GE 4- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module #5

WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS

Nowadays people see technology as a form of necessity. The term technology originated from
the Greek words technë and logos which mean art and word, respectively. Putting the two words
together, technology means a discourse on arts. On its appearance in the seventeenth century, the
concept was applied to arts alone. But as it progressed, the concept took a larger range of meaning
where machine and tools were also attached to the word “technology.”
It’s inevitable that technology is undeniably part of our society. With such great efforts to
achieve such great inventions, life has been much easier and convenient than ever. It also bring
happiness and pleasure to people being able to do their hobbies like listening to favorite music, viewing
movies, surf or play games or communicate with their loved ones anywhere in the world.
Technology has become a necessity and no longer a want. While before, people work hard to
help them survive with the basic needs, outside of these categories was considered a luxury. Now, it is
no longer the case.
However, it is important to note that anything too much is bad; the same problem faced by
technology. Misuse of the technological devices cause different problems to arise, which people aware
of the possible dangers are not keeping still. Public awareness is a must, that dilemmas from
technological devices are soaring if not nipped in the bud.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The learners shall be able to:
1. Know the different technological advancements in society;
2. Discuss development of science and technology in the Philippines;
3. Discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the dilemma(s)
they face.
LEARNING CONCEPTS
Television Sets, Mobile Phones, Computers and Humanity
Television set bring a lot of fascination to Filipinos, watching it during free time or when just
lying idle. Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, a German student, in the late 1800s was successful in his attempt to
send images through wires with the aid of a rotatating metal disk. It was called “electric telescope” at
that time and had 18 lines of resolution.
Two inventors, in 1907, Allan Archibald Campbell-Swinton (English scientist) and Boris Rosing
(Russian scientist) created a new system of television by using the cathode ray tube in addition to the
mechanical scanner system. This success story gave rise to two types of television system, the
mechanical and electronic television. These experiments inspired other scientists to improve previous
inventions leading to the modern television people now have.
Nowadays, Filipinos are considered one with the highest group in the world in mobile use. Out
of three Filipinos, one cannot live without a mobile phone. Some even own more than one phone.
Martin Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola, made the world first mobile phone call on April
3, 1973. He called their rival company informing them that he was making a call from a mobile phone
which weighed 1.1 kilograms and measured 228.6 x 127 x 44.4 mm. This device was capable of a 30-
minute talk time but took 10 hours to charge. Motorola then made their first commercial phone
available to the public in 1983, known as the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.
Computers and laptops have also become part of many Filipino households. Although most
families own at least one television set and a mobile phone, it is not possible to own at least one
computer or laptop. Most profits gained by computer and laptop manufacturers come from offices,
businesses or schools where such devices have become part of their necessities. Semi-conductor devices
and other electronic component took more than half of the total value output of all manufacturing
establishments. With the growing number of computer and laptop sales, there has also been a growing
number of Internet users in the country. Problems with Internet providers have never hindered the
Filipinos from continuously using the Internet and are still clamoring for speedier service.
Charles Babbage, a 19th century English-Mathematics professor , designed the Analytical Engine
which was used as the basic framework of the computers even until the present time. Generally,
computers can be classified into three generations, each generation using the computer for a certain
period of time, and each gave people a new and improved version of the previous one.
Laptops have been available to the public for even less time than personal computers. The first
design was so big, it could occupy whole floors of buildings. It was believed that the transition from
personal computer to laptop was only a matter of design.
The first true portable computer was released in April 1981, and was called Osborne1. The
evolution of laptops continued to the present time where various designs and models are already
available.
A typical household owns at least four of the following devices: a mobile phone (89%),
smartphone (53%), tablet (14%), desktop (39%), laptop or netbooks (37%) and smart TV (4%) based from
a 2013 survey. To this writing, imagine how the figure would appear!
