Final answer:
Computers have significantly contributed to making life easier by facilitating communication, data retrieval, and creative expression, yet they also bring complexities such as stress, distraction, and privacy concerns. Balancing these outcomes depends on individual and societal choices. Opinions and experiences with technology's impact on opportunities and challenges in life vary widely.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate around whether computers have made life easier or more complicated is a nuanced one. On one hand, computers have certainly flattened the world in terms of providing opportunities, enabling instant communication, data retrieval, and creative expression, and making massive contributions to scientific and engineering work. Take, for example, the use of video calling platforms like Sky_pe that bring people closer across the globe, or the efficiency introduced in fundraising through online campaigns.
However, it's also undeniable that the constant presence of technology, as highlighted by findings like Smith 2012, causes stress and difficulty in disconnecting from work and maintaining focus. The pervasiveness of technology often results in concerns over privacy, cybersecurity, and the socio-economic divide between those with access to technology and those without. Moreover, rapid technological evolution challenges society's ability to adapt at a pace that aligns with these changes.
The balance between the convenience and the complexity that computers bring to our lives largely depends on individual and societal choices around technology use, education, and the creation of policies that mitigate potential downsides. Personal experiences vary, with some finding technology a gateway to opportunities, while others may feel overwhelmed by the constant connectivity and expectations it imposes.