WHEN TECHNOLOGY
AND HUMANITY CROSS
CHAPTER 8
Objectives
At the end of the topic, the readers are expected to.
1.Explain the relationship between technology and
society.
2.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
modern technology.
3.Relate human rights and the emerging
technological dilemmas.
KEY CONCEPTS
• Technology started as human civilization
developed tools necessary for their survival. It
can be defined as the application of scientific
knowledge to different processes that aid in
making life easier. Both advantages and
disadvantages are present despite the good
intentions of technological development and
advancement.
Technology and its Importance to Human Society
• Technology, which is the application of
scientific knowledge to techniques and processes,
is used mainly in industries. It also has a practical
impact on the community especially in the
agriculture, health, education, and transportation
sectors. The use of technology started when human
civilization developed tools as they learned
complex human behavior associated with survival
in the course of evolution.
Technology and its Importance to Human Society
• As constant change occurs, the society of
today is very different from the society in the
past. Recent generations of human beings
possess characteristics such as the willingness to
transform, and the desire to transmit and
dominate information. Being technology-
dependent, human, and societal life cannot be
imagined without it as it brings ease and comfort
into our lives.
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Modern Technology
• Based on the online articles of
Ramey (2012) and SKILLs learning
schools (2016), this future generation
has recognized some of the known
advantages of modern technology to
society and its inhabitants, to wit:
Over the past centuries, man has
communicated with each other
differently and during human
development, advanced communication
tools were invented to make the
transmission of information faster and
easier.
1. Improved communication,
easy access to information and
social networking.
From spoken word stories of great ancestors 5-7
million years ago to the Morse Code of 1836,
humans learned to use more understandable
equipment like the typewriter in 1867 to write
stories and office communications and online
content communication in 2011 which;
includes writing software, web technology,
and social media connections
1. Improved communication, easy
access to information and social
networking.
2. Improved housing,
lifestyle, and entertainment
• Materials used to build modern houses and
other facilities are far more sophisticated than
what was used before. Equipment used for
home activities and entertainment purposes
are automated and more versatile. A smart TV
can now perform both television and computer
functions.
3. Convenience in education
With the advent of modern
technology, education is not only
limited to a classroom setting. Distant
education through online courses and
other web-based seminars serves as
avenues to reach almost every corner
of the world.
4. Convenience in traveling
Development and progress in society
can be attributed to the ease of travel
as it allows easy access of
merchandise and tourists to and from
other countries with the help of
modern-day public transport systems.
More advanced countries like
Singapore and Japan have invested a
NEDA APPROVED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
JUNE 2016 - JUNE 2017
PROJECT
PROJECT NAME COST
(IN BILLION LOCATION
PHP)
Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
NCR
- EDSA 37.8
Ninoy Aquino Int'l Airport PPP
Project 74.6 NCR
North — South Railways Project — NCR, Region IV A
South Line 170.70 and V
New Bohol (Panglao) Airport
Region VII -
Construction and Sustainable 7.8
Bohol
Environmental Protection Project.
New Cebu International Container Region VII -
Mindanao Railway Project
Davao Del Norte
(MRP) Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos and Davao Del
Segment Sur
211.43
Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR Bulacan and
211.43
North 2) Pampanga
Clark International Airport (CIA)
Pampanga
Expansion Project 12.55
New Configuration of the LRT Line 1
North Extension Proj.- Common 2.8 NCR
Station / Unified Grand Central
Station (North Ext- Proj.)
Change in Scope, Cost, and
Financing Arrangements for the 4.62 Bulacan
Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase
Il
Technological advancement
has changed the structure of
the medical field as it
introduces more
sophisticated equipment for 5. Change
diagnosis and treatment.
Aside from these, recent in the
breakthroughs have allowed health
for the discovery and
development of new
industry
treatment procedures and
medicines such as the
INNOVATION DESCRIPTION
Star Trek It is a multifunction hand-held
Style Tricorder device used for sensor scanning,
data analysis, and recording data.
It helps doctors detect diseases
and collect vital information about
a patient's condition.
This system creates a workflow
Interoperability that allows the transfer of
between Health information to healthcare facilities
Systems for ease and accuracy of treatment
of the patients.
INNOVATION DESCRIPTION
Robotic Nurse There are robots designed to help nurses
Assistant in lifting or moving patients around
without the danger of causing injuries to
the healthcare worker.
Artificial Retinas Artificial retinas are intended to replace
the retina of individuals who Iost their
vision mainly as a result of retinal
degenerative diseases.
Advanced Neural control is being used to move the
Prosthetics prosthetics with a challenge of creating
an inter-phase that is compatible to our
nervous system to prevent latency of
movement.
RemotePatien This is a portal device that aids
t Monitoring in the monitoring of all health
parameters to allow doctors to
perform diagnosis even without
visiting a clinic.
Anti-aging This drug has entered trials in the
Drugs hope of slowing down the aging
process to reduce the burden of
treating diseases such as cancer,
diabetes, and dementia.
