Throughout the MET we’ve all been tasked with showcasing and utilizing a new technology. While new technologies present endless possibilities for advancements it’s important to think of the potential consequences of this technology. Are they all positive or are there some negatives?
Do you have any potential consequences you can think of?
Hey Seo-Whi Know, thanks for the response.
Great point bringing up the CRISPR technology what a great example! CRISPR to me is similar to self-driving cars, the technology on its own is simply amazing and quite beautiful but the ethical and moral debates about both are exhausting and frankly quite scary. I was just listening to a Tim Farris podcast the other day and his guest was talking about CRISPR at first I was blown away with the thought of how this could change the world than about 5 min later I was overwhelmed with the idea of super-soldiers destroying it! Marlis mentioned this in her replay, the way we use technology that makes it harmful not the technology it is self. I feel like that applies to CRISPR for sure.
Interesting post Michael. As was said in the video, it’s not the technology that’s scary or potentially harmful, but the way that it is used. When I started teaching 24 years ago, I thought about how useful it would be to insert short relevant video clips into my lessons at applicable times, but it was too much trouble to hunt them down from individual movies. Never would I have thought that I could just type up a quick search in youtube and pull up anything I want. I couldn’t have imagined a time where students could pull out their devices and we could do a quick review game, or where they could email me quick pics/videos of their work… but these are useful and engaging ways to use the technology at hand. I also swear constantly at the battles I have to go through to keep students from being slaves to their phones. It’s all a matter of teaching appropriate boundaries and self control. It’s not the problem of technology, but of human nature.
Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek saw it 60 years ago – there was an episode which I cannot find right now, but it was about a society that was completely unable to function without a computer that controlled their every move. This is the real danger – where we no longer use the technology as tools to expediate, but as a substitute for our own problem solving and critical thinking.
Roddenberry also saw the problem with artificial intelligence and our willingness to surrender decision making with this episode
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ultimate_Computer_(episode)
Is there a solution? When it comes to technology, just because we can, should we?
Hey Marlis, Thanks for the reply!
I totally do agree with you. It’s not the technology itself but human nature that would generate navigate outcomes. I remember being told that watching TV rots your brain as a child, but I can relate some major positive character growth as a child to shows like Boy Meets World which had a massive impact on my development. Willingness to surrender decision-making is a fantastic example of this paradox. On one hand, we progress but on the other hand, we make fewer decision. Does this mean we are less in control of our life? or will there just be more decisions we will need to encounter?
Hi Michael,
Your post on unintended consequences of technology is thought provoking and eye opening. The technological innovations and inventions have made the life of humans not only convenient but have resulted in efficiency, accuracy and timely accomplishment of work processes in hand. However, as there is a common saying that nothing comes without a cost; with advancement of technology, the physical social connections have been changed to digital connections which is increasingly yielding voidness in one’s physical space.
Other than this perils which come with cutting edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence cannot be neglected despite it’s advantages which it brings with itself. I was reading an article on AI where authors have discussed the consequences of AI which will result in more inequality among societies as the 80/20 rule will result in more control of the economy by the business giants.
Here is the link to the article.
https://csreports.aspeninstitute.org/Roundtable-on-Artificial-Intelligence/2019/report/details/0337/AI-2019#:~:text=Two%20significant%20perils%20have%20already%20been%20mentioned:%20the,about%20the%20threats%20that%20AI%20poses%20for%20societies.
Also, please watch this video on the dangers of technologies like AI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhCzX0iLnOc
Thanks for the reply Loveleen Kour Reen
That article is amazing! The 80/20 rule is definitely a great example, especially to how it relates to the dwindling of the middle class. We’ve seen this with companies like Amazon undercut physical stores resulting in less independent owners, and skilled workers. Amazon pays very low salaries to employees and provides horrible working conditions. The same could be said when the industrialization period began and once locally sourced products became massed produced in factories and resulted in financial hardship for local builders and artisans. There are countless examples of this!
Unfortunately, the ones that gain from this are at the top while the lower and middle classes are the ones who tend to benefit the least in terms of finance and job security.
Thank you for posting this, Michael. I think it’s crucial that we never forget that all technologies that breeze into our lives, scattering promise and utility everywhere, also come with downsides.
In the interest of us considering how this is how it is, and how it always has been, I’ll suggest a few technologies of the past that, shall we say, also had a darker side (aka, Unintended Consequences):
The telephone. Connects people separated geographically, allows real-time communication over great distances. Also, enables crank calls, scams, and harassing telephone messages.
The automobile. Permits private citizens to travel great distances, enables deliveries, taxi journeys, and drive-in movies. Also, robbery getaway cars, hit-and-run accidents and DUIs.
The personal computer: Enables learning, research, shopping, e-commerce, entertainment and social interaction. Also, privacy breaches, spam advertisements, electoral interference, and things I’m reluctant to even mention.
Facebook: keeps users in contact with family and friends, serves as gateway for news and important information. Also, scams, spams, fake news, phishing attempts, offensive memes, targetted ads, privacy concerns.
Technology in the modern age is like making a wish in an historical fable; it will never be as simple as it seems, and there will always be a hitch. Thank you for making sure we don’t forget.
Sean thanks for the response!
You hit the nail on the head with all these examples. Every new advancement is burdened with new consequences. A theme seems to be evident throughout the entire documented history of humankind and nature.
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing the TED video. I think he does touch on most of the concerns and consequences I had in mind.
Something I have been always curious about was CRISPR gene editing/genetic engineering/genome technologies. This is a great idea for treating cancer or any illnesses but then the idea extends to clones and other ethical issues. What if we start making human clones that can be used for organ transplants? How ethical is this? If we are genetically engineering characteristics of a baby, how is this okay? I mean, people are already modifying their looks using plastic surgery and other things (and I understand, this is a personal choice) but my point is that it’s not a stretch to say if the technology is there, genetic modification for babies can be a real thing.
I feel that with technologies, there are so many wrong ways it can be used for, although never intended. So how do we prevent these new beneficial technologies to be used the wrong way? I’m not sure if there really is a solution to that.