Although technology has its uses in this era of technology, it can inhibit people as well.

“I think it (technology) can help, but also hinder,” said Britton Egan Ledingham, owner of iEvolve photo, and 2010 graduate of SAIT’s journalism program photo major.

Technology connects people, but without face to face interaction– technology can impede the social skills of an individual.

“It (technology) connects us to people from all over the world, whether old friends, and family, or new contacts with similar interests,” said Ledingham, who creates editorial and marketing content.

As long as everyone refrains from becoming apathetic, technology–such as cellphones do not impede human interaction said Ledingham.

“As long as we never forget it’s a human on the other end of the call, text, message, post, or other (form) of communication,” said Ledingham.

Ledingham said that the difference between technology now and ten years ago is that now humans are more outright with the way they communicate, because now they can hide behind their screens.

“I like how Gary Vaynerchuk puts it, if you see people eating at a restaurant and looking at their phones the whole time today, they weren’t necessarily having engaging conversations ten years ago either,” said Ledingham.

Gary Vaynerchuk is an internet personality, author, youtuber, wine critic, entrepreneur, and self-made millionaire.

“I think people who love and care for each other are still genuinely listening and putting devices away,” said Ledingham.

Technology can cause unintentional misinterpretation, technology may help, but can also become a hinderance said Hayat Salha, pharmacy technician.

Although technolopgy causes interaction to be less interpersonal, it helps some people to communicate, who otherwise would have been unable to do so without the help and use of technology, said Salha.

“It (technology) helps those with learning disabilities express themselves, however it can also be a distraction,” said Salha.

Cellphones do not inhibit human interaction, because it helps humanity to keep in touch from a far away and other countries said Salha.

“It (technology) may inhibit the depth or intimacy of human interaction,” said Salha.

Technology and social media help people to keep in touch with people they have lost touch with, but causes the relationships between people to be less personalized and closely aquainted and said Salha.

“People were less bored 10 years ago, there was less depression and anxiety, because there was more human interaction,” said Salha.

Salha, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, said that she has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of anti-anxiety, as well as, anti-depressant medication prescriptions being prescribed by doctors.

Salha, as a pharmacy assistant, attends various social gatherings, most of which are business related.

Many individuals who attend these business related gatherings are on their phones texting each other their contact information, looking up their schedules, or adding each other on Facebook, LinkedIn or other social media or even business websites said Salha.

Salha said that a person should use technology for its advantages rather than using it out of, “pure laziness.”

“This is how mankind evolves, we look forward for our younger generations to always reach for excellence, let’s hope that we evolve in such a way that doesn’t hurt us, but rather, preserves us,” said Salha.

“(Technology) has a large effect because it’s now a requirement to be successful,” said Jerry Cristobal, who is a business development agent.

People no longer know how to function without technology, they cannot even perform simple mathematical functions said Cristobal.

Before technology became more prevalent in society, social functions were simpler, now a days everyone has a cellphone said Cristobal.

“Unfortunately, technology is a necessary evil,” said Cristobal.