been bred. Need I say more?