Some Facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the Internet (Rappler, nd):
*Mobile phone subscription is at 119 million.
*Filipinos spend approximately 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily.
*Currently, the Philippines has one of the highest digital population in the world.
*There are now 47 million active Facebook accounts in the Philippines.
*The Philippines is the fastest-growing application market in Southeast Asia.
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements
TVs, mobile phones and computers or laptops all have different functions and roles in the lives
of the people, although some maybe a little similar.
Television is mainly used as a platform for advertisements and information dissemination. It also
serve as a recreational activity and good stress reliever to most families, specifically, Filipino families. It
is also a good platform for different propagandas and advocacies. And, last, it can also be a good way to
bond with one’s family members.
Mobile phones are primarily used for communication as it offers services like texting and calling.
It is also used to surf the Internet and to take pictures more than to text or call people. Other
applications include music player, caledar, radio, television, alarm, photo editor and others. These
additional features make mobile phones very appealing to the masses, being an all-in-one-device, to say
the least, portable and convenient fitting any space, be it inside a pocket or bag.
Personal computers and laptops have useful set of functions and roles too, though most of
these functions are now available also in mobile phones. These devices also feature calendar, calculator,
music player, camera and many more. As mobile phones have small screen and narrow keyboard, most
prefer to use laptop or pc with their wide screens and separate keyboards, availability of a mouse or
touchpad. For those who love different computer games, personal computers and laptops are the better
choice for comfort and convenience.
Ethical Dilemma Faced by These Technological Advancements
1. Most parents would be positive that these devices make children lazy and unhealthy.
2. Some tend to be unaware of time being engrossed with the use of the technological devise. In
fact, there is a great chance that they will be annoyed or get mad if they are disturbed. More
likely, the same people they are ones who will experience alienation as they no longer take time
for mingling and social interaction.
 3. Morally, unrestricted, and / or unsupervised access to different websites not suitable for the
minors or those vulnerable and gullible to temptations, dares/challenges may lead to unwise,
and/or hasty decisions or take new perspectives of the world and the things around them.
4. Different kinds of sickness may come about due too much use of technological devices. It can
also cause some people to become reclusive, alienating themselves from other people.
Solutions to Enumerated Dilemma
The ethics of responsibility is an appropriate theory that can be used in these dilemmas.
The word “responsibility” in the sense of being accountable for and accountable to is very appropriate
to the ethics of technology as it makes each and every person in the scientific-technological
development a proxy with reference to one another. Each person must indicate priorities, values, norms
and principles that constitute the grounds for one’s actions and define one’s contribution to the
scientific-technological event. The ethics of responsibility focuses on the positive than the negative, thus
people will have an idea how the devices ought to be used in order to maximize their positive results.
People need to be informed of the dangers their contribution/s to the world of technology so
that there is awareness of what to do or what not to do. Agents using the devices should also be
accountable to and accountable for their use of their gadgets.
1. In the first dilemma it can be said that the agents using the devices are the ones to be blamed
for the undesirable consequences, namely, laziness and unhealthiness. However, it is the
assumption that the people in the scientific-technological world have properly informed the
public of the positive tenor of their technological contribution. Hence, the undesirable
consequences are brought about by the misuse of the agent. About alienation, it can be
concluded that the people in the scientific-technological world are blameworthy because they
tell the people something that seems positive but when examined closely, brings more bad than
good.
2. With the second dilemma, the people in the scientific world nor the children are blameworthy
because first, children are not yet capable of rationally deciding for themselves what is good and
what is bad. Second, even if creators of these technologies went out of their way to inform
children of the pros and cons of these technological contributions, it would be useless since the
children have no capacity to understand them yet. In this dilemma , the ones to be blamed are
the adults who allowed the children to have access to such devices in the first place without any
supervision. The recklessness and overconfidence of the adults cause the character change in
children.

