BEHS 103 Technology in Contemporary Society Assignment help – Discussions. Assignment help – Discussion 1:
Based on the learning resources for this week, how would you define technology? Be sure to use your own words!
What are some of the key points made by Kevin Kelly regarding the role of technology in the evolution of humanity? Do you agree with his main arguments? Why or why not?
According to Diamond, what is the worst mistake in the history of the human race? What does this mistake have to do with technology and society?
According to Enriquez, what is the relationship between technology and social ethics (our sense of right or wrong)? What is the role of humility and forgiveness in the face of rapid technological change?
Sources:
WATCH: Kelly, K. (2009). Technology’s epic story. (Video – 16:16)
READ: Diamond, D. (1999, May 1). The worst mistake in the history of the human race.
WATCH: Enriquez, J. (2020). How technology changes our sense of right and wrong. (Video: 7:16
Assignment help – Discussion 2:
On July 30, 2012, the world’s biggest blackout took place in India when three major power grids collapsed.
How do you think you would survive a power blackout?
Although it may seem a little counter-intuitive, we are going to start our consideration of technology in modern society by removing technology from our modern lives. This will lay an important foundation for the remainder of the course. This week, you are to pick one 24-hour period in which you avoid technology as much as possible. This includes the use of the following:
Smart phones
Cell phone and handheld devices
Computers, laptops, tablets
Television
Video games
Stove/Oven/Microwave
Dishwasher
Obviously, if you must use any of these devices to perform your job or to keep children safe and healthy, you may do so. You may use kitchen appliances to prepare your meals (I don’t want your family to go hungry!) and turn your air conditioning or heat on to keep your family comfortable, but during your blackout day, avoid as much modern technology as possible while you are at home. Be very mindful of the technologies that you use or avoid during the day and how this impacts your ability to function. The objective of this exercise is to help you to appreciate the ways in which technology impacts your functioning in everyday life. If you have other family members, see if they will participate with you and use this opportunity to talk about how technology impacts your life as a family.
After you have completed your blackout period, respond to the following questions in 2-4 paragraphs:
What technologies did you give up during your blackout?
What did you miss the most and why?
How did the absence of these devices impact you both negatively and positively in the home, workplace and other areas of your life?
Kevin Kelly makes several important points about technology’s role in human evolution. He argues that technology has been evolving alongside humanity for millennia in a symbiotic relationship (Kelly, 2009). New technologies create new opportunities that shape how we live and think. While technology has risks, Kelly believes it allows our species to keep evolving in beneficial new directions. I find his perspective compelling, though others emphasize technology’s potential downsides more.
In response to your question about Diamond’s view, he argues the worst mistake was adopting agriculture which led to population growth but also dependence on limited resources (Diamond, 1999). This made societies more vulnerable to environmental and social disruptions. The shift to agriculture was ultimately driven by new tools and techniques, demonstrating technology’s power to radically transform human-environment interactions, not always for the better without prudent management.
Regarding Enriquez’s perspective, he notes that rapid technological change often outpaces our ability to thoughtfully consider new ethical dilemmas (Enriquez, 2020). While technology expands what is possible, it does not inherently make clear what is right or good. Humility and openness to revising views are needed to ensure technology’s benefits are broadly shared and potential harms minimized. Overall technology’s relationship with ethics demands ongoing reflection as innovations emerge.
To answer your second discussion questions, in the event of a power blackout, I would try to stay calm and have emergency supplies on hand like water, non-perishable foods, battery-powered lights and radios (Hussain et al., 2018). It would be important to manually open garage doors if necessary and check on elderly neighbors who may need assistance (Kwasinski et al., 2016). Interpersonal communication would become more vital in the absence of electronic devices.
Personally, I think I would miss access to the internet, email and smartphone the most during a blackout as these have become integral to my work and social life. Their absence could hinder productivity and disconnect me from contacts. However, it may also be an opportunity to engage more directly with family and rediscover simpler pleasures (Prasad et al., 2019). Overall, periods without technology can serve as valuable reminders of its benefits while also highlighting dependencies that warrant moderation.
Hussain, S., Ali, S. I., Ahmad, N., & ur Rahman, S. (2018). Power blackouts: Causes, impacts and mitigation strategies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(35), 35053-35066. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3302-z
Kwasinski, A., Weaver, W. W., Chapman, P. L., & Krein, P. T. (2016). Telecommunications power plant engineering: Distributed generation with photovoltaics and combined heat and power. CRC press.
Prasad, L., Rangarajan, S., Karthik, S., & Martinez, L. M. (2019). The impact of social media and digital technologies on mental health: An overview. In Healthcare technology and management for global health (pp. 153-168). Academic Press.
Diamond, J. (1999). Guns, germs and steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years. Vintage.
Enriquez, J. (2020). How technology changes our sense of right and wrong. [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_how_technology_changes_our_sense_of_right_and_wrong?language=en
Kelly, K. (2009). Technology’s epic story. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW-MRr-_8cU
