4 group presentations this week wrapped up the last session of our TWC module and it proved to be yet another fruitful lesson!
Lucas's group covered Technology and Armageddon and the role playing manner of presentation was a plus point. It is interesting because it is always discussed that, given the amount of harm we're doing to Earth, how long can it survive and when is the end of the world?
Then our group gave our views on Diseases and Technology to combat it, to give hope to others and to spread the awareness. our solutions were centred around developing technological equipment to help people keep track of their health status /to detect any potential diseases which one may catch, but at the same time to create awareness so that they could help in the prevention of its spread.
the 3rd group focused on Technology and the Art. This is actually a very interesting topic as they group expounded on how technology like lighting and visuals help to piece together modern art pieces. On a side note, they presented tooo much content during their presentation and thus lost my attention midway.
Lastly, Prema's group web report was on Women and Technology, and this I especially liked. Their transition from one speaker to another using videos was smart and the content was sufficient. However, they went the extra mile to provide some other information/content that women would like such as online shopping. Not only did they cover on how technology has empowered women in their website, they also seeked to enhance the level of interest with the incorporation of online shop's website. This is actually very interesting.
On the whole, this session's presentation was enriching and a good conclusion to the entire TWC module. I'd give an 8/10! :)
Although this may mark the end of being formally educated about Technology and World Change, I believe that learning does not stop here. TWC has sparked my interest in exploring and I shall continue to keep abreast of the latest technologies and its impact on changing the world. :)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
11: First Session of Group Project Presentation
This lesson saw 3 groups coming up to present on their final web report. Personally, I feel that it is interesting to present the website that each group has done, instead of coming up with a separate set of powerpoint slides like the usual standards of presentation.
It is always nerve-wrecking to be the first to start off something, but the group that touched on air transport did a pretty good job. What instantly captured my attention was the fact that the web report was a good simulation of the topic which they were responsible for because it looked exactly the view a captain would get from his cockpit. They mentioned about how air transport has changed the world and what they would look forward to. Here, the idea of developing flying cars in the future was really appealing, however it brings with it the concern that there'd be air traffic congestion and also the fact that the monitoring of air traffic proves to be much more difficult, as compared to on land.
After which the 2nd group focused on Clearing up Space as they were concerned that more and more space junk is accumulating. The information provided was consistent and systematic, highlighting the key components of space junk, how detrimental it is and the way to clear them up. However, it would be interesting for them to spice up their presentation with role playing or more videos because too much content said would lose the attention of their audiences.
Finally, the 3rd group presented on Technology in dealing with Land Constraints. Content-wise, it was good and the part of role playing and depicting the past+future managed to capture my attention.Another good point was that they were able to combine various concepts and knowledge from previous lessons (e.g ICT and Alternative energy) into their solutions for the future.
All in all, i'd give a 7.5/10 for this lesson!
It is always nerve-wrecking to be the first to start off something, but the group that touched on air transport did a pretty good job. What instantly captured my attention was the fact that the web report was a good simulation of the topic which they were responsible for because it looked exactly the view a captain would get from his cockpit. They mentioned about how air transport has changed the world and what they would look forward to. Here, the idea of developing flying cars in the future was really appealing, however it brings with it the concern that there'd be air traffic congestion and also the fact that the monitoring of air traffic proves to be much more difficult, as compared to on land.
After which the 2nd group focused on Clearing up Space as they were concerned that more and more space junk is accumulating. The information provided was consistent and systematic, highlighting the key components of space junk, how detrimental it is and the way to clear them up. However, it would be interesting for them to spice up their presentation with role playing or more videos because too much content said would lose the attention of their audiences.
Finally, the 3rd group presented on Technology in dealing with Land Constraints. Content-wise, it was good and the part of role playing and depicting the past+future managed to capture my attention.Another good point was that they were able to combine various concepts and knowledge from previous lessons (e.g ICT and Alternative energy) into their solutions for the future.
All in all, i'd give a 7.5/10 for this lesson!
Monday, October 25, 2010
10: Technology Assessment and Forecasting
Technology Assessment and Forecasting was a topic pretty alien to me because I have never come across this term before. But today's lesson and the readings provided beforehand served to enlighten me a little on this aspect.
