Science and Technology

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Science and Technology

• Chapter 15
• Instructor Peggy Roberts

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Science and Technology- Futuristic

• Science- 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?

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Science and Technology Dominates

• Agricultural 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)

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Technological Revolution

• Less 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

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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

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Science and Technology

• Robot Market-
• Microsofts Internet platform and support
  products are sold all over the world
• Intel's computer processing units (CPUs) 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?

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Science and Technology R D

• Research and Development (RD)-
• 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 RD
• Funding sources are primarily from four sectors-
• 1. Private Industry 66
• 2. Federal Government
  28

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Science and Technology R D

• 3.Colleges and
  Universities 3
• 4. Other nonprofit
  organizations -Research Institutes-3

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Science and Technology

• Scientific discoveries and technological
  development require the support of a countrys
  citizens and political leaders
• WHY?

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Science and Technology

• Example- Abortions
• Although abortion has been technically possible
  for many years, millions of the worlds 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

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Technological Fix/Social Engineering

• Shortage of Water- Two views
• Technological Fix- Social problems can be
  resolved through technology
• Increase the water supply
• Social Engineering-changing peoples 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?

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Science and Technology Postmodernism

• Postmodernism- 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?

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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)

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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 -
• Internet or email
• Word processing, working with spreadsheets or
  databases, accessing or updating calendars or
  schedules

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Science and Technology Computer Revolution

• United 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

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Science and Technology Internet

• Uses for internet
• Communication 93
• Enterainment-46
• Transactions-63
• Information-97

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Science and Technology Consequences

• Isolation- Technology affects social
  relationships and the nature of social
  interaction
• Telephone- fewer visits from friends and family
• DVDs 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

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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 arent aware that mouse clicks can be
  traced, packaged, and sold U.S. Department of
  Commerce Larry Irving

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Science and Technology Physical health

• Physical Health
• Technology-induced diseases from
• Nuclear power plants,
• Pesticide DDT,
• Automobiles,
• X-rays,
• Food coloring,
• Breast implants

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Science and Technology Mental Health

• Mental 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

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Science and Technology

• Future Shock- to describe the confusion resulting
  from rapid scientific and technological changes
  that unravel our traditional values and beliefs
• Life vs. Death