Tooth This uses low-powered laser to
Regeneration activate stem cells in stimulating
the growth of teeth. Other studies
Disinfecting This uses visible light in healthcare
Lightbulbs facilities to continuously disinfect
and prevent infection. The
mechanism involves targeting
porphyrins in bacteria to produce
Reactive Oxygen Species that will
reactivate bacterial reproduction in
the area.
Electronic This creates an electric charge for the
Underwear patients to activate the muscle and
Preventing Bed blood circulation in the area every ten
Sores minutes.
Long Lasting long-lasting batteries with fast charging
Batteries capabilities support the needs of power-
6. Efficiency and
productivity
• New technologies allow
different industries to increase
production and reduce labor
costs to meet the demands of
the growing society.
7. Initiates creativity and
innovation
• Technology allows entrepreneurs to
start up with their online businesses
thereby opening an avenue for a more
creative and innovative approach. This
would also enable the business to operate
while the owner is attending to other
important activities.
Increasing number of individuals
have also noted the negative
effects of this great technological
era as it brings technological
complications in relation to our
social being. Some of these
disadvantages are as follows:
1. Job loss and human
displacement
• The unprecedented breakthrough in technological
advancement in recent years has led to a possible
shift in economies that use human labor as a m
workforce. This has caused companies to adopt
innovations little by little leading to redundant
functions between technologies and humans.
Technological advances have caused excitement
towards the development of products with globally
accepted quality but raised some concerns over the
possible massive job displacement.
Job loss and human
displacement
• According to the International Labor
Organization in 2016, five countries in the
ASEAN Region (Cambodia, Philippines,
Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia) that have
contributed to about 80% of the ASEAN
workforce were studied. The results were
projected to visualize industrial and
technology trends up to 2025.
The key findings are as
follows:
• In the next two decades, a high risk of employment
displacement will be due to technological advancement.
• Most of the leading industries with high potential of
automating their services would include hotels and
restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, and construction
and manufacturing.
Some of the industries less affected by automation would
include education, training, health, and social work
services.
The key findings are as
follows:
In specific countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and
Indonesia, the national workforce faces a high risk of
automation most especially in the areas of garment
production, sales assistants, and office clerks.
In most high-risk occupations, women are more likely to
be positively affected as they are more favored to work
in such fields. Moreover, those who have not finished
degree courses or are certified skilled also face higher
automation risks.
• In the Philippines, about 49% of the
total waged workers are at high risk of
technological innovations and
automation lower than Indonesia at
56%, Cambodia at 57% and Vietnam at
70%. The noted differences are
dependent on the major industries that
support employment most especially
those that are in the sales, garments,
and landscaping industries.
1. World destruction
weapons
• From spears, bows, and arrows in a war that
damaged communities in history, technology has
further developed machinery and armaments
that caused massive deaths among countries at
war. Other developments in this field include
drones, fly-by-wire technologies, submarines,
various missiles, and stealth technology in
aircraft, space, and nuclear weapons.
2. Increased loneliness
• Recent technological
developments have caused
physical social isolation which is
the interactive relationships
between family members and
friends at the individual level.
2. Increased loneliness
• The youth of today have limited physical
interaction with the outside world since most
of them focus their attention on the available
gadgets and rely mainly on social technology.
Though connection exists, studies suggest
that this kind of connection or relation makes
an individual feel isolated leading to a
superficial and less rewarding relationship.
3. Competency
•Increased dependence on
modern tools and technologies
that create innovations and
change in society may reduce
human creativity and intelligence.
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
• Under the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the state shall strive to
promote and secure the universal and
effective recognition of these rights
through teaching and providing education.
The following is the abbreviated
Declaration of Human Rights.
•Article 1 - Right to Equality
•Article 2 - Freedom from Discrimination
•Article 3 - Right to Life, Liberty, and Personal Security
•Article 4 - Freedom from Slavery
•Article 5 - Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
• Article 6 - Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
•Article 7 - Right to Equality before the Law
•Article 8 – Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
•Article 9 - Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
•Article 10 - Right to Fair Public Hearing
•Article 11 - Right to Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
•Article 12 - Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
•Article 13 - Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
•Article 14 - Right to Asylum in Other Countries from Persecution
•Article 15 - Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It
• Article 16 - Right to Marriage and Family
•Article 17 - Right to Own Property
•Article 18 - Freedom of Belief and Religion
•Article 19 - Freedom of Opinion and Information
•Article 20 - Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
• Article 21 - Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
•Article 22 - Right to Social Security
•Article 23 - Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
•Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure
•Article 25 - Right to Adequate Living Standard
•Article 26 - Right to Education
•Article 27 - Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community
•Article 28 - Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document.
•Article 29 - Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
•Article 30 - Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights
• Emerging Technological Ethical
Dilemmas
•The need to explore conceptual, ethical,
and policy issues of the society where modern
technological advancement interacts
promotes the advancement of science and
technology for the common good. It should be
clear that recent technologies and innovations
should not hinder any individual from enjoying
any of the rights mentioned in the Universal
•Emerging Technological
Ethical Dilemmas
•In 2015 and 2016, the Reilly
Center for Science Technology and
Values at the University of Notre
Dame released some of what it
considers as emerging policies in
relation to science and technology.