In current times, new technologies are abundant and growing. But before these new technologies surface, it is of utmost important that they undergo a string of assessments to ensure that they qualify the minimum requirements for it to be commercialised in the market. That aside, technological assessments help check the ethical issues involved to minimise any conflicts arising from it. This is simply known as ethical technology assessment (eTA) as presented by Hannah today. By adopting a particular framework in the following sequence,doesn't matter the order,(parliamentary,expert,participatory,constructive,argumentative,health TA) new technologies can be critically studied, evaluated, and presented in its best for acceptance by the general public.
Then, there comes technology forecasting, that deals with characteristics of a future technology without having to state how these characteristics are achieved. It is to predict how the future be like and the human dependency on it. From the past weeks of presentations, we've seen how technology transcended from the past to the present, some of which having future projections as well. The future projection will thus fall under the forecasting part, many of which involves strategic foresight from those in the relevant field. Strategic Foresight is the ability to create and maintain a high-quality, coherent and functional forward view, and to use the insights arising in useful organisational ways.(Slaughter (1999) p287). We could say that back then, many already had this strategic foresight which is why we are where we are today. These people pictured a future and many rode on the wave to work on this ideal and technological future, giving us even more room for bold foresights/ even actual implementation of ideas today. Shown below is something interesting on House of the Future.
It is indeed true that, “Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. – African Proverb”. If one is able to extend his sights into the future, dream big and bold, he is likely to embrace the future with optimism and enthusiasm. “My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there – Charles Kettering”, and yes, why not? By actively forecasting/contributing to futurology, we will not be discounting ourselves from the future benefits to be yielded.
I’d rate today’s lesson a 6.75/10 because much as technology assessment & forecasting can be a fresh topic for discussion, the content can be a bit dry and disengaging. But still, good job presenters!
In current times, new technologies are abundant and growing. But before these new technologies surface, it is of utmost important that they undergo a string of assessments to ensure that they qualify the minimum requirements for it to be commercialised in the market. That aside, technological assessments help check the ethical issues involved to minimise any conflicts arising from it. This is simply known as ethical technology assessment (eTA) as presented by Hannah today. By adopting a particular framework in the following sequence,doesn't matter the order,(parliamentary,expert,participatory,constructive,argumentative,health TA) new technologies can be critically studied, evaluated, and presented in its best for acceptance by the general public.
Then, there comes technology forecasting, that deals with characteristics of a future technology without having to state how these characteristics are achieved. It is to predict how the future be like and the human dependency on it. From the past weeks of presentations, we've seen how technology transcended from the past to the present, some of which having future projections as well. The future projection will thus fall under the forecasting part, many of which involves strategic foresight from those in the relevant field. Strategic Foresight is the ability to create and maintain a high-quality, coherent and functional forward view, and to use the insights arising in useful organisational ways.(Slaughter (1999) p287). We could say that back then, many already had this strategic foresight which is why we are where we are today. These people pictured a future and many rode on the wave to work on this ideal and technological future, giving us even more room for bold foresights/ even actual implementation of ideas today. Shown below is something interesting on House of the Future.
It is indeed true that, “Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. – African Proverb”. If one is able to extend his sights into the future, dream big and bold, he is likely to embrace the future with optimism and enthusiasm. “My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there – Charles Kettering”, and yes, why not? By actively forecasting/contributing to futurology, we will not be discounting ourselves from the future benefits to be yielded.
I’d rate today’s lesson a 6.75/10 because much as technology assessment & forecasting can be a fresh topic for discussion, the content can be a bit dry and disengaging. But still, good job presenters!
Monday, October 18, 2010
9: Emerging and Future Technologies
Technological advancement is forwarding at breakneck speed and we seem to be having countless emerging technologies given scientists’ thirst for betterment. Each and every emerging technology holds tremendous promise for uplifting the collective quality of life. Some are under way while others may take years for their current imagination to take its mould. More often than not, these technologies tend to bring about hot debates with regards to its social, economic and political implications but taken together however, these technologies can not only sharply improve the world in which we live, they can also alter us humans, thereby forever moulding and improving our quality of life.
Below is an envisioned future by Microsoft which encompasses the issue on augmented reality, holographs, electronic papers etc. Very interesting to watch and it's good to look forward to such a future.
Below is an article that clearly sums up the future technologies
http://www.naturalnews.com/SpecialReports/EmergingTechnologies.pdf
Today's focus was on nanotechnology, touch-screen technology, electronic papers, biometrics, gaming and SMART cards.
