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!
Monday, October 25, 2010
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.
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