On Oct. 16, Jimmy Hubert disappeared after a sorority mixer. He was found, alive but unresponsive, lying face down in a ditch. Hubert’s friends successfully tracked him using the Find My iPhone app and were able to get him medical attention.

Josh Koger nearly died from a downed power line in 2008. Although he evaded death, he lost both of his hands. He now has prosthetics that can be controlled by an app called Touch Bionics.

Although different in nature, these two topics have one very apparent similarity: technology.

Hubert was found unresponsive. If his friends weren’t able to track him, he could have died. Did technology save his life?

Koger’s app-controlled extensions can do more than the normal prosthetic hand. The motors inside Touch Bionic’s prosthetic hands allow Koger access to 24 more movements than with original prosthetics, including being able to hold his daughter’s hand, something he hasn’t been able to do in over five years.

Our generation is referred to as the “the millennials,” and that carries negative connotations. Many say our technology-driven lifestyle is lacking because it puts focus on less important topics and takes away from our human connections, but I disagree. Of course, constantly checking your Twitter feed or videotaping your little sister’s dance recital for Instagram instead of actually watching it is not the best way to experience life, but is it really that atrocious? We may live through technology, but technology could be our salvation. Its pros definitely outweigh its cons.

Doctor Mole is an app that helps monitor your skin’s moles and diagnose skin cancer. Doctor Mole uses real-time photo analysis, augmented reality technology and other advanced technology to search for threats to the user’s health. Using this app could potentially save someone from dying of skin cancer. This app is innovative and a prime example of technology’s positive effects on society. This example is not a diamond in the rough, but rather a growing trend that shows how technology is making our lives better every day.

Is being a member of “the millennials” such a terrible thing? Jimmy Hubert, whose life was potentially saved by technology, probably would not think so. Josh Koger, who can now hold his daughter’s hand from technology, most likely would not think that teens losing some conversation skills is more detrimental to our society than people living their lives without a limb. Users who were able to get their skin cancer treated at an early stage because of the Doctor Mole app would probably agree with the idea that technology is the key to our success, and I think so too.

Maybe I check Twitter too much and maybe I think scrolling through my Instagram feed is more entertaining than reading a book. Maybe I enjoy playing Angry Birds more than doing homework, and I could definitely spend more time talking to people in person instead of texting them. Although there are negatives that come with technology’s growing influence, it is definitely not deplorable. Technology may have its flaws, but it’s the future, and the future is bright.