Republic of the Philippines

Western Mindanao State University

Pagadian External Campus
Bulatok, Pagadian City

Lesson 4: When Technology and Humanity Cross

According to Buchanan 2010, the origin of the word technology came from the Greek words
techne and logos which mean “art” and “word”, respectively. Taking the two words together,
technology means a discourse on arts.

Before the concept was only to discuss arts specifically applied arts, however, as technology
progressed and evolving the concept also started to have a wider range of meaning. Machines
and tools were already included at the concept which is more popular about technology
nowadays.

ROLES PLAYED BY TECHNOLOGY

The roles played by technology these days are very crucial not only but to everyone. People
design and use technology for work. In return, technology shapes work and people. As
information communication technology (ICT) becomes ever more embedded in today’s
increasingly digital organizations, the nature of our jobs and employees’ work experiences are
strongly affected by ICT use (Wang et.al, 2020). Some people would say that they are not
affected by technology, however, each person in the society is directly or indirectly affected by
technology whether he wills it or not.

Today’s world is built on the technology that humans have invented and advanced over
thousands of years. The rate at which technology has advanced has made life almost
indistinguishable from what life was like even a century ago. We are very much dependent on
the technology we have. This dependence doesn’t just refer to your inability to put down your
phone for more than a few hours -- it refers to the many technologies that you likely take for
granted that may have saved your life and made your current life possible without you even
realizing it (Wardynski, 2020).

In addition, technology will only continue to advance -- and because of how effective new
technology is, it only means that it will continue to evolve at an even faster rate.  The human race
has been dependent on technology for its survival throughout its entire history, which means that
the idea of stopping or slowing down is simply not a possibility. Technology must move forward
and it will continue to evolve at a faster and faster rate to meet the challenges of today
(Wardynski, 2020).

It is with great effort that people were able to achieve such great inventions. It makes life easier
and more convenient than ever before. For example, it allows people to listen to good music
wherever they are. Another is that it allows and make it easier for us to communicate with our
love ones who are far to us but most of all, it allows people to surf and play games anytime,
anywhere.
TECHNOLOGY STILL A WANTS OR IT BECAME NECESSITIES ALREADY?

There are people who would argue that technology is no longer a want but “necessity”.
Technology is now a necessity in terms of everyday life, from education to navigating around a
city. We no longer communicate with the outside world and ask for directions, instead we look
inwardly and we ask Siri. As technology improves, we rely more and more on our smartphones,
so much so we are becoming lazy in every way (Snelson, 2017). At present people work very
hard to save money in order to buy these “necessities” while in the past, people only used their
money for the things that would help them to survive like, food, housing, and clothing.

DISADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY

Technology keeps on progressing due to not only changing times and environment but also to the
ever-progressing mind of mankind. The main purpose of technology is to make our work easier
and help us to do our work easily. But technology has also, a lot of bad effects on human life
especially the youth. We use technology but we didn’t know about the disadvantages of
technology. To the extensive use and addiction to technology, they lose interest in the study.
They always want to use computers, mobile phones, tablets, play stations, etc. They leave their
ambitions and the goals they have to achieve. Most of the students get affected by this (Adil,
2022).

Adil (2022) highlighted some bad effects of technology on educations for students. These are the
following;

 Waste the precious time of the students

 Technology distracts students from their studies, goals, and ambitions.
 Waste money of the students, they buy unnecessary technological gadgets.
 Loss of creativity.

There are several technological devices that will be introduced, the roles they play in society and
their effects, particularly to the lives of the people will be identified, and the problems they face
will also be examined thoroughly.

1. TELEVISION SETS, MOBILE PHONES, COMPUTERS, AND HUMANITY

TELEVISON

 Television is a system for transmitting visual images and sound that are produced on
screens, chiefly used to broadcast programs for entertainment, information, and education
(wikibook, 2022).
 In the Philippines, there are 92% of urban homes and 70% of rural homes own at least
one television set.
BACKGROUND STORY OF TELEVISION SETS

 Paul Gottlieb Nipkow - a German student who was considered as the father of
television. He is successful in his attempt to send images through with the aid of a
rotating metal disk on 1800’s.
 This invention was then called “electric telescope” that had 18 lines of resolution.
 Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton an English Scientist and Boris Rosing a
Russian Scientist – these two scientists created a new system of television by
using cathode ray tube in addition to the mechanical scanner system.
 This success story gave rise to two types of television systems, namely,
mechanical and electronic television (Jezek, n.d.).
 John Baird – he was from Europe and was famous for inventing the first picture
in motion and later on he was able to invent the first color tube (wikibooks, 2022).
 Vladimir Zworykin – an American inventor who introduced the iconoscope which
was an electronic camera tube used in television.
 Philo Farnsworth – his invention allowed a way to transmit pictures who over
sixty horizontal lines, which were called lines of resolution.

