Unit 4: Technology and

SocietyMac Steelman

Updated 10-14-2013

The Big Idea The use of technology can result in positive

as well as negative impacts on society and the environment.

Lesson 1:Trade-offs and Transfers

Scope of Technology

New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help to do things that could not be done without the help of technology.

The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.

Technology is closely linked to creativity, which has resulted in innovation.

Core Concepts of Tech.

Malfunctions of any part of a system affect the function and quality of the system

Requirements are the parameters placed on the development of a product or system.

Compromise Compromises must be made when making

decisions about the use of technology.

Environmental Concerns, Economy, Society, and Morality

Selecting Resources Involves Tradeoffs

between competing values.

Cost, Availability, & Desirability

Waste

Relationships Among Technologies & Fields of Study

Housing design = Architecture

Furniture Design = Industrial Arts

Sustainability/Renewable Energies = Appropriate Technology

Bio-fuels (Ethanol, Methanol, Hydrogen, Biodiesel……….) = Chemistry

Technology Transfer When a new user applies an

existing innovation developed for one purpose in a different function.

Example: Windmills were originally designed for the use of their mechanical power ability. This mechanical power was used to for grinding and water pumping. Later on during the electrical the windmill technology was used to turn electricity generators.

Technological Innovation

Results when ideas, knowledge, or skills are shared within a technology, among technologies, or across other fields.

Example: Aviation aerodynamic technology is shared with the wind turbine industry for greater turbine efficiency.

Scientific Enterprise When applications

of research could pose risk to society, scientists’ decisions to participate in that research are based on personal as well as professional ethics.

Math, Science & Tech.

Developments in science or technology often stimulate innovations in mathematics by presenting new kinds of problems to be solved.

Technology and Science

Technological problems and advances often create a demand for new scientific knowledge, and new technologies make it possible for scientist to extend their research in new way or to undertake entirely new lines of research. The very availability of new technology itself often sparks scientific advances.

Technology usually affects society more directly than science does because technology solves practical problems and serves human needs.

One way science affects society is by stimulating and satisfying people’s curiosity and enlarging or challenging their views of what the world is like.

Social Trade Offs Benefits and cost of proposed choices include

consequences that are long-term as well as short-term, and indirect as well as direct. The more remote the consequences of a personal or social decision, the harder it usually is to take them into account in considering alternatives.

Lesson 2:Technology Impacting the Community

Effects of Technology Technology effects

cultural, social, economic, and political aspects.

Changes caused by the use of technology can range from gradual to rapid and from subtle to obvious.

Ethical consideration are important in the development, selection, and use of technology

Role of Society The decision

whether to develop a technology is influenced by societal opinions and demands, in addition to corporate culture.

Issues in Technology In deciding on

proposals to introduce new technologies or curtail existing ones, some key questions arise concerning possible alternatives, who benefits and who suffers, financial and social cost, possible risks, resources used (human, material or energy), and waste disposal.

Lesson 3:Technology Impacting the Environment

Environmental Effects of Tech.

Effects of Tech. Continued

Humans can devise technologies to conserve water, soil, and energy through such techniques as reduce, reuse, and recycling.

When new technologies are developed to reduce the use of resources, considerations of trade-offs are important.

Humans devise technologies to reduce the negative consequences of other technologies.

Agriculture Agricultural

technology requires trade-offs between increased production and environmental harm and between efficient production and social values.

Pesticides Swiss Chemist Paul Muller

(1939) Created DDT

Neurotoxins that poison the nervous system causing paralysis.

Highly toxic to all life forms.

1st generation (arsenic and hydrogen cyanide)

2nd generation (Synthetics)

During the 1960’s it was used as a mosquito control and sprayed over towns in certain areas of the US

Pesticide Dangers Exposure may lead

to Death, Cancer, Reproductive Harm, Birth Defects, Mental Illness, and so on

Do not break down very well resulting in build up in soil and groundwater

Herbicides John E. Franz in

1970 (Monsanto Scientist)

Introduced as Round-up as liquid weed killer but has since been disguised as many other brands.

Glyphosate inhibits an enzyme in plant synthesis

Herbicide Dangers Endocrine System Disrupter

Many facts and test for human effects have been clouded and are not promising.

Glyphosates build up in groundwater and soil

2007 US Agriculture applied 185 million lbs.

2007 US Home & Garden applied 5-8 million lbs.

2007 Industry & Government applied 13-15 million lbs.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

GMO’s are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from other plants, animals, and viruses.

Creates experimental life that can’t occur in nature.

Not Real Food

GMO Hazards Most developed

nations do not consider GMO’s safe.

In more that 60 countries bans and restrictions are being put into place.

The USA approves due to high profits

Suicide Gene (Sterile Seeds)

Cross Pollination

Patented Life ….?????

Legal Issues

World Wide Extinction!

Not Label on Food

Monsanto the Chemical Co.

Established 1901

Produced the 1st artificial sweetener (Saccharin)

1945 began producing 2-4-D (Pesticide)

Artificial Flavorings

Producing toxic PCB’s since 1930’s and are carcinogen, toxic to the brain, eyes, skin, endocrine system, reproductive system and so on….

99% of all PCB’s were from Monsanto

Agent Orange (19 million gallons sprayed during Vietnam War) Thousands of soldiers have dies of cancer since.

(right) Recombinant bovine growth hormone (Dairy Milk Production)

Roundup

GMO Seeds

Monsanto’s Monopoly Seed Saving

Lawsuits

Owns Seed

Owns Herbicides

Owns Pesticides

Pays off government

World Domination

Who Benefits? The corporate world

benefits while the rest of us suffer the consequences of their actions.

Dependent on their products

High prices

Total loss of control for individuals

Long Term Vs Short Term?

Ethics?