Final Reflection 11.30.08

This class was interesting. I am also taking a class, Gender, Technology, and Inequality, which is actually somewhat similar to this class. When we were talking about the Tomato Harvester, we were talking about it as well in my other class. It was helpful to have two classes that were similar because I got two different views on the issues at hand.

This class has helped me to see the many inequalities that exist in the small things that I usually take for granted, such as a bench, pen, or hammer. With the knowledge I have now acquired I will look at life differently and think of ways to help stop the inequalities. I will use what I have learned from this class to better myself as a person.

Blog 13 11.23.08

This weeks readings was about inequalities around the world, such as Vietnam and China. It’s amazing that not everyone around the world is on a somewhat level playing field due to the technologies that exist today. I am not all that surprised to hear that not everyone is at a level playing field due to people wanting to monopolize and be the “king of the mountain”.

I feel that if everyone were to help each other then there might not be so much inequalities and differences around the world. Everyone always has something to offer another to better enhance what is we currently have. I feel that until we know how to share and be equal there will always be inequalities because someone wants to be on top, king of the world.

Blog 12 11.16.08

This past week we watched a video about how public transportation was changed for Curitiba. I feel that there is a major problem with today’s transportation system and is too congested. I think that we need to find a better way to make use of our city and available land, what we have left anyways. I know we as a society are always looking for new and exciting ways to improve our way of living and increase technology. I think we need to find a more suitable form of transportation. First we need to convert a majority, if not all, vehicles to non-oil cars, or hybrid vehicles.

After technology has been developed and perfected to create the flying car I feel that we should being looking into the skies for future transportation. We also have other issues at hand, but we cannot spread our resources or thoughts too thin, we need to concentrate on one thing at a time. If we are able to repair or fix one, it might also help in restoring or repairing another.

Blog 11 11.9.08

Last week the T.A. monitored class discussion about technology and education. We discussed the different generations, mine being Generation Y or the Millennials. We are considered more liberal, hyper, computer based, and over scheduled.We watched a video that showed how students spend their time and what they do in a normal day, due to computers and technology. I agreed with much of the video, indicating that we required almost 27 hours a day to complete our tasks. Therefore we multitask to get the job(s) done.

I feel that my generation is overworked and we need time to “smell the roses”. Unfortunately we like things fast and many at one time. I can only imagine what the next generation will be, solely computer based with no human interaction, possibly not even their own parents and/or siblings.

Maybe even one day much of the bias and racism will be gone because later generations are more excepting of change and what it means to be “normal”.

Blog 9 10.26.08

This week’s readings focused on nuclear technology, the positives and negatives. I think that nuclear technology is a great way to produce energy, especially since there are so many people in the world and we use up a vast amount of energy each day. I also think we need to find a better way to produce energy.

I think that if we could find a better, more efficient, way to harness solar power we would not only help to save Earth but we could create and produce other technologies that would help to further civilization. Nuclear technology is dangerous and deadly. I also think that if the nations of the world, including the less fortunate, would agree to not use nuclear weapons people would be less afraid of each other.

Nuclear technology is a good way to produce energy, but there needs to be a more efficient way developed to continue to expand and grow as a society and civilization. Until the world comes to a peace agreement on nuclear weapons we will always be “at the ready” for a moment’s notice to hit the launch button to attack. Nuclear technology is both creative and vicious. Which side of the coin will we flip next?

Blog 8 10.19.08

The idea that climate change is related to inequality and poverty never crossed my mind. After the class discussion this past week I’ve seen how consumption of good and resources, such as energy, has created a gap between “rich” and “poor”. It was interesting that there are three major countries, US, India, and China, which are responsible for most of the world energy consumption, while the rest only uses a very minute amount.

I think that everyone, especially the US needs to find an alternative measure for energy, such as solar. The sun will not “die off” for another 5.1 billion years. If solar energy were used we would have ample amount until something better and more efficient came along. The US needs to break away from its dependence on oil and think about the future and the children of the tomorrow.

I think that if the government would “assist” the people in financing solar energy more and more people would choose it over our current source. Maybe if those who used a different type of energy source, even just 10% of their daily consumption, got a reimbursement from the government then maybe more and more people would find a different way of powering their home.

Also if everyone in the largest countries found a way to make 5% of their overall energy consumption come from a different source, such as solar, wind, or water, then the overall consumption of the current energy source would decline, thus helping the future of the world.

