Transcript Impacts of Invention and Innovation

Impacts of Invention and
Innovation
Impacts of Technology
Technological Change
Implications
Technology Assessment
History of Technology Assessment
Biotechnology and Assessment
Tom Weber
Course 665
VCSU
This material is based upon work supported by the
national science foundation under Grant No. 0402616.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation
(NSF).
Impacts of Technology
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The impacts of technology is viewed as
the solutions to the problems and the new
problems created by the solutions.
Every new technological advance or
solution has some hidden and known
negative effects.
Plastic products have changed the way we
live but how do you throw them away?
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Impacts or consequences of technology/
innovation tend to fall into three
categories
(Rogers, 1995):
-Desirable/Undesirable
-Direct/Indirect
-Anticipated/Unanticipated
 Unitedstreaming movie
Challenger Movie
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http://www.unitedstreaming.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?guidAssetId=2A249B18500F-4084-9D4C-0193B4A32DC2
Examples of Inventions
Example 1: generation of electricity in coal power
station
Effects: electrical light, cooking and heating,
decentralized using of electromotors,
automation, etc.
But: environmental pollution (especially air
pollution, hole in the ozone layer, dying of
the forest)
Dr. Karsten Weber, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder): Social Impacts of Technology
More Examples
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Example 2: agricultural revolution
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Main characteristics: farming, livestock breeding,
created permanent villages and towns
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Effects: different diet, growing populations,
increasing trading activities, construction of
houses and other buildings, beginning of division
of labor
But: new diseases, epidemics
Dr. Karsten Weber, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder): Social Impacts of Technology
Technological Change
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As we move through time it becomes easier to
develop more ideas.
Increased knowledge, communication and
writing play an important role in change.
Technological development is occurring at an
exponential rate (doubling).
Technology changes and agriculture.
Ford
John Deere
Implications
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Technological development will always
have impacts on society, individuals and
the environment.
As a technologically literate person, you
need to make decisions based on how
technology will affect your life and the
lives around you.
Internal Combustion Engine
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One of the great
inventions in history.
Changed work and
leisure time.
Influenced the
economy, still does.
Global Warming?!?!
Pollution? Accidents?
Technology Assessment
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“Think before you
act”. (Kranzberg,
1979)
Planned
Intended
Six dimensions
of Consequence.
Desired
Technological
Decision
Unplanned
Unintended
Undesired
What were the Wright Brothers
thinking?
WRIGHT BROTHERS Aeroplane Company
© AP or Reuters
© AP or Reuters
History of Technological
Assessment in the United States
1850’s Regulatory Agency was created after
2,500 shipping deaths.
 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
 The Technology act of 1972 which established
an Office of Technology Assessment. (OTA)
>The congressional Office of Technology
Assessment (OTA) closed its doors September
29, 1995. For 23 years, the nonpartisan
analytical agency assisted Congress with the
complex and highly technical issues that
increasingly affect our society.
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Example of OTA report:
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE UNITED STATES
The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
Published in 2000
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It is very likely that the US will get substantially
warmer. Temperatures are projected to rise
more rapidly in the next one hundred years than
in the last 10,000 years. It is also very likely that
there will be more precipitation overall, with
more of it coming in heavy downpours. In spite
of this, some areas are likely to get drier as
increased evaporation due to higher
temperatures outpaces increased precipitation.
Droughts and flash floods are likely to become
more frequent and intense.
What’s Biotechnology
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Biotechnology is technology based on biology,
especially when used in agriculture, food
science, and medicine.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity
defines it as :
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"Biotechnology means any technological application
that uses biological systems, living organisms, or
derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or
processes for specific use." (Article 2. Use of Terms)
“Biotechnology can also be defined as the
manipulation of organisms to do practical things
and to provide useful products.”
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Assessing Biotechnology
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Ethical Issues like Agriculture, medical,
genetics issues.
Very young science area
Large job growth area
“Frankenfood”
Wikipedia Image
The Campaign
Standards and Benchmarks
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Driving Technology Education Standards
• Standard 4: Students will develop an understanding of the cultural, social,
economic, and political effects of technology.
o [4.D]The use of technology affects humans in various ways, including their safety,
comfort, choices, and attitudes about technology’s development and use.
o [4.E]Technology, by itself, is neither good nor bad, but decisions about the use of
products and systems can result in desirable or undesirable consequences.
o [4.F]The development and use of technology poses ethical issues.
o [4.G]Economic, political, and cultural issues are influenced by the development and
use of technology.
• Standard 5: Students will develop an understanding of the effects of technology
on the environment.
o [5.F] Decisions to develop and use technologies often put environmental and
economic concerns in direct competition with one another.
• Standard 14: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and
use medical technologies.
o [14.J] Genetic engineering involves modifying the structure of DNA to produce
novel genetic make-ups.
• Standard 15: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and
use agricultural and related biotechnologies.
o [15.H] Biotechnology applies the principles of biology to create commercial
products or processes.