Social Impact of Technology 12 CAFS

Reasons for the Development of Technology B – Betterment of society I – Improvement on existing technology G – Global community emergence C – Competition with existing technology O – Other R – Response to social problems E – Economic benefit

Social Betterment Invention of the motor vehicle SB Invention of the motor vehicle Invention of assistive technologies Invention of communication technologies

Invention of the motor vehicle Allowed decrease in travel time and more efficient means of transport. BUT has both positive and negative effects on wellbeing. Invention of Communication technologies GPS, mobile telephones, satellite broadband, internet, Skype, etc. Has improved the wellbeing of people that live in rural areas and isolated areas. Socially, emotionally and spiritual. However, costs and maintenance are cons Invention of assistive technologies Braille, prosthetic limbs, educational resources Positive effect on physical, social, spiritual, economic and political wellbeing however resources can be expensive

Improve upon technology More advanced, superior products than those already offered. IUT Continuing development of the telephone Continuing development of the television

What are the Positive and Negative aspects to wellbeing Continuing development of the telephone What are the Positive and Negative aspects to wellbeing

The continuing development of television Positive wellbeing: emotional wellbeing (better reception, more options, etc) Negative wellbeing: encouraging unnecessary spending

Emergence of a global community Technology assists in creating an interactive global environment, in which communication is made possible between communities. Communities that were once isolated by their location now have the ability to access other communities by means of technology such as aero plane, telephones, the internet and satellite television. Companies have a global market and help with trade. The Internet has virtually transformed the world into a global community. People meet lovers, surfers make friends, students seek information, and businesses find outsourcing companies to manufacture their goods, develop their products, and render services to their customers. All these happened and are still happening on the World Wide Web.

Positive implications to wellbeing Physical, social, spiritual and political wellbeing Political – financial gains and trade Social – effective warning services, global news Social – improved communication and relationships Spiritual – tolerant of other cultures Negative implications to wellbeing Increased risk of computer-based crime due to global social networking Increased risk of border security breaches due to increased accessibility to transport

Competition with existing technology

Positive implications on wellbeing: Technology is often developed as a means of competition for consumer demand with other organizations or products. Positive implications on wellbeing: Greater choice Greater consumer satisfaction Negative implications on wellbeing Increased costs to individuals due to continued introduction of new and improved products Misleading information

Other Read text book, page 344 Performance enhancing technologies Tailored swim suits – enhance buoyancy Skins – compression for recovery Anabolic steroids Positive Implications: Enable athletes to achieve their best Enable coaches to direct and correct technique Training all year round Negative implications: Higher incidence of drug use Unequal competition

Response to social problems Technology is often developed in an attempt to prevent or respond to current or cultural social problems. Assisted reproduction technologies IVF

Water Saving devices Water efficient shower heads Flow control devices in taps tanks Health-related technologies Sunscreen – reduce lifestyle disease Anti-pollution technologies Unleaded petrol

Positive implications on wellbeing: Improved quality of life for individuals and communities Greater life expectancy due to decreased rates of morbidity and mortality Decreased economic burden on health system Negative implications on wellbeing: Ethical issues associated with birth-related technologies Economic burden of purchasing such technologies Large amount of money needed for research

Economic Benefit The production of a technology can result in economic gain for both the producers and the consumers of a product. Read page 343 in text book

Technology and Wellbeing

Technology and Wellbeing Technology can have significant effects on the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Over time, various technologies have been created in order to: Allow individuals to have greater control over their environment. Assist individuals to be more efficient communicators. Enhance individual’s understanding of the world they live in. Technology can have both a positive and negative effects on wellbeing.

Technology and Wellbeing P – Practical wellbeing E – Emancipatory wellbeing T – Technical wellbeing

Example: Mobile Phone Mobile phones help to create an informative, connected, culturally innovative society. This impacts positively on an individual and a community’s social, cultural, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

Example: Mobile Phone Positive changes in society Negative impacts of phones Competence in communications Accessibility of information Socialisation Political and social use Youth and new culture (social, political and intellectual wellbeing) Using mobile phones for kidnapping and blackmailing Capturing inappropriate films and images Bullying (Physical, emotional, spiritual and political wellbeing)

Effects on personal life of youth What can be some of the positive and negative implications mobile phones have on the youth of today? E.G. relationships with family, friends,etc Communicating Health Connectedness Accessibility

Practical Wellbeing Understanding and communicating in the world we know and in which we live. Some technologies allow individuals to complete tasks more efficiently and in less complicated ways. These include the internet (email and social networking), mobile telephones, fax machines, assistive technologies such as Braille and technologies used in education such as web cams. These have increased interaction with others, communicate more effectively and better understand the world. SOCIOMOTIONAL WELLBEING is enhanced.