Nanotechnology is defined as the engineer of functional systems on a molecular scale and can be used to create materials or devices with a vast array of applications such as in medicine, electronics, biomaterial and energy production. Here, reading 2 was provided to give a clearer understanding of the works of nanotechnology and some potential concerns that were brought up in the course of this development. One of which was the fact that it could widen digital divide because of the increasing amount of patents applied for privatisation of nanotechnology ownership, thereby denying the poorer nations access to this technology that could potentially benefit them in many areas.
Having said that, there are many benefits to yield from development of nanotechnology. Under the technical excellence award 2009, from reading 3, many important and innovative technological achievements were recognized. One of which that caught my attention was the one on TOUCHTECH CAPCITIVE GLOVES that incorporated the use of nanoscience and technology. The people behind this captured the fact that there are limitations to capacitive touch screen technology, one of which is that when people put on gloves, the touch screens became less responsive. This discovery led to the birth of the TOUCHTECH CAPACITIVE GLOVES that is made of fabric with nanoparticles so that when one puts on these gloves, he can still operate the touch screens effectively. This is just one of the few prospects of nanotechnology, many of which are still in the making.
Speaking of which Shuna gave us an insight on touch-technology being the highly sought after component in many equipment today. The usage of electronic papers, biometrics, smart cards was also introduced and this whole host of technological improvements seem to be a confluence of the 4 smarts which prof mentioned- smart PEOPLE, IDEAS, MONEY, ALLIANCE AND PARTNERSHIP.
Take for example, the transition from the initial touch screen technology (that could only recognize single bodily contact with the screen), to the current multi-touch technology. With the smart idea of developing the multi-touch technology such that the screen can simultaneously register three or more distinct position of input touch, University of Toronto's Input Research Group went on with rounds and rounds of experiments and testing to finally create the first human-input multi-touch system. But it was only with the increasing popularity that APPLE's iPhone gained, that gradually commercialised the multi-touch technology, since APPLE was the first to introduce multi-touch technology to a mobile device because they saw its potential in attracting consumers and reaping huge profits. With the 4 SMARTS, new technologies are born and consistently upheld/improved on.
“In terms of the development and application of new and emerging technologies, we are limited only by our imagination- and, all too often, the lack thereof”. I do agree with this but I'd think that this was applicable only in the past, when we were less tech-savvy,when technology wasn't as much a important part of our lives and when we were more conservative and less receptive to seemingly unrealistic yet ideal goals.
But with the rise in the Western powers over the years, conservative thinking has gone to be a thing of the past. People embrace change; bold and new ideas are highly lauded. This has effectively led to the current improvements in technology and thus does not seem to justify the above statement because it has progressed to the extent where the imaginations are so wild and unpredictable. Just like the above video of our future envisioned by Microsoft, we could well be headed for an entirely technology based world. Where we wake in the morning and read the news on holographic projections on the mirror, where we can choose products via the augmented reality and where the connection between us and the virtual world is so close it goes unnoticeable.
As long as there is the existence of that envision, there are bound to be people who welcome it and seek to work towards such a future. We are no longer limited by our imaginations, but instead our imagination now promises to bring us through the wildest, most exciting and much anticipated future ahead.
Today's lesson was an eye-opener because it exposed me to a whole range of exotic projections towards the near future. Especially the insights of the presentation and the relevant videos that were screened. I'd rate it a 9/10! :)
Below is an envisioned future by Microsoft which encompasses the issue on augmented reality, holographs, electronic papers etc. Very interesting to watch and it's good to look forward to such a future.
Below is an article that clearly sums up the future technologies
http://www.naturalnews.com/SpecialReports/EmergingTechnologies.pdf
Today's focus was on nanotechnology, touch-screen technology, electronic papers, biometrics, gaming and SMART cards.
Nanotechnology is defined as the engineer of functional systems on a molecular scale and can be used to create materials or devices with a vast array of applications such as in medicine, electronics, biomaterial and energy production. Here, reading 2 was provided to give a clearer understanding of the works of nanotechnology and some potential concerns that were brought up in the course of this development. One of which was the fact that it could widen digital divide because of the increasing amount of patents applied for privatisation of nanotechnology ownership, thereby denying the poorer nations access to this technology that could potentially benefit them in many areas.
Having said that, there are many benefits to yield from development of nanotechnology. Under the technical excellence award 2009, from reading 3, many important and innovative technological achievements were recognized. One of which that caught my attention was the one on TOUCHTECH CAPCITIVE GLOVES that incorporated the use of nanoscience and technology. The people behind this captured the fact that there are limitations to capacitive touch screen technology, one of which is that when people put on gloves, the touch screens became less responsive. This discovery led to the birth of the TOUCHTECH CAPACITIVE GLOVES that is made of fabric with nanoparticles so that when one puts on these gloves, he can still operate the touch screens effectively. This is just one of the few prospects of nanotechnology, many of which are still in the making.
