Science and technology

"Science & Technology" definition

• future technologies relevance for society & individual?

• text types: articles, non-fiction books, novels, films, etc.

• central questions:

  • which new technologies are relevant?

  • effects of application (future and current technologies)?

  • what are the ethical implications?

Relation to utopia / dystopia

Utopia:

• Contemporary concerns completely resolved (poverty, war, famine, racism, overpopulation, pollution, etc.)

• Individual needs fulfilled

• Social conflicts do not exist or are easily resolved

Dystopia

• Contemporary concerns are exaggerated (loss of privacy, greater inequality, overpopulation, pollution, starvation, etc.)

• Oppression of the individual (by a ruling elite)

• Fear of technological developments

• Regimentation of society (strict rules, lack of freedoms, privacy, etc.)

• Basic fears exaggerated (distrust of others, disease, contaminated environment, etc.)

The role of technology in a dystopia:

• technology as cause of exaggerated contemporary problems (powers of artificial intelligence)

• technology as a tool used to sustain a dystopian society (technologies of surveillance, control, etc.)

• technology was supposed to be a solution

• turns into problem

Al- artificial intelligence

• Job Displacement: Al replacing human workers, job losses and unemployment in various industries

• Privacy and Security: misuse of personal information

• Ethical Implications: bias in Al algorithms, accountability and ethical use of Al

• Lack of Control: unpredictable behavior in highly autonomous Al systems, unintended consequences and potential risks

genetic engineering

• Ethical Concerns: boundaries of what should and shouldn't be modified in the human genome

• Safety and Long-Term Effects: unforeseen consequences and long-term effects of genetic modifications, unintended genetic mutations or health issues

• Inequality and Access: genetic disparities and unequal access to genetic enhancements

• Environmental Impact: impact on the environment, unintended ecological consequences

VR - virtual realities

• Psychological Impact: the potential psychological effects of prolonged exposure to virtual realities: addiction, dissociation from reality, and mental health issues

• Privacy and Security: collection and misuse of personal data within virtual environments potential cyber threats

• Ethical Dilemmas: potential for immersive experiences to be used unethically: manipulation or desensitization

• Social Isolation: impact of virtual realities on real-world social interactions, social isolation and detachment from the physical world

cyborgs & robotics

• Ethical and Moral Dilemmas: definition of humanity and the potential blurring of ethical boundaries

• Job Displacement and Economic Inequality: impact of robotics on employment, potentially leading to job displacement, economic inequality

• Security Risks and Hacking: security vulnerabilities associated with cyborg technologies

• Autonomy: loss of personal agency in a cyborg-enhanced society