Lines of resolution – it is a line of lighted dots that make up a television picture image. These
dots were called pixels. They are smallest dots on a display device that create a television picture
image (wikibook, 2022).

These experiments inspired other scientists to improve the previous inventions, which led to the
modern television people now have.

MOBILE PHONES

 Mobile phones are a ubiquitous technology that people use it in different purposes other
than for communication purposes.
 There are more than half of the Filipino population own at least one mobile phone
regardless of type.

BACKGROUND STORY OF MOBILE PHONES

 On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper a senior engineer at Motorola, made the world’s
mobile phone call.
 He called their rival telecommunication company and properly informed them that he
was making a call from a mobile phone.
 The mobile phone used by Cooper weighed 1.1 kilograms and 228.6 x 44.4 mm.
 This kind of device was capable of a 30-minute talk time. However, it took 10 hours to
charge.
 Motorola DynaTAC 8000x in 1983 (Goodwin, 2016).
COMPUTER AND LAPTOPS

 Also became part of many of the Filipino households

 The numbers of computers or laptops sold per year may not be as high as the number of
mobile phones and television sets due to not-so-affordable price.
 In 2010, 3.6 trillion was the estimated total value output of all manufacturing
establishments.
 To be more specific 5.4 percent of the total value output came from computers and
peripheral equipment and accessories (PSA, 2013).

BACKGROUND STORY OF COMPUTER AND LAPTOPS

 Charles Babbage – a nineteenth-century English Mathematician Professor, who designed

the Analytical Engine which was used the basic framework of the computers even until
the present time.
 The first portable computer was released in April 1981. It was called Osborne 1 (Olfano,
2011).

According to Philstar 2013, a typical household owns at least four of the following devices:

 Mobile Phone (89%)

 Smart Phone (53%)
 Tablet (14%)
 Desktop (39%)
 Laptop or Netbooks (37%)
 Smart TV (4%)

Here are some facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the internet (Rappler, n.d):

 Mobile phone subscription is at 119 million.

 Filipinos spend approximately 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily.
 The Philippines has one of the highest digital populations in the world.
 There are now 47 million active Facebook accounts in the Philippines
 The Philippines is at the fastest growing application market in Southeast Asia.

ROLES PLAYED BY THESE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

TELEVISION
• For instance, television is mainly used as a platform for advertisements and information
dissemination. In fact, television remains to be the most used media by different advertising
companies not only in the Philippines but all over the world.
• Television also is a good platform for different propagandas and advocacies.
• It can also be a good way to bond with family.

MOBILE PHONES
• Mobile phones, on the other hand, also have their own roles in the lives of the people.
They are primarily used for communication.
• Mobile phones offer services like texting or calling.
• In the present, people use their mobile phones to surf to the internet and to take pictures
more than text or call.
• It is like an all-in-one device.
• Very portable and convenient because it can fit into any space, may it be inside the
pocket or bag.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS
• Personal computers and laptops also have useful set of functions and roles.
• People prefer to do their job using either a PC or a laptop than a mobile phone. One
reason is that a laptop has a wide keyboard than using a mobile phone, especially when the
mobile phone has a small screen.
• Another reason is that the availability of a mouse or a touchpad made easier to maneuver
than mobile phones.
• Lastly, for the youth who love to play different computer games, PC are really the better
choice because it allows them to play with comfort and convenience.

Ethical Dilemma Faced by These Technological Advancement

📌Ethical dilemma also called ethical paradoxes or moral dilemma.
Dilemmas we faced by this technological advancement.
First, most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy.
- This is because of the fact that people are fixated on this technological advancement it starts
and end their day by using such devices.

Second, is the moral dilemma

-A moral dilemma is a situation in which a person is torn between right and wrong and looks at
the very core of a person's principles and values.
- People, especially the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for themselves
what is right or wrong, are freely exposed to different things on television, mobile phones,
laptops or computer. Because of the availability and easy access to the internet, they can just
easily search the web and go to different websites without restrictions.