Speaking of which Shuna gave us an insight on touch-technology being the highly sought after component in many equipment today. The usage of electronic papers, biometrics, smart cards was also introduced and this whole host of technological improvements seem to be a confluence of the 4 smarts which prof mentioned- smart PEOPLE, IDEAS, MONEY, ALLIANCE AND PARTNERSHIP.
Take for example, the transition from the initial touch screen technology (that could only recognize single bodily contact with the screen), to the current multi-touch technology. With the smart idea of developing the multi-touch technology such that the screen can simultaneously register three or more distinct position of input touch, University of Toronto's Input Research Group went on with rounds and rounds of experiments and testing to finally create the first human-input multi-touch system. But it was only with the increasing popularity that APPLE's iPhone gained, that gradually commercialised the multi-touch technology, since APPLE was the first to introduce multi-touch technology to a mobile device because they saw its potential in attracting consumers and reaping huge profits. With the 4 SMARTS, new technologies are born and consistently upheld/improved on.
“In terms of the development and application of new and emerging technologies, we are limited only by our imagination- and, all too often, the lack thereof”. I do agree with this but I'd think that this was applicable only in the past, when we were less tech-savvy,when technology wasn't as much a important part of our lives and when we were more conservative and less receptive to seemingly unrealistic yet ideal goals.
But with the rise in the Western powers over the years, conservative thinking has gone to be a thing of the past. People embrace change; bold and new ideas are highly lauded. This has effectively led to the current improvements in technology and thus does not seem to justify the above statement because it has progressed to the extent where the imaginations are so wild and unpredictable. Just like the above video of our future envisioned by Microsoft, we could well be headed for an entirely technology based world. Where we wake in the morning and read the news on holographic projections on the mirror, where we can choose products via the augmented reality and where the connection between us and the virtual world is so close it goes unnoticeable.
As long as there is the existence of that envision, there are bound to be people who welcome it and seek to work towards such a future. We are no longer limited by our imaginations, but instead our imagination now promises to bring us through the wildest, most exciting and much anticipated future ahead.
Today's lesson was an eye-opener because it exposed me to a whole range of exotic projections towards the near future. Especially the insights of the presentation and the relevant videos that were screened. I'd rate it a 9/10! :)
Monday, October 11, 2010
8: Energy and World Change
In this day and age, we constantly discuss the fact and emphasize the importance that technology has had on world change. It doesn’t seem to be coming to a standstill anytime soon, unlike other things that could remain stagnant once its peak has been attained. Instead, it is progressing much faster than we expect it to be because of the simple fact that research is always ongoing and there is a constant flow of funding towards the technological field. Currently, there is a whole host of emerging technologies identified, some of which contains the most prominent ongoing developments, advances and innovations in various fields of modern technology.
For the past 7 weeks, we have touched on biotechnologies such as genetic engineering of food/crops to reduce perishability of crops, robotic surgery to enhance entire operation process, information and communication technology on the people & economy, biofuels as an alternative source of energy and many more. From here, we can conclude that in each respective aspect, technology has sought to improve quality and sustainability of human life, though there has been concerns brought up as well.
This week, our focus is on energy and world change. Energy is undoubtedly a source for many of our activities, from electrical energy in households to supplying energy to drive industrial processes. The following are components of energy sources consumption in 2008: Fossil fuels 78%, Renewables 19%, Nuclear 3%. From here, it is clearly evident that much of our energy source comes from non-renewable resources and this threatens dependency on it because these fossil fuels take so long to be formed that once they are entirely used up, they will cease to exist. Because of its wide usage in many areas in our lives and the growing demand our population has on energy sources, we are now facing a global energy crisis where energy supply is quickly dwindling.
This is when we continuously seek alternative sources of energy, so that in future, when our renewable sources run dry, we could still depend on the alternatives cultivated in the past. Patrick introduced a very a topic that captured my interest - about carbon capturing and recycling such that carbon dioxide is effectively converted to fuel as an energy source via methods such as the biofuel method and nanotechnology method. This fuel produced by the CCR technology is very compatible with the current transportation infrastructure and has a great potential as a solution to energy dependence and climate change. No doubt there remains the fact that the carbon cycle in our environment will be disrupted because this technology could well capture the CO2 required for plants to photosynthesize for survival and thereby result in ecological detriment, analysts are still positive that it could greatly reduce CO2 emission and its contribution towards global warming, and at the same time, acting as an alternative source of energy which we could rely on in the future.
