SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYChapter 15

Instructor: Peggy Roberts

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- FUTURISTICScience- the process of discovering,

explaining, and predicting natural or social phenomena

Technology- a form of human cultural activity that applies the principles of science and mechanics to the solution of problems

• Can you think of any great one in the last 20 years?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DOMINATESAgricultural Societies- production of raw

materials-the use of tools that previously was accomplished by hand (Mechanization)

Industrialization Societies- mass production of goods – self-operating machines (Automation)

Post-Industrialization- service and information professions- machines control machines -making production decisions, programming robots, and monitoring assembly performance (Cybernation)

TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONLess than 50 years ago-

Traveling across state lines was an arduous task

Long-distance phone calls were a memorable event

Mail carriers brought belated news of friends and relatives from far away

Today-

Travelers journey between continents in a matter of hours

E-mail, faxes, videoconferencing, instant messaging, and electronic funds transfers have replaced conventional means of communication

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: INTERNET• Internet had 850 million users in more than

100 countries- nearly 140 million users in the United States

• The most common online language populations are

English – 35.2%

Chinese-13.7%

Spanish- 9%

Japanese 8.4%

German 6.9% & French 4.2%

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYRobot Market-

Microsoft’s Internet platform and support products are sold all over the world

Intel's computer processing units (CPU’s) power an estimated four –fifths of the worlds personal computers (PC)

Genetic research – blood and skin samples from remote islanders all over the world

A global treaty regulation trade of genetically altered production had been signed by more than 100 nations – Why do you think this is so important?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: R & DResearch and Development (R&D)-

Research entails the pursuit of knowledge

Development refers to the production of materials, systems, processes, or devices directed towards the solution of practical problems

• 2003- The United States spend $276 Billion on R&D

• Funding sources are primarily from four sectors-

1. Private Industry 66%

2. Federal Government 28%

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: R & D 3.Colleges and Universities

3%

4. Other nonprofit organizations -Research Institutes-3%

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY• Scientific discoveries and technological

development require the support of a country’s citizens and political leaders

• WHY?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY• Example- Abortions

Although abortion has been technically possible for many years, millions of the world’s citizens live in countries where abortions is either prohibited or permitted only when the life of the mother is in danger.

Thus the degree to which science and technology are considered good or bad, desirable or undesirable, is a function of time and place

TECHNOLOGICAL FIX/SOCIAL ENGINEERINGShortage of Water- Two views

Technological Fix- Social problems can be resolved through technology

Increase the water supply

Social Engineering-changing people’s habits or motivation

Persuading people to change their lifestyle- use less water, take shorter showers, and wear clothes more than once before washing

Can you think of another one?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: POSTMODERNISMPostmodernism- a Worldwide view that

questions the validity of rational thinking and the scientific enterprise

• Pinpointing to the unforeseen and unwanted consequences of resulting technologies

• What are some?

TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE• All workplaces, from government offices to

factories and from supermarkets to real-estate agencies, have felt the impact of technology

• Time-saving devices

• Enhance workers’ efficiency vs. worker error

• Changing work location- teleworking

• Robotic Technology- robot work in factories (more than half of them are used in heavy industry- automobile manufacturing) & hospitals (heart, brain , and many other surgeries)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: COMPUTER REVOLUTION• Seventy-two million employees use a

computer at work

• Females, Caucasian, and more educated people have higher rates of computer use at work

Most common uses of the computer at work -

1.Internet or email

2.Word processing, working with spreadsheets or databases, & accessing or updating calendars or schedules

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: COMPUTER REVOLUTIONUnited States:

• Households with Computers= 61.8%

• Households with internet access= 54.6%

• Fastest growing population of computer uses = Elderly 66.3%

• Wealthier families are more likely to have a computer - $150,000 or more annual income -94.7%; compared to 26.9% low-income families making $10,000 annually

• 61.1% of White American own a computer compare to 37.1% of African Americans

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: INTERNETUses for internet

1.Communication – 93%

2.Enterainment-46%

3.Transactions-63%

4.Information-97%

SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY• Biotechnology- Contested issues- Reproductive

Technology

• The evolution of reproductive science has been hindered by the stigma associated with sexuality and reproduction

Link with unpopular social movements- birth control

Challenges the natural order

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) an egg and sperm are united in an artificial setting – First test tube baby was in 1944, but was not born until 1978- Miss Louise Brown

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: REPRODUCTIVE• 2003- There were more than 400,000

frozen embryos-

88% set aside for future family building, 3 % for medical research and 2% for donation to other couples

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY• Cloning-

• What is your take on cloning?

• Is it a threat to human dignity and the preservation of human life?

• Arguments against cloning are largely based on moral and ethical considerations

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: CONSEQUENCES• Alienated- Workers may feel that there is no

creativity in what they do because technology continues to play an important role in the workforce

• Deskilling- Labor requires less thought than before and gives the worker fewer decisions to make- work become routine, boring, and meaningless

• Upskilling- technology in the work environments- reduces alienation because employees find their work more rather than less meaningful and have greater decision-making powers as information becomes decentralized

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: CONSEQUENCES• Isolation- Technology affects social

relationships and the nature of social interaction

• Telephone- fewer visits from friends and family

• DVD’s and PC – limits the number of social interaction at the movies theater

• Dating- Internet dating( Chat Room)- social and physical contact

• Blue Shield of California is now paying Doctors to go on-line for consultations ($25 for each email)

• Children on internet spend less time playing outdoor sports - obesity

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: CONSEQUENCES • Loss Of Privacy And Security- 2005 – 36 %

of companies use “keystroke monitoring so they can read what people type as well as track how much time they spend at the computer”

• 1 in 20 companies has been sued for e-mail-related surveillance

• Financial Records stolen

• Unauthorized disclosure of medical records

• “People aren’t aware that mouse clicks can be traced, packaged, and sold”– U.S. Department of Commerce Larry Irving

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: PHYSICAL HEALTHPhysical Health:

• Technology-induced diseases from

- Nuclear power plants,

- Pesticide DDT,

- Automobiles,

- X-rays,

- Food coloring, &

- Breast implants

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: MENTAL HEALTHMental Health

• 60% of workers report being “technophobes” – fearful of technology

• 10% of Internet users are addicted to being online = MOUSE

M= more than intended time spent online

O= other responsibilities neglected

U= unsuccessful attempts to cut down

S= significant relationship discord

E= excessive thoughts or anxieties when not online

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYFuture Shock- to describe the confusion

resulting from rapid scientific and technological changes that unravel our traditional values and beliefs

Life vs. Death