Amh/2024 Birthday Research Papers

Luke Scheper Professor Strickland AMH2020 4/19/2024 Birthday Research Essay The evolution of technology in the United States is a defining feature of our nation’s history, shaping its political, economic, and social environments. From late 19th-century advancements in electricity and telecommunications to the transformative impact of the modern-age internet, technology has played a pivotal role in driving progress and change. These technological advancements shaped our population and defined entire time periods. Between 1944 and 2003, technology in the United States evolved with shifting national priorities, transitioning from defending the nation and ending conflict during World War II, to exploring the world and space during the Space Race

A notable example of this is Microsoft and their line of computer applications, Office. Programs like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook revolutionized professional industries and changed the way businesses communicate. By 2003, Robert Guth of the Wall Street Journal estimated that “Some 400 million people use the Office” (Guth, 2003). Later in the article, Guth said the 2003 version of Office allows companies to set up a system “where workers can easily share documents and other information" (Guth, 2003). Businesses finally had a way to integrate their entire company, and Office’s 400 million members were more connected than ever before. Office provides companies with a standard and user-friendly interface to share documents, set up meetings, and collaborate on different presentations and models. This was not just revolutionary in the business world, it changed the way business was conducted. Another technological advancement that increased connectivity and had profound impacts on American society was the invention of the Personal Digital Assistant or Pocket PC, the precursor to the

These devices were groundbreaking at the time. Not only could you use them as a regular cell phone, but with high-resolution screens, a music player, and a digital camera, there was finally one device that could do it all. Whether Mossberg knew these devices would evolve into modern-day smartphones is unclear, but even in 2003, he understood the potential of this technology. The invention and improvements of the personal digital assistant revolutionized personal communication, laying the foundation for the hyper-connected digital world we live in today. The evolution of technology in the United States is a testament to the country’s ability to innovate and adapt. American ideology and technological evolution work hand in hand, from the nationalistic views during World War II to the competition and curiosity driving the space race, and finally the connectivity and functionality of the digital age. While the focus of technological advancements has changed greatly throughout the last 100 years, America at its core is committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. As we continue into the future, I am excited to see where the next major technological advancements will take place and the new American ideology that