Another area that could well be tapped on is the osmotic energy and energy derived from reverse electrodialysis. The osmotic process is simple because it creates a flow through the plant (from a higher water potential to lower water potential) and it is this flow that forces turbines to rotate and generate energy/electricity. But the challenge and the fact that is not largely implemented yet is because of the high cost incurred in anchoring power plants such as the Submarine Hydroelectric Power Plant/ underground Pressure-retarded Osmosis Plant. Which is why professionals have also suggested possible extensions that could be cheaper or produces much more energy per unit, and an example would be reverse electrodialysis. This process involves direct electrochemical conversion in dialytic cells. Dialytic cells use the potential found between solutions of different salt concentrations, which are separated by charged membranes. For instance, fresh water has, in general, 850 parts per million dissolved salt water. That is equal to a potential of 80 millivolts at the interface (the membrane). By putting many cells in series it is possible to create more power.
Having said the above, the possibility to utilise salinity gradient in the ocean to power our household/industrial activities lies within the technollgy to be developed. Although the costs accrued now remains the top factor of low usage, it is strongly believed that in future, when the costs decrease, osmotic energy will be a great alternative source of energy.
With all the technologies and research that scientists now undertake to create alternative sources of energy and the fact that they are looking into renewable energy as well, it is no doubt that “The days of fossil fuels are numbered and Renewable energy will drive the Green Revolution.”
I’d rate today’s lesson an 8.5/10 because it covered a wide scope with respect to alternative energy sources, such as the different TYPES of alternative energy , the way they work and the 9 challenges faced when exploring these alternatives. And I’d like to end off with a video I came across, on how the usage of solar energy seeks to alleviate mounting problems faced by 3 billion people who rely solely on wood for cooking fuel.
For the past 7 weeks, we have touched on biotechnologies such as genetic engineering of food/crops to reduce perishability of crops, robotic surgery to enhance entire operation process, information and communication technology on the people & economy, biofuels as an alternative source of energy and many more. From here, we can conclude that in each respective aspect, technology has sought to improve quality and sustainability of human life, though there has been concerns brought up as well.
This week, our focus is on energy and world change. Energy is undoubtedly a source for many of our activities, from electrical energy in households to supplying energy to drive industrial processes. The following are components of energy sources consumption in 2008: Fossil fuels 78%, Renewables 19%, Nuclear 3%. From here, it is clearly evident that much of our energy source comes from non-renewable resources and this threatens dependency on it because these fossil fuels take so long to be formed that once they are entirely used up, they will cease to exist. Because of its wide usage in many areas in our lives and the growing demand our population has on energy sources, we are now facing a global energy crisis where energy supply is quickly dwindling.
This is when we continuously seek alternative sources of energy, so that in future, when our renewable sources run dry, we could still depend on the alternatives cultivated in the past. Patrick introduced a very a topic that captured my interest - about carbon capturing and recycling such that carbon dioxide is effectively converted to fuel as an energy source via methods such as the biofuel method and nanotechnology method. This fuel produced by the CCR technology is very compatible with the current transportation infrastructure and has a great potential as a solution to energy dependence and climate change. No doubt there remains the fact that the carbon cycle in our environment will be disrupted because this technology could well capture the CO2 required for plants to photosynthesize for survival and thereby result in ecological detriment, analysts are still positive that it could greatly reduce CO2 emission and its contribution towards global warming, and at the same time, acting as an alternative source of energy which we could rely on in the future.
Another area that could well be tapped on is the osmotic energy and energy derived from reverse electrodialysis. The osmotic process is simple because it creates a flow through the plant (from a higher water potential to lower water potential) and it is this flow that forces turbines to rotate and generate energy/electricity. But the challenge and the fact that is not largely implemented yet is because of the high cost incurred in anchoring power plants such as the Submarine Hydroelectric Power Plant/ underground Pressure-retarded Osmosis Plant. Which is why professionals have also suggested possible extensions that could be cheaper or produces much more energy per unit, and an example would be reverse electrodialysis. This process involves direct electrochemical conversion in dialytic cells. Dialytic cells use the potential found between solutions of different salt concentrations, which are separated by charged membranes. For instance, fresh water has, in general, 850 parts per million dissolved salt water. That is equal to a potential of 80 millivolts at the interface (the membrane). By putting many cells in series it is possible to create more power.
