Technology and Society: A Bridge to the 21st Century

by Hjorth, Linda S.; Eichler, Barbara A.; Khan, Ahmed S.; Morello, John A.

• ISBN13: 9780130924759
• ISBN10: 013092475X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Using specific examples from the past and present, this guide exposes readers to the full breadth and depth of issues, showing the complexity that makes 'solutions' not so simple. For anyone interested in the impact of technology on society. Previous ed. c2000. Softcover.

Table of Contents

PART I ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY	2	(50)
Objectives	3	(1)
Introduction	3	(2)
Ethics	5	(18)
Robert McGinn
The Relationships Between Ethics and Technology	23	(6)
Paul Alcorn
Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks	29	(10)
O.C. Ferrell
Doing Well by Doing Good	39	(5)
Whistle-Blowing	44	(2)
Case Study: Roger Boisjoyly	46	(6)
Morton Thiokol
Ethical Issues in Cyberspace	48	(1)
Conclusion	49	(1)
A Bridge to Your 21st Century Understanding	50	(1)
Internet Exercise	50	(1)
Beyond the Bridge: Explore Future Options	51	(1)
Useful Web Sites	51	(1)
PART II History of Technology	52	(18)
Objectives	53	(1)
Introduction	53	(1)
Timeline	54	(11)
``George''	65	(2)
Paul Alcorn
The ``New'' George	67	(3)
John Morello
Conclusion	69	(1)
Internet Exercise	69	(1)
Useful Web Sites	69	(1)
PART III ENERGY	70	(84)
Objectives	71	(1)
Introduction	71	(7)
Fossil Fuel Fundamentals	78	(10)
Ahmed S. Khan
Barbara A. Eichler
Energy for a New Century	88	(2)
Christopher Flavin
The Immortal Waste	90	(11)
Ahmed S. Khan
Barbara A. Eichler
Case Study: Nuclear Warriors	101	(10)
Eric Pooley
The Hydrogen Experiment	111	(9)
Seth Dunn
Solar Energy	120	(4)
Ahmed S. Khan
Barbara A. Eichler
Wind Power	124	(2)
Ahmed S. Khan
Barbara A. Eichler
Wind Power: Small, But Growing Fast	126	(4)
Christopher Flavin
Hydroelectric Power	130	(3)
Ahmed S. Khan
Barbara A. Eichler
All the Wild Rivers	133	(3)
Curtis Runyan
The Electric Car Arrives---Again	136	(18)
Seth Dunn
Conclusion	144	(1)
Internet Exercise	145	(4)
Trends of the 21st Century	149	(2)
A Bridge to Your 21st Century Understanding	151	(1)
Beyond the Bridge: Explore Future Options	152	(1)
Useful Web Sites	153	(1)
PART IV ECOLOGY	154	(80)
Objectives	155	(1)
Introduction	155	(13)
The Grim Payback of Greed	168	(7)
Alan Durning
Young at Risk	175	(8)
Fisheries: Exploiting the Ocean---What Will Be Left?	183	(8)
Buried Displeasure: The Love Canal	191	(2)
What Will Happen to the Endangered Species Act?	193	(6)
Air Poisons Around the World	199	(9)
Earth Day: 25 Years	208	(7)
Frank Graham
Rain Forests May Offer New Miracle Drugs	215	(6)
Case Study: The Great Molasses Flood	221	(2)
Case Study: The Toxic Cloud over Bhopal	223	(11)
Earth Day 2000: A 30-Year Report Card	226	(2)
7 Moments That Helped Define the Trends of the Past 30 Years	228	(1)
And 7 Moments (Past and Future) That Could Be Keys to the Next 30 Years	229	(1)
What Would (Can) You Do?	230	(1)
Conclusion	231	(1)
Internet Exercise	232	(1)
Useful Web Sites	233	(1)
PART V POPULATION	234	(90)
Objectives	235	(1)
Introduction	235	(21)
The Great Leap Forward	256	(10)
Jared Diamond
Putting the Bite on Planet Earth	266	(7)
Don Hinrichsen
Can the Growing Human Population Feed Itself?	273	(5)
John Bongaarts
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo	278	(3)
The World Birth Control Discussion Issues	281	(7)
Case Study: Japan's Recent Lift of Birth Control Pill a Thirty-Year Battle	288	(3)
Fertility Rates: The Decline Is Stalling	291	(5)
Linda Starke
Population Carrying Capacities: Four Case Studies---Pakistan, India, Ethiopia, Mexico	296	(17)
The Humanitarian and Technical Dilemmas of Population Control in China	313	(3)
Su Xiaokang
Earth's Carrying Capacity: Not Quite So Easy When Applied to Humans	316	(8)
Conclusion	319	(1)
Internet Exercise	320	(2)
Useful Web Sites	322	(2)
PART VI HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY	324	(28)
Objectives	325	(1)
Introduction	325	(1)
Baby It's You! And You, and You...	326	(7)
Nancy Gibbs
Antibiotic Resistance	333	(2)
Linda Stevens Hjorth
The Politics of Life and Death: Global Responses to HIV and AIDS	335	(8)
Mary Caron
Physician-Assisted Suicide	343	(3)
Future Genetic Testing	346	(6)
Genetically Modified Foods Exercise	347	(1)
DNA Testing Exercise	347	(1)
Conclusion	348	(1)
Internet Exercise	349	(1)
Useful Web Sites	350	(2)
PART VII TECHNOLOGY AND THE THIRD WORLD	352	(98)
Objectives	353	(1)
Introduction	353	(2)
One Planet: Many Worlds	355	(29)
Ahmed S. Khan
Income Gap Widens	384	(4)
Hal Kane
China's Challenge to the United States and to the Earth	388	(7)
Lester Brown
Christopher Flavin
N30 WTO Showdown	395	(9)
Paul Hawken
Pakistan: Karachi's Informal ``Recycling Network''	404	(4)
Sri Lanka: Technology and Agriculture, Tractor versus Buffalo	408	(3)
Appropriate Technologies	411	(10)
Gadi Kaplan
Harnessing the Wind	421	(9)
Jay Jayadev
Application of Telecommunications Technologies in Distance Learning	430	(20)
Ahmed S. Khan
Conclusion	442	(1)
Internet Exercise	442	(6)
A Bridge to Your 21st Century Understanding	448	(1)
Useful Web Sites	449	(1)
PART VIII TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE	450	(73)
Objectives	451	(1)
Introduction	452	(2)
Creating the Future	454	(13)
Norman Myers
Trends Now Changing the World	467	(14)
Marvin J. Cetron
Owen Davies
Predictions: Technology of the New Century and the New Millennium	481	(5)
Telemedicine: The Health System of Tomorrow	486	(3)
Thomas Blanton
David C. Balch
The Information Warrior	489	(9)
Ellison C. Urban
New Horizons of Information Technology	498	(4)
Ahmed S. Khan
Future Ecology: The 2002 Second World Summit Focuses on a Renewed Spirit and Commitment	502	(5)
Future Ecology: Is the Kyoto Climate Agreement Still Alive Due to the Bonn, 2001 Meeting?	507	(4)
Future: Population Growth Estimates	511	(12)
Internet Exercise	513	(1)
Useful Web Sites	514	(1)
Authors' Commentaries	515	(6)
Beyond the Bridge ... Explore Future Options	521	(2)
Index	523