Robotics and Humanity

Definition of robotics and humanity
 Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the design, construction, operation, and
use of robots. A robot is a machine that is capable of performing a range of tasks
autonomously or with minimal human intervention.
  Humanity refers to the qualities and traits that make us human, including emotions,
empathy, and social interaction.

Brief history of robotics

The concept of robotics dates back to ancient times, where inventors and scholars
attempted to create mechanical devices that could mimic human movement. However, the
development of modern robotics began in the 20th century, with the invention of the first
industrial robot by George Devol in 1954.

The first industrial robot, known as the Unimate, was designed for General Motors and
was used for tasks such as welding, painting, and assembly. In the following years, robotics
technology advanced rapidly, with the development of more sophisticated robots capable of
performing complex tasks.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the development of computer technology and artificial
intelligence further enhanced the capabilities of robots. Researchers began exploring the use of
robots in areas such as healthcare, space exploration, and military applications.
In recent years, the development of robotics has focused on creating more advanced and
intelligent robots capable of interacting with humans and adapting to changing environments.
This has led to the development of robots for applications such as home automation, personal
assistance, and autonomous vehicles.
Today, robotics technology continues to evolve rapidly, with new advancements in areas
such as machine learning, human-robot interaction, and swarm robotics. As robots become
increasingly integrated into society, they have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our
lives, from healthcare to manufacturing to transportation.

 : Robotics technology can be expensive to develop and maintain, which may not be
accessible to all individuals or organizations.
Positive impact of robotics:

 Increased productivity: Robots can perform repetitive tasks with accuracy and speed,
leading to increased productivity and efficiency in manufacturing and other industries.
 Safety: Robots can be used in hazardous or dangerous environments, such as in nuclear
power plants, without endangering human lives.
 Improved quality of life: Robotics technology has improved the quality of life for many
individuals, such as those with disabilities, by providing assistive devices that increase
independence and mobility.
 Medical advancements: Robotics technology has contributed to medical advancements,
such as robotic surgery, which can reduce the risks and complications of traditional
surgery.
 Exploration: Robots can be used for space exploration and deep-sea exploration, allowing
humans to gather information and explore environments that are otherwise inaccessible
or too dangerous.
Negative impact of robotics:

 Job displacement: The automation of tasks previously performed by humans can lead to
job displacement and unemployment.
 Dependence: Over-reliance on robots and automation can lead to a lack of skills and
expertise in certain areas, making humans more dependent on technology.
 Ethical concerns: As robots become more advanced and capable of making decisions,
ethical concerns arise regarding their use, such as in military applications or autonomous
vehicles.
 Cost: The cost of developing and implementing robotics technology can be high, limiting
its accessibility to certain industries and individuals.
 Security risks: As robots become more connected to networks and systems, they may
become vulnerable to hacking and other security risks, potentially leading to dangerous
situations.

Roles played by robotics

Robots play different roles not in the lives of the people but also in the society as a whole. They
primarily used to ease to workload of mankind. Robots are invented to make life efficient and
less stressful. It also performs complicated activities which human beings are incapable of doing.
There are robots that are made for pleasure and these types of robots perform activities to
entertain people, it may be found in amusement parks or exhibits.  Some robots are made as toys
and perform activities that are child friendly.  And just like people in the society robots also have
their own set of roles and characteristics to define what a good robot is.

There are laws that formulated by Isaac Assimov back in 1940’s, when he was thinking the
ethical consequences of robots. 

 Law One: 

A robot may not injure human being or through in action, allow human being to come to harm. 

Law Two: 

A robot must obey the orders given by the human being 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
and second law.   

ETHICAL DILEMMA/S FACED BY ROBOTICS

 Ethical Dilemma

An ethical dilemma (ethical paradox or moral dilemma) is a problem in the decision-making

process between two possible options, neither of which is absolutely acceptable from an ethical
perspective. Although we face many ethical and moral problems in our lives, most of them come
with relatively straightforward solutions.

 What is Robotics?

Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces machines,
called robots, that replicate or substitute for human actions. Pop culture has always been
fascinated with robots — examples include R2-D2, the Terminator and WALL-E. These over-
exaggerated, humanoid concepts of robots usually seem like a caricature of the real thing. But
are they more forward thinking than we realize? Robots are gaining intellectual and mechanical
capabilities that don’t put the possibility of a R2-D2-like machine out of reach in the future.
Robotics, design, construction, and use of machines (robots) to perform tasks done traditionally
by human beings. Robots are widely used in such industries as automobile manufacture to
perform simple repetitive tasks, and in industries where work must be performed in
environments hazardous to humans.

 The dilemma/s faced by robotics:

• One of the dilemmas faced by robots is safety.

When safety protocols aren’t followed, today’s industrial robots can be fatal. They present a
danger to workers around them, particularly when employees have to interact with a robot during
programming, maintenance, testing, setup or adjustment. While employee safety is the main
concern, robots are just as much a danger to a business’s bottom line as they are to workers. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) levies hefty fines on businesses that
don’t protect their workers, and an injured worker leads to expensive downtime. The best way to
improve robot safety is to ensure every robotic work cell has its own customized safety features.

• Second is the emotional component.

Some robots have been given emotional expressions in an attempt to improve human–computer
interaction. In this article we analyses what it would mean for a robot to have emotion,
distinguishing emotional expression for communication from emotion as a mechanism for the
organization of behavior. Research on the neurobiology of emotion yields a deepening
understanding of interacting brain structures and neural mechanisms rooted in neuromodulation
that underlie emotions in humans and other animals. However, the chemical basis of animal
function differs greatly from the mechanics and computations of current machines. We therefore
abstract from biology a functional characterization of emotion that does not depend on physical
substrate or evolutionary history, and is broad enough to encompass the possible emotions of
robots.

• Third is removing human responsibilities.

The responsible development and use of robotics may have incredible benefits for humanity,
from replacing humans in dangerous, life-threatening tasks with search and rescue robots
(Murphy 2014) to the last mile delivery of lifesaving resources in humanitarian contexts (Gilman
and Easton 2014; Chow 2012). However, robots cannot handle unexpected situations. Robots
require programming, which means all their behavior has to be pre-determined. Although some
robots have the ability to “improvise”, they typically cannot handle unexpected situations. That
is to say, if they are not programmed for the situation, they cannot work around it. Lack of
critical thinking. Going off the previous point, robots cannot think critically. Critical thinking is
an important problem-solving skill that aids humans facing unexpected challenges, as well as in
making decisions among many choices.

• Fourth is lack of control.

Moreover, robots lack creativity, empathy, communication skills, strategic thinking, common
sense and decision-making abilities; all of which humans possess. With further experiments
being done in the field of AI and Robotics, robots capable of defeating human abilities have
emerged, which work more proficiently compared to humans. It is claimed that robots are more
reliable as they, unlike humans, do not get exhausted after working for some time. Yet since it is
not impossible, we cannot really guarantee that the robot won’t lose control. Humans possess
some things that robots do not.

In the field of Robotics, there are the so-called “Partial Autonomy and full Autonomy"

 Partial Autonomy – includes active human-robot interaction. A robot with partial

autonomy is considered a degenerated case of a fully autonomous robot. Thus, the problem of
man-machine communication is formulated, and the conditions are determined for generating a
language for such a communication. The duties of the master are determined.

• Full Autonomy – excludes active human-robot interaction. In other words, 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 (IFR, 2012). It has a high level of intelligence and is
able to get and analyses information, generate alternatives and evaluate them and commit to a
course of action without human intervention.

In allowing a robot to reach full autonomy, multiple criteria must be met:

1. The robot must be able to gain meaningful information about its environment on its own.

2. The robot must be able to process that information in a structured and usable way.

3. The robot must be able to plan their actions in response to that information.

4. The robot must be able to execute the plan it generates in a timely manner.
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was a science fiction author best known for his “Foundation” series
of novels, as well as the “I, Robot” collection of short stories. Asimov formulated the Three
Laws of Robotics in the latter, which continues to influence researchers in robotics and artificial
intelligence (AI). Asimov also wrote popular science books and mysteries in addition to science
fiction.

In Asimov's story, he suggested three principles to guide the behavior of autonomous robots and
smart machines.

Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics have survived to the present:

1.) Robots must never harm human beings.

2.) Robots must follow instructions from humans without violating rule 1.

3.) Robots must protect themselves without violating the other rules.

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