Blog 7 10.12.08

During class on Thursday we discussed the aspects of DNA and fairness in the Justice System. The topic of O.J. Simpson’s case came up. The problem is that rich people are able to “buy” their attorneys, while the “poor” people are stuck with the basic lawyer. The rich are able to buy their freedom while the innocent are sentenced. As Cole said “it’s better to be guilty and rich than innocent and poor.”

The notion of DNA evidence is great. This is supposed to allow the innocent go free and the guilty be punished. Of course there are always problems within a system or structure. The question is what people do with the technology they have at their disposal. Do you use it for good or bad? This can be related to a reading from another week with the notion of the hammer, which can be used as a tool or a weapon.

Also the notion of placing everyone’s DNA on file is a little bit Big Brotherish as one student mentioned. I think that if criminals had their DNA on file and allowed the innocent to keep theirs it would keep the criminals up to higher standards and allow the free to keep their freedom in society.

Blog 6 10.5.08

This week’s readings focused on issues in distributive justice. The reading by Susan E Cozzens discussed four different views: Liberal, Utilitarian, Contractarian, and Communitarian. The libertarian view is about equal distribution of rights and at the center are individual rights. Utilitarian is about greatest good for the greatest number of people. Contractarian, by John Rawls, is a critic of utilitarianism. This system is where individuals begin behind a ‘veil of ignorance’, or no one would know their sex, age, religion, race, etc. Communitarian is about reducing inequality at the center of the problem, which is poverty, not wealth or economics.

I think that each system has its good and bad points. If we were to combine some of the aspects from each we might create one that would work. If I were to pick only one I would have to agree with John Rawls and his ‘veil of ignorance’. I feel that if people did not know their status in life then life would be different. Who knows, I might even be a rich man and not even know it.

Also, I feel that society needs to care more about society and not the individual. It seems more and more often that people care only about themselves, not about the community as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, the individual is important, but sometimes society should look at the bigger piece as whole.

Outline

Topic:

I am interested in researching how the creation of newer technology not only assist society but can also force people out of a job. With the development of an automated machine a worker is replaced, but a new job is created, a mechanical repair man. This could be related to path dependency. We, as a nation, are constantly creating and developing new ways to handle any given situation, including automated robotics. The creation of robotics will have a positive impact initially but could possibly have negative consequences later on.

Methods:

Class related material: Discussions, readings, reflections

Scholarly journals and articles

Websites

http://www.robotics.org/content-detail.cfm/Industrial-Robotics-Feature-Articles/Food-For-Thought:-Robotics-in-the-Food-Industry/content_id/694

I. Introduction

a. Thesis: The increase of automated robotics has a positive impact on society and the advancement of technology, but also has a negative impact on the labor market and a decrease in lower wage jobs.

b. Attention getter: Simple facts and data

II. Body

a. Positive impact of robotics

i. How automated machines help society advance

ii. Robotics and machines are the future

iii. Creation of new jobs, repair men and women

b. Negative impact on society

i. The loss of jobs for lower and middle class

ii. The technological dependency bestowed upon society

iii. Cultural impact from increase of technology

c. Framework

i. Opportunities for workers

1. Skilled workers

2. Unskilled workers

ii. Politics of robotics

1. Power and authority

2. Membership and freedom

III. Conclusion

a. Restate thesis

b. Summarize findings

Blog 4 9.21.08

The readings for this week focused on the QWERTY Keyboard and Technological Momentum. The design of the keyboard we use today was developed along with the typewriter. The QWERTY style forced the typist to slow down their typing, which would ensure that the typebars would not clash and create a jam. A sales person could also type the word “type writer” using only the top row of letters, which helped with the sales pitch.

I found it interesting how the QWERTY was developed. I never figured it would be a typing issue and the speed at which a person could type. I also never knew about the DVK style keyboard, allowing a person to type 20-40 percent faster. I feel it would be difficult to retrain everyone on a different style keyboard. However you may look at it, the DVK style has been banned from the United States and the only style allowed is the QWERTY. However this forces us to only move in one direction for the development of new technology and keyboards.

The same can be said about electricity. I feel we rely too heavily on power plants and are negating the fact that solar power is available to us and would also save money and the environment. Unfortunately we do not like the look or fashion style that solar power portrays on our homes. I personally do not care how my roof looks, if I’m saving money and have my own power source I’m happy.

Another concept we looked at is dependency and system. Society can become too dependent on a certain artifact and can cause a community to decline. The population that survives the decline becomes the least dependent on the technology. The QWERTY style has worked for us in the past and now, so why would we want to change it? If it’s not broken why try to fix something? It’s all about money and political reasons.