As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate.

I do not agree with the assumption stated that as people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate. Man has developed himself and evolved along with progress in technology. If technology would have been so deleterious for human ability to think, then we wouldn't have achieved any progress which mankind has achieved today.

Man is definitely dependent on technology today, but it is wrong to assume that this dependence will hinder our ability to think for ourselves. Infact technology is allowing mankind to think more of their betterment. Consider the field of medicines a few years back. A particular medicine developed to cure a disease would usually be accompanied with its side effects. But due to continuous research and development, medical science has evolved and better medicines are developed. It is best illustrated by the treatment for dog bite now and then. Few years back dog bite would call for 14 injections in the stomach but now it is treated with only three injections in the arm. If technology had really curtailed man's ability to think then this change would surely not have taken place.

Another example is of man finding alternative technologies to curb the green house effect. The earlier technologies developed were working satisfactorily from industrial point of view but use of CFCs , release of carbondioxide and acidic gases in large amounts, damaged the earth and it has proved to be harmful to mankind. If we would have lost our ability to think for ourselves, it would not have been noticed that such technology is harmful and no awareness would have been spread. Research would not have been conducted for alternative technology. Technology is helping man to overcome the obstacles, correct mistakes and prepare himself for the worst.

Technology is a boon. It has become more easy, time saving, convenient and safe to work with technology. When technology was not advanced, the tiring analysis of a construction design would be done manually and the smallest error could lead to tremendous loss, including financial loss as well as loss of property and life. But now technology gives us analysis in just few minutes and the errors in the design can be easily rectified before the construction starts. Even a small calculator can help us save much time that we would have invested in doing it ourselves.

It is true that people tend to depend more on technology even for minor issues and have become lethargic but that does not undermine their ability to think for themselves. People definitely find it difficult to cope up in absence of technology but it is not impossible.

Technology and man have evolved together over a long time and man will always use technology for his convenience and needs. So even if man is dependent on technology, it does not hinder mankind to think for themselves, infact it triggers man to advance more in technology and think of betterment.