Since the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, many technological advances have been made. The invention of the telephone, cell phone, and computer greatly increased society's ability to communicate, and automobiles allowed for more efficient transportation. Television and the World Wide Web provide entertainment to people of all ages. Technological inventions seem to have improved our way of life, but they have caused many side effects that also negatively impact the world. Although many technological advances have been made in recent years, this technology has had a detrimental effect on social interactions, health and the environment. Technology has significantly changed the way people interact socially. Thanks to email and cell phones, it is no longer necessary to speak to someone face to face to complete a business transaction. This convenience, however, can weaken business relationships because text and email interactions can often be misinterpreted. Many find it even more effective to meet in person to gauge a business partner's reactions (Sharkey). Technology not only impacts professional relationships, but it also changes family dynamics. Children spend more time watching television and playing computer games than spending time with their families. For this reason, children are increasingly detached from their parents and from the reality of a world where things do not happen like they do on television (Coleman). Social networking on the Internet is another factor that has significantly changed social interactions. For many, the Internet offers many ways to reconnect with old friends and meet new people. Many social networking sites, such as Facebook, have...... middle of paper ......i. How electricity is created. April 28, 2010..Grant, Simon. Information and technology for human development. April 28, 2010..The greenhouse effect. March 22, 2010 ..Sharkey, Joe. Sometimes you just need to be there. Proquest. March 22, 2010http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=1947821801&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1264612585&clientId=9168&cfc=1Technology timeline. March 22, 2010..Torr, James D. The Information Age. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Washington State University. The industrial revolution. March 22 2010.