Technologies that can affect our practical wellbeing include the following: Communication technologies Educational technologies Global technologies

Communication technologies Including television, telephones, email, faaxes and SMS. These technologies allow individuals to communicate effectively with others, regardless of location or the time of day. This can affect individual wellbeing both socially and politically. Negative effects: social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Social skills and communication skills due to decrease of face to face communication.

Educational technologies Including computer games, talking books, smart boards and interactive forums. Contribute to individuals’ political development, allowing them to gain a better understanding of the world in which they live. This leads to positive effects on their political, spiritual, social and physical wellbeing, as they become more independent and capable of making educated decisions. Negative effect: socioeconomic status and limited access will effect political wellbeing (available in private schools and lack in government schools)

Global technologies Including the internet, social networking and satellite navigation. Access to technologies such as social networking sites and satellite television allow individuals to develop a greater understanding of communication within the environments they live. Negative effects include cyberbullying, internet predators and computer crime.

Emancipatory Wellbeing Ability to participate effectively in a variety of situations such as education, employment, recreation and the wider community. When individuals can use technology to gain independence and participate effectively in society, they are likely to experience significant improved self-esteem and self identity. As a result, their social, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing are positively affected.

Technologies that can affect our emancipatory wellbeing include the following: Education and employment -related technologies Lifestyle and recreation – related technologies Community – related technologies

Education and employment – related technologies Including video-conferencing, web cams and telecommuting. Such technologies create opportunities for individuals to adopt flexible work patterns and conduct business outside the office. This has positive effects on indivduals’ and organisations’ economic, social and political wellbeing. Negative effects: demand for ICT skills and demand for inservice. Negative effect on economic wellbeing.

Lifestyle and recreation-related technologies. Including protective equipment, mobile phones and video games. Created freedom and access to a social life. Being active while remaining safe has a effect on emancipatory wellbeing. Protective equipment such as helmets, mouthguards and modified equipment. This has had a positive effect on their social, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Negative effects: youth engaging in risky behaviour due to developing a false sense of security.

Community-related technology Including prostheses, hearing aids and contraceptive technologies. Emancipatory wellbeing can be enhanced through the use of devices that promote greater independence. This affects the persons physical, emotional, social, spiritual and political wellbeing. Negative effects: economic circumstances and lack of knowledge may effect the persons economic, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Technical Wellbeing Refers to our ability to control our environment. When an individual feels a sense of control over their environment, they are more likely to feel greater independence and higher self esteem. This gives them a greater sense of spiritual wellbeing.

Technologies that can affect our technical wellbeing include the following: Natural environment Physical environment Social environment

Natural environment Includes our natural surroundings such as animals, plants and water. Plant cultivation and solar power technologies help control the environment and individuals use these resources for financial gain. This will increase an individuals economic wellbeing. Negative implications: solar power’s initials cost may be expensive.

Physical environment Includes buildings and transport. Buildings that have heating and air conditioning help us control the environment therefore increasing our physical wellbeing. Also, the use of unleaded fuel. Negative implications could relate to technical error when we rely on technology to control our physical environment.

Social environment Including our participation within society through the prevention of death, disability and sickness. For example, vaccination and transplant technology. Vaccines affect our physical, social, emotional and economic wellbeing. Negative affects may relate to the uneven distribution of medical technologies such as transplants, vaccinations and elective surgeries. This may effect physical and political wellbeing.

Technology and Wellbeing Emancipatory wellbeing Practical wellbeing Emancipatory wellbeing Technical wellbeing Communication technologies Education and employment – related technologies Natural environment Educational technologies Physical environment Lifestyle and recreation-related technologies Global technologies Social environment Community – related technologies

Practice question “Technology is the key to meeting an individual’s wellbeing in the twenty-first century” Discuss Remember to refer to technical, practical and emancipatory aspects of wellbeing in your argument.

Factors Affecting Access to and Acceptance of Resources The ability of people to use and accept technology is affected by their personal acceptance level, their past experiences and their willingness to try something new. It is also affected by their values, standards and beliefs and general attitude to life. BRAINSTORM SOME EXAMPLES: Some forms of technology include: Motor vehicles, IVF, TV, radio, computers, phones, iPods, microwaves, gadgets, memory sticks, USB, DVD, chain saw, ATM, electric shaver, electric drill

Factors Age Culture Education Economics Gender

HSC Question Briefly explain why availability and acceptance of technology varies. The most significant reason why access and availability of technology varies between individuals is connected to the people themselves and their ability to accept change and adopt to something new, their values, past experiences and their general attitude to life. The key areas include age, level and type of education, gender, the culture and geography area but they live in and their economic circumstances, which are linked to their employment.