Having said the above, the possibility to utilise salinity gradient in the ocean to power our household/industrial activities lies within the technollgy to be developed. Although the costs accrued now remains the top factor of low usage, it is strongly believed that in future, when the costs decrease, osmotic energy will be a great alternative source of energy.
With all the technologies and research that scientists now undertake to create alternative sources of energy and the fact that they are looking into renewable energy as well, it is no doubt that “The days of fossil fuels are numbered and Renewable energy will drive the Green Revolution.”
I’d rate today’s lesson an 8.5/10 because it covered a wide scope with respect to alternative energy sources, such as the different TYPES of alternative energy , the way they work and the 9 challenges faced when exploring these alternatives. And I’d like to end off with a video I came across, on how the usage of solar energy seeks to alleviate mounting problems faced by 3 billion people who rely solely on wood for cooking fuel.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
7:The BioBusiness Revolution 2: Agriculture and the Environment: Past, Present, And Future
“When we are able to grow the resources we need, we’ll finally be on the road to sustainability” was the takeaway message Prof left with us. This is very true, because only when we know the method of growing our resources, then can we continually pass the skills on to the future generations and encourage them to explore and discover more and eventually be self-sustainable. It’s just as the saying goes “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”.
In the era we live in, we seek to continually discover more alternative resources or methods to boost agricultural produce. We don’t wait and hope to chance upon resources, we actively SEEK the routes to finding such resources or technology. All these are done in the hope that we could eventually be self-sustainable and one important transition I’d like to highlight is our shift from the GREEN to GENE revolution with the aim of being food secure and sustainable.
Green revolution was highly lauded back in the 1970s because the development and technology initiatives helped quadruple the amount of output with every acre of land, thereby being able to feed a much larger population. However, crops faced the threat of being wiped out by capricious weather and the devastation was even greater when people didn’t have enough food supply.
With the current improvements in biotechnology, we now have the Gene Revolution, and as its name suggests, crops can be genetically engineered to possess favourable characteristics to withstand harsh and unpredictable weather. The video belows explains our transition from the green to gene revolution.
Gene revolution seeks to provide many opportunities for countries like India (an agrarian country), because sensible integration of biotechnology in research can accelerate the pace of agricultural improvement and is of considerable relevance. With no more arable land available for agricultural expansion in India, enhancing stress tolerance in crop plants will permit productive farming on currently unproductive lands. Abiotic factors such as drought, heat, cold, soil salinity and acidity cripple Indian crops seriously constraining their growth and yield. One could extend the growing season of crops and minimise losses due to environmental factors. The shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be prolonged to reduce losses to food spoilage, expand the market vista and improve food quality.
Many other countries, like Mexico, China, Argentina have reaped benefits from the biotech supported agricultural programmes implemented in their country. When crops are engineered to be pest-resistant, drought-resistant and more nutritious, output level will not be greatly affected by invasion of pests/occurrence of extreme weather conditions. This can ensure a steady supply of food and thus increases food security and economic stability as well!
However, there have been certain areas of concern with regards to these genetically modified crops/food, as we discussed in class too. Questions arose as to whether we knew if we were consuming GM food or if we would avoid eating GM food if we knew of its nature. Honestly speaking, I will not seek to specifically find out whether I had been consuming GM food and I won’t avoid GM food unless there are stated components with which I’m allergic to. Furthermore, GM food can sometimes be more nutritious than others, so why not consume it?
But concerns aside, we cannot deny that genetically engineered crops have proven to be beneficial and are the first step towards sustainability in
the area of food. We have to chance people's mindset, like what reading 4 mentioned, and get them to have greater acceptance towards the gene revolution, because technology drives changes. We cannot ignore/stop technology just because of its potential problems. Rather we should follow its natural flow, amplify its benefits and work on the shortcomings so that in future, we can make things better and prevent the occurence of the potential problems.
Likewise, research into the different alternatives sources of energy have yielded positive discovery of say, the use of biofuels to generate energy. Although it has been said that biofuels can threaten food security because it uses agricultural crops in its energy generating process, but it still could serve as an alternative source in times of need. Furthermore, the exploration and breakthrough achieved in identifying possible substitutes are crucial in reducing reliance on a sole source and thereby can increase sustainability in the long run.
