A summary of Emerging Technology

Group 1

In the history of technology, emerging technologies are contemporary advances and innovation in

various fields of technology. Various converging technologies have emerged in the technological

convergence of different systems evolving towards similar goals. Convergence can refer to

previously separate technologies such as voice (and telephony features), data (and productivity

applications) and video that now share resources and interact with each other, creating new

efficiencies such as SMART phones.

Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which represent progressive developments

within a field for competitive advantage; converging technologies represent previously distinct fields

which are in some way moving towards stronger inter-connection and similar goals. However, the

opinion on the degree of impact, status, and economic viability of several emerging and converging

technologies vary.

Over centuries, innovative methods and new technologies are developed and opened up. Some of

these technologies are due to theoretical research, others due to commercial research and

development.

Group 2

Technological growth includes incremental developments and disruptive technologies. An example

of the former was the gradual roll-out of DVD as a development intended to follow on from the

previous optical technology Compact Disc. By contrast, disruptive technologies are those where a

new method replaces the previous technology and make it redundant, for example the replacement

of horse drawn carriages by automobiles.

Emerging technologies in general denote significant technological developments that broach new

territory in some significant way in their field. Examples of currently emerging technologies include

information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive science, robotics, and artificial

intelligence.

Many writers, including computer scientist Bill Joy, have identified clusters of technologies that they

consider critical to humanity's future. Joy warns that the technology could be used by elites for good

or evil. They could use it as "good shepherds" for the rest of humanity, or decide everyone else is

superfluous and push for mass extinction of those made unnecessary by technology. Advocates of

the benefits of technological change typically see emerging and converging technologies as offering

hope for the betterment of the human condition. However, critics of the risks of technological

change, and even some advocates such as trans-humanist philosopher Nick Bostrom, warn that

some of these technologies could pose dangers, perhaps even contribute to the extinction of

humanity itself; i.e., some of them could involve existential risks.

Group 3

Much ethical debate centres on issues of distributive justice in allocating access to beneficial forms

of technology. Some thinkers, such as environmental ethicist Bill McKibben, oppose the continuing

development of advanced technology partly out of fear that its benefits will be distributed unequally

in ways that could worsen the plight of the poor. By contrast, inventor Ray Kurzweil is among

techno-utopians who believe that emerging and converging technologies could and will eliminate

poverty and abolish suffering.

Some analysts such as Martin Ford, author of The Lights in the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating

Technology and the Economy of the Future, argue that as information technology advances, robots

and other forms of automation will ultimately result in significant unemployment as machines and

software begin to match and exceed the capability of workers to perform most routine jobs.

As robotics and artificial intelligence develop further, even many skilled jobs may be threatened.

Technologies such as machine learning may ultimately allow computers to do many knowledge-

based jobs that require significant education. This may result in substantial unemployment at all skill

levels, stagnant or falling wages for most workers, and increased concentration of income and

wealth as the owners of capital capture an ever larger fraction of the economy. This in turn could

lead to depressed consumer spending and economic growth as the bulk of the population lacks

sufficient discretionary income to purchase the products and services produced by the economy.