Negative Impact Paper
Keith A. Redfern
Ohio Christian University
10/12/14

Negative Impact Paper

Technology has provided extraordinary improvements to our world being the endless source of entertainment bridging communication anywhere at any time, increasing the accessibility of opportunities, and a whole lot more. However technology has also had extreme negative effects on the marketplace and on society. It has dramatically decreased the need for social interaction, contributed to damaging the environment, and had extremely harmful effects on our health. As technology continues to advance at such a rapid pace these are escalating. Technology was originally designed to make our lives easier and to make them more enjoyable. Yet, as technology continuities to advance, our social health, physical health, and environment continue to weaken.
An Unknown Author (n.d.) exclaims “On October 11, 2005, Microsoft and Real Networks, Inc. announced three agreements valued at $761 million to Real Networks to settle their antitrust case and create a new partnership to innovate and promote consumer choices in digital music and games.” These agreements included to resolve all the companies’ antitrust disputes worldwide; an agreement for wide ranging digital music collaboration between the parties, including promotional and marketing support of Reals leading digital music subscription service, Rhapsody, on MSN properties, and agreements to offer digital games through MSN games and XBOX Live for XBOX 360.
According to Rosner (2005) “The term technology is ubiquitous: it is found everywhere in commentaries on technology, whether it’s past, its present, or its future” (p.1). Technology is producing negative impacts in the marketplace, as it creates endless opportunities for identity theft and consumer fraud to occur. Identity theft is the top consumer fraud complaint and accounts for more than 40% of complaints. After identity theft, other technology related consumer fraud complaints are problems with Internet auctions and improper chargers from Internet and computer services. The cashless society is a technological advancement that provides both positive and negative opportunities for the marketplace. While the world of plastic, i.e., credit cards, etc., provides convenience for consumers, it brings additional problems of sizeable consumer debt. The increased use of Internet shopping is creating significant changes in the merchandising industry. Consumers are now global and are not limited to a local retail market, which creates more competition for retailers, but also provides other avenues for retailers to reach their target markets. “Excess price dispersion across markets can arise, and goods may not be allocated efficiently” (Jensen, 2007, p 1). Technology has ushered in changes in the dynamics of the field of consumer affairs, merchandising, hospitality, dietetics, child development, and family services provides both positive and negative impacts on the market place. While convenience and increased opportunities for families and consumers are enhanced, the increase in consumer fraud and decrease of human interaction is evident.
Small businesses compete with large businesses by being more swift and agile. Additionally, a large business can respond more