Today’s lesson was pretty engaging and the topic of protecting corals was very interesting because it clearly showed how biotechnology could play a role in protecting marine life as well. Overall I’d rate an 8.5/10!
In the era we live in, we seek to continually discover more alternative resources or methods to boost agricultural produce. We don’t wait and hope to chance upon resources, we actively SEEK the routes to finding such resources or technology. All these are done in the hope that we could eventually be self-sustainable and one important transition I’d like to highlight is our shift from the GREEN to GENE revolution with the aim of being food secure and sustainable.
Green revolution was highly lauded back in the 1970s because the development and technology initiatives helped quadruple the amount of output with every acre of land, thereby being able to feed a much larger population. However, crops faced the threat of being wiped out by capricious weather and the devastation was even greater when people didn’t have enough food supply.
With the current improvements in biotechnology, we now have the Gene Revolution, and as its name suggests, crops can be genetically engineered to possess favourable characteristics to withstand harsh and unpredictable weather. The video belows explains our transition from the green to gene revolution.
Gene revolution seeks to provide many opportunities for countries like India (an agrarian country), because sensible integration of biotechnology in research can accelerate the pace of agricultural improvement and is of considerable relevance. With no more arable land available for agricultural expansion in India, enhancing stress tolerance in crop plants will permit productive farming on currently unproductive lands. Abiotic factors such as drought, heat, cold, soil salinity and acidity cripple Indian crops seriously constraining their growth and yield. One could extend the growing season of crops and minimise losses due to environmental factors. The shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be prolonged to reduce losses to food spoilage, expand the market vista and improve food quality.
Many other countries, like Mexico, China, Argentina have reaped benefits from the biotech supported agricultural programmes implemented in their country. When crops are engineered to be pest-resistant, drought-resistant and more nutritious, output level will not be greatly affected by invasion of pests/occurrence of extreme weather conditions. This can ensure a steady supply of food and thus increases food security and economic stability as well!
However, there have been certain areas of concern with regards to these genetically modified crops/food, as we discussed in class too. Questions arose as to whether we knew if we were consuming GM food or if we would avoid eating GM food if we knew of its nature. Honestly speaking, I will not seek to specifically find out whether I had been consuming GM food and I won’t avoid GM food unless there are stated components with which I’m allergic to. Furthermore, GM food can sometimes be more nutritious than others, so why not consume it?
But concerns aside, we cannot deny that genetically engineered crops have proven to be beneficial and are the first step towards sustainability in
the area of food. We have to chance people's mindset, like what reading 4 mentioned, and get them to have greater acceptance towards the gene revolution, because technology drives changes. We cannot ignore/stop technology just because of its potential problems. Rather we should follow its natural flow, amplify its benefits and work on the shortcomings so that in future, we can make things better and prevent the occurence of the potential problems.
Likewise, research into the different alternatives sources of energy have yielded positive discovery of say, the use of biofuels to generate energy. Although it has been said that biofuels can threaten food security because it uses agricultural crops in its energy generating process, but it still could serve as an alternative source in times of need. Furthermore, the exploration and breakthrough achieved in identifying possible substitutes are crucial in reducing reliance on a sole source and thereby can increase sustainability in the long run.
Today’s lesson was pretty engaging and the topic of protecting corals was very interesting because it clearly showed how biotechnology could play a role in protecting marine life as well. Overall I’d rate an 8.5/10!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
6: The BioBusiness Revolution 1: Healthcare and the Biomedical Sciences: Past, Present, Future
The first thing that came to my mind at the mention of this topic was on biomedical technology. Honestly, this is not a topic that I am very familiar with but back in jc, my classmates did a presentation on robotic surgery and hence I've decided to draw its link to our current discussion on biomedical technology.
This video here gives an idea of how robotic surgery works.
Indeed, medical technology has advanced to a stage where we no longer have to have surgeons using their hands and tools to make their way through the target organ, (like what Cheng Wei mentioned about laproscopic surgery and NOTES). It means that valves or vessels that were previously too small or narrow to be reached could now be targetted with the use of small yet precise incisions and tools that are connected to the robotic arm which are ultimately controlled by the surgeon. It also bids goodbye to the days when patients were traumatised by the amount of blood loss and scars that took eternity to heal, because what surgeons have now are a whole new technology that increases precision, minimises blood loss during surgery and likewise minimise scarring on one's body. But to date, conventional surgery seems to provide far more assurance than robotic surgery does partly because it is new and has its cons as well.
