SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Chapter 15 Instructor: Peggy Roberts

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?

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)

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 , 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 TECHNOLOGY Robot 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 & D Research 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 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 ENGINEERING Shortage 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: 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?

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

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

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: INTERNET Uses 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 Miss Louise Brown

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: REPRODUCTIVE 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 ) Children on internet spend less time playing outdoor sports - obesity

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: CONSEQUENCES Loss Of Privacy And Security – 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 -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 HEALTH Physical Health: Technology-induced diseases from -Nuclear power plants, -Pesticide DDT, -Automobiles, -X-rays, -Food coloring, & -Breast implants

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

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