1. Real-time Satellite Surveillance
Imagery
• The advancement of technologies not only
brought down the price of acquiring new
satellites but also made them smaller and
more sophisticated. These satellites were
launched by several companies such as
Planet Labs, Skybox Imaging, and Digital
Globe to record the status of the entire Earth
in real-time or near real-time.
1. Real-time Satellite Surveillance
Imagery
• Satellite-generated images are said
to be helpful in planning for and
solving humanitarian problems, solving
crimes, and disaster risk reduction but
if these data would reach the hands of
potential leftists, this might violate the
privacy of human life.
The National
Aeronautics and Space 2.
Administration (NASA) Colonizing
and a private Mars: An
company, Mars One, Astronaut
worked together for a Bioethics
space mission to
colonize the planet
Mars.
In 2018, Mars One is
planning to launch a robotic
mission to Mars and by 2025
2.
four humans will be sent on a Colonizing
one-way mission to establish Mars: An
the first community outside Astronaut
Earth. This could be a big
breakthrough in the history
Bioethics
of mankind. However, there
is a need for risk assessment
in establishing such a colony.
Companies around the
globe have developed
several wearable
technologies to suit 3.
human behavior and Wearable
activities. These
Technolog
technologies continue to
y
develop and become a
hit for millennials.
Wearable
technologies have their
beneficial functions in
the field of education 3.
and health but their Wearable
capabilities to expose Technolog
the private details of y
our lives could be a
problem.
4. State-
sponsore
Soft war is an d
unarmed force using Hacktivis
cyber war and m and
hacktivism with the “soft
war”.
aim of transforming
the cultural values and
identities of society to
achieve political ends.
4. State-
sponsore
Aside from influencing d
the social aspect of a Hacktivis
given political system, m and
soft war also progresses “soft
to cultural invasions and war”.
psychological operations.
The use of cyberattacks
to any government
agency could be a big
problem.
5. Enhanced pathogens
• Research about the gain of function of known
diseases such as influenza, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have been
suspended in the United States because of
biosafety concerns. Gains of function research
have beneficial impacts such as understanding
the virus and the mode of treating such viruses.
5. Enhanced pathogens
• On the other hand, this kind of
research could also increase
mammalian transmission and virulence
which outweigh its benefits. This could
be potentially an avenue of exposing
the virus to the general population that
could have a devastating effect.
6. Non-lethal weapons
• From the name itself, non-lethal
weapons are not designed to kill but they
remain to be an emerging ethical and
policy dilemma. Some examples of non-
lethal weapons are laser missiles, blinding
weapons, pain rays, sonic weapons,
electric weapons, heat rays, disabling
malodorants, as well as gases and sprays.
6. Non-lethal weapons
• Non-lethal weapons may be used
more liberally in situations that could be
diffused by peaceful means but
indiscriminate use of such could be used
as a means of torture. In addition, these
can also be considered force multipliers
when combined with lethal weaponry.
Some researchers at
Harvard University have
focused on the 7. Robot
development of “kilobots” swarms
a group of robots capable
of communicating with
each other and performing
simple tasks that do not
require any human
intervention.
This idea was inspired by
the swarm behavior of
social insects with the goal 7. Robot
of using them in swarms
environmental cleanups or
in responding to disasters.
The risk of this technology
is the tendency of these
robots to malfunction and
cause harm and accidents.
An emerging field of
science known as synthetic
biology is focused on the
custom-building of 8.
synthetic life forms by Artificial
introducing synthetic DNA life forms
to an existing organism.
This raises (concerns,
however, on the ethics and
policy issues of this
biological breakthrough.
Safety issues and risk
factors are still connected
with the possible release of
these artificial life forms into 8.
our environment Since there Artificial
is a synthetic organism that life forms
becomes a cure for
diseases, this may also used
in developing biological
weapons in the future.
The need to build resilience
both in the social and 9.
ecological systems of each Resilient
nation is necessary social-
especially in facing societal ecological
problems brought about by systems
poverty, economic
globalization, and natural
phenomena such as climate
change and natural
disasters.
10. Brain-to-brain interfaces
• Researchers at the University of Washington
have started Brain-to-Brain Interface experiment
as early as 2014. This would direct communication
from one brain to another without the use of
speech but using an electroencephalography (EEG)
machine that detects brain activity in the sender
and a trans-cranial magnetic stimulation coil that
controls movement in the receiver thereby
performing the act as directed by the sender.
10. Brain-to-brain interfaces
• Ethical issues arise in the use of such
technologies, some of which concerns the
kind of neurosecurity that can used to
prevent accidental sharing or removal of
information from an individual brain,
intellectual property rights, and the liability
between the sender and receiver if one
commits a mistake.
Develop a traditional
poster that will depict
your view of the
Philippine situation 10
years from now in Activity: Use Bond
relation to the current Paper/Oslo Paper
: Submission next week
technological
advancements.
Explain the meaning of
Ilagan Y., Balindo
L.,Digma J., Taglinao L., References:
Bono M., Penaflorida M.
(2018) Science
Technology & Society,
Panday-Lahi Publishing
House, Inc.Sucat,
Muntinlupa City
Thank you