REFERENCE

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY, pp. 84-94. Janice Patricia Javier Serafica, et. al.

“History of Technology.” https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology.

“The History of Television.” http://www.thehistoryof television.com/.

“A Brief History of the Laptop.”

“A Brief Computer History.” http://people.bu.ed/baws/brief%computer20%history.html.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. Do people really need technology in their lives? Is it really a necessity?
2. How do you reconcile the “need” for technology and the dilemma/s it faces?
3. Should there be an ethics of technology?
4. Do technological devices bring more good than bad to people?
5. Should there be more budget for technological researches despite the dilemmas they are
currently facing?
6. Should there be a limit to technological advancements?
GE4- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Module # 6

WHY THE FUTURE DOES NOT NEED US

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The learners shall be able to:
1. Define what is a robot;
2. Distinguish the different types of robots and their specific task;
3. Cite the laws of robotics according to Asimov;
4. Understand the ethical dilemmas faced by robotics and how to counteract them.
Robotics and Humanity
Robots are now widely used which are another innovative creation of man. Example are the so-
called service robots that can do specific tasks but mainly focus in assisting their masters in their
everyday tasks.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) made their task to formulate a working definition for service robots. A preliminary
extract of the relevant definition is (IFR, 2012):
1. A robot is an actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of
autonomy, moving within its environment, to perform intended tasks. Autonomy in this context
means the ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing without human
intervention.
2. A service robot is a robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding
industrial automation application.
Example: a robot may be classified according to its intended application as an industrial robot or
service robot
3. A personal service robot or a service robot for personal use is a service robot used for
noncommercial task, usually by lay persons. Examples: domestic servant robot, automated
wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot, and pet exercising robot.
4. A professional service robot or a service robot for professional use is a service robot used for
commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator. Examples: cleaning robot for
public places, delivery robot in offices or hospitals, fire-fighting robot, rehabilitation robot, and
surgery robot in hospitals. In this context, an operator is a person designated to start, monitor
and stop the intended operation of a robot or a robot system.
Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots. As part of the German
Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s “Service Robotics Innovation Lead Initiative,” it sponsored
a collaborative project called DESIRE (Deustsche Servicerobotik Initiative-Germany Service Robotics
Initiative) which was launched on October 1, 2005. DESIRE has the following objectives (DESIRE, 2009):
 To achieve a technological edge toward maintaining key functions and components that are
suited for everyday use
 To create a reference architecture for mobile manipulation
 To promote the convergence of technologies through integration into a common technology
platform
 To conduct pre-competition research and development activities for new products and
technology transfer in start-up enterprises in the field of service robotics
Some of the expected work to be performed by DESIRE are the following: 1) “Clear up the
kitchen table”- all objects on top of the kitchen table will be moved to where they belong; 2) “fill the
dishwasher” – the dirty dishes will be sorted correctly into the dishwasher; and 3) “Clear up this room”-
all objects that are not in their proper places will be moved to where they belong.
The earliest conception of robots can be traced around 3000 B.C. from the Egyptians whose
water clocks used human figurines to strike the hour bells. This mechanical device was built to carry out
a specific physical task regularly. Different time machines were built later on displaying the same
mechanism and characteristics as the robots in the present. Examples were the wooden pigeon that
could fly, a talking doll, steam-powered robots and hydraulically-operated statues that could speak and
gesture.
George Devol created the earliest robots in the early 1950s. He coined the word Unimate from
the words Universal Automation. His attempt to sell his product to the industry was unsuccessful
though. Several robots were invented later after Unimate which were better versions of the previous
ones and people never stopped their quest in the field of robotics.
Roles Played by Robotics
Robots play different roles not only in the lives of people but also in the society as a whole.
1. Primarily, they are used to ease the workload of mankind, making life more efficient and less
stressful.
2. They perform complicated activities which human beings are incapable of doing.
3. They perform the simplest tasks at home thus their masters can perform complex ones without
stressing themselves over the simple tasks.
4. Some are made for pleasure, as those found in amusement parks or exhibits to entertain
people.
5. Some were made to serve as toys. They perform other activities but usually are child-friendly.
Isaac Asimov formulated laws of the ethical consequence of robots in the 1940s:
Law One: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm.
Law Two: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders
would conflict with the First Law.
Law Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict
with the First of Second Law.
Ethical Dilemma/s Faced by Robotics
Robotics also faces different problems and dilemmas. It is not immune to different dilemmas
and possible undesirable outcomes.
1. Safety. It is important to know who should be blamed and who should be held responsible
anything happens with questions such as, “Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety
is compromised by a robot? Who should be blamed, the robot, the agent using the robot, or the
maker/inventor of the robot? “
2. Emotional component. Absurd as the moment, but looking how fast technology progresses
these days, it is not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions.
Questions like “what if robots become sentient?” should they be granted robot rights? Should
they have their own set of rights to be upheld, respected and protected by humans? Interesting
is how people would react if the time comes when robots can already feel pain and pleasure.
In the field of robotics there are so-called partial autonomy and full autonomy. Partial autonomy
includes human-robot interaction while full autonomy , excludes active human- robot interaction. A
robot with full autonomy can perform actions or activities even without a master telling it what should
be done or what should be performed next.
It can be concluded that robots are ethical but only if they follow strictly the laws specified,
using Asimov’s laws for robots. Since robots have been made available to the public, the safety of not
only the owner of the technology but people inside the homes should be the priority above anything
else. If the agent using the technology misuses the robot to achieve personal agendas, then without
doubt, the agent should be held accountable for any consequences it may bring.
If the problem arise when the robot deviates from the laws specified, then the maker or the
inventor of the machine is blameworthy. In case the machine develops the ability to think for itself then
both maker or inventor and the robot itself are to be blamed.
For the second dilemma, it is just right for the robots to be given their own set of rights should
they develop the ability to feel different kinds of emotions. Like animals who were found to be capable
of emotions, robots therefore should be given the same rights due them without reservations. Should
that time come, they ought to be treated differently and ought to be given new laws to follow to
accommodate to the new characteristics they have developed.

REFERENCE

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY, pp. 84-102. Janice Patricia Javier Serafica, et.al.

International Federation of Robotics. “Service Robots.” http://www.ifr.org/service-robots.

F. Orfano (2011). “A Brief History of the Laptop.”

M. Mock (n.d.). “Service-Robots as Daily Helpers.”

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. Given below are topics that you will choose from and be able to know its perceived effects and
the dilemma it entails. Discuss your stand on a technological dilemma in a brief essay. Cite also
the role/s played by the technological advancement in the lives of the people.
a. Robots are capable of having emotions
b. Google and stupidity
c. Filipinos’ addiction to different technologies
d. Waze application
2. Do you think that robotics will overcome the lives of people in the future? What is your personal
viewpoint?