The flip side to it is that there could be higher risks involved. Simply speaking, patients fear because doctors are now not looking at them as it is, but rather looking at them using 3D cameras attached to the robotic equipment. If these equipment or robots were to fail in the midst of the surgery, what will surgeons do? Also, a greater pool of surgeons have to be trained in this aspect to endure the longer tedious process of surgery to ensure that patients' life will not be at risk because of their inadaptibility towards robotic surgery. That aside, costs could be another deterring factor as well, because now, robotic surgery is considered as in its early developments and it's costs are still pretty high. Only if eventually more and more surgeons adopt this method then will costs be likely to fall.
Back in August 2008, The National University of Singapore became the first country in SE ASIA to offer robotic surgery for cancer patients, bringing hope of a better surgery and recovery process. With more and more countries riding on this surgical breakthrough, it will be easier to convince patients to adopt a less painful procedure although at a cost higher than conventional surgery. Also, with wider undertaking of robotic surgery, it could, in future, even become the mainstream surgical process and eventually be affordable to many!
alright, enough said about robotic surgery. As always, Prof left us with a message saying "BioBusiness Revolution will transform our lives and our economies. Lives being our health,food,clothes,energy sources, others." This is very true. As in the case of agriculture, scientists are coming up with genetically modified food of various nature, such as being able to withstand extreme weather conditions and containing increased nutritious qualities. This helps reduce supply shock due to extreme weathers and could effectively provide a constant supply of food to the people. Similar, healthcare will go up because of biomedical advancements and the development of precise technological equipment which ultimately leads to improved living standards for the people. Therefore, the BioBusiness Revolution WILL change our lives, and hopefully for the better!
I felt that we could have talked more about the disruptive technologies in healthcare industry and more of other aspects like agriculture etc. I'd rate a 7.5/10!
This video here gives an idea of how robotic surgery works.
Indeed, medical technology has advanced to a stage where we no longer have to have surgeons using their hands and tools to make their way through the target organ, (like what Cheng Wei mentioned about laproscopic surgery and NOTES). It means that valves or vessels that were previously too small or narrow to be reached could now be targetted with the use of small yet precise incisions and tools that are connected to the robotic arm which are ultimately controlled by the surgeon. It also bids goodbye to the days when patients were traumatised by the amount of blood loss and scars that took eternity to heal, because what surgeons have now are a whole new technology that increases precision, minimises blood loss during surgery and likewise minimise scarring on one's body. But to date, conventional surgery seems to provide far more assurance than robotic surgery does partly because it is new and has its cons as well.
The flip side to it is that there could be higher risks involved. Simply speaking, patients fear because doctors are now not looking at them as it is, but rather looking at them using 3D cameras attached to the robotic equipment. If these equipment or robots were to fail in the midst of the surgery, what will surgeons do? Also, a greater pool of surgeons have to be trained in this aspect to endure the longer tedious process of surgery to ensure that patients' life will not be at risk because of their inadaptibility towards robotic surgery. That aside, costs could be another deterring factor as well, because now, robotic surgery is considered as in its early developments and it's costs are still pretty high. Only if eventually more and more surgeons adopt this method then will costs be likely to fall.
Back in August 2008, The National University of Singapore became the first country in SE ASIA to offer robotic surgery for cancer patients, bringing hope of a better surgery and recovery process. With more and more countries riding on this surgical breakthrough, it will be easier to convince patients to adopt a less painful procedure although at a cost higher than conventional surgery. Also, with wider undertaking of robotic surgery, it could, in future, even become the mainstream surgical process and eventually be affordable to many!
alright, enough said about robotic surgery. As always, Prof left us with a message saying "BioBusiness Revolution will transform our lives and our economies. Lives being our health,food,clothes,energy sources, others." This is very true. As in the case of agriculture, scientists are coming up with genetically modified food of various nature, such as being able to withstand extreme weather conditions and containing increased nutritious qualities. This helps reduce supply shock due to extreme weathers and could effectively provide a constant supply of food to the people. Similar, healthcare will go up because of biomedical advancements and the development of precise technological equipment which ultimately leads to improved living standards for the people. Therefore, the BioBusiness Revolution WILL change our lives, and hopefully for the better!
I felt that we could have talked more about the disruptive technologies in healthcare industry and more of other aspects like agriculture etc. I'd rate a 7.5/10!
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