Excerpts

ISSUES EXPLORED IN THE TEXT One of the underlying issues explored inTechnology and Society: A Bridge to the 21st Centuryis whether we are in charge of technology or whether technology controls us. At what point does technological dependency cause social problems? And to what extent are we, as caring social beings, concerned about technological impact? This text encourages readers to analyze and reflect on technology's impact on the global village economically, politically, and environmentally. The new century will usher in an urgent challenge to resolve the conflicts among our technological, environmental, and social worlds. The ability to understand the impact of technology on our lives and on succeeding generations will be essential to reaching the goals of survival, peaceful coexistence, ethical living, safety, and prosperity. The chapters in this text are designed to stimulate, inspire, and provoke awareness of technology's impact on society. They are supported by a variety of features intended to supplement and complement learning, critical analysis, and social awareness. FEATURES Flowcharts:One of the unique features of the text is the use of flowcharts as logical, interactive maps that emphasize the problems, possible solutions, and points of direction and significance of the chapters and case studies. Many of the flowcharts have been class-tested and we have found that students like them because they appeal to their kinesthetic and problem-solving learning style. The visual process of flowcharting the information presented in the readings seems to increase insight and critical thinking skills. Internet Exercises:The Internet exercises enable students to (a) become familiar with the knowledge dissemination mode of the ever-expanding Internet; and (b) incorporate the Internet's multimedia resources to enhance learning. Useful Web Sites:Considering the vast scope and rate of change of technological growth, it is difficult to cover all facets of technology and related issues of its impact on society. Therefore, each part concludes with a list of Web sites for the reader to use to supplement and enhance the content. Questions:Each article concludes with questions to integrate knowledge and synthesize understanding of social issues impacted by technology. The questions also create excitement and wonderment about the tenacity of technology and its impact on the quality of life. Statistics:Boxes containing statistics, percentages, and bar graphs enhance many readings. They allow the reader to comprehend the magnitude of the social issue presented from a numerical format. ORGANIZATION OF THE TEXT Part I encourages students to clarify and sort out the many ways we look at and define technology. It confronts the need for ethical behavior in the use of technology. By r0ading this section, students will gain a greater understanding of the personal and social responsibility that accompanies technological development and implementation. Readers are asked to consider the mismatch between people and this newly created world of technology. This part presents ethical theory and frameworks for ethical decision-making, which are understood more easily through the cases of Roger Boisjoyly and Whistle-Blowing. Part II offers a brief look at the history of technology and its involvement in human development. It provides an extensive timeline, highlighting technology from the most primitive to the most sophisticated forms. It also features a glimpse of humanity at a time when technology and the skills to use it were few and far between. There's also a whimsical look at what new devices would have done to our ancestors if they had what we have and knew what we know. Part III investigates the impact of technology on energy development and conservation. This section provides a survey of renewable and nonren