Learning Module 02

STS and the Human

Condition

Learning Packet 04
When Technology and
Humanity Cross
Zydrick L. Avelino
Learning Objectives

1 2 3 4
Identify the Describe the Discuss the effects of Analyze notable
different current trends in the interplay policies to regulate
technological Science and between technology ethical dilemmas
advancements in Technology in the and humanity during scientific
through the progress and
society Philippines dilemma(s) they technological
face. development.
Introduction
Understanding the relation between
humans and technology is key to
responsible development and
acceptance of future technologies in
almost every application field, be it
energy, mobility, health, work, living
learning or entertainment.
Introduction

Humans are also the ones

responsible and accountable
for the possible dangers that
technology may bring in case
of abuse and misuse. This
chapter tackle several
technological devices, their
roles and effect in society
and people’s lives.
Introductio
n
A good life entails living in a just
and progressive society whose
citizens have the freedom to
flourish. The human person has
the autonomy to make choices
which enable the flourishing of
him /her and society. The ever-
growing society has made
people see technology as some
form of necessity. The roles
played by technology these
days are very crucial not only to
a few but also to everyone.
Introduction

Technology these days enjoys such

fame and glory because of the
many different benefits it brings to
mankind. Technology brings not
only convenience but also
pleasure and happiness to people
for example, music, movies,
games, etc. Let us explore various
technological devices and the
impact that they have in human
lives and in the society in general.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it

Some of the most exciting

discoveries and inventions
became launching pads for a
new era of innovation in
computers, electronics,
manufacturing, and medicine.
Let us take look at several
technological advancements
that are so revolutionary they
will continue to shape our lives
well into the future.
Technological
Advancements and How
we live in it
Electricity
Would any new advancements have
been possible without the
breakthrough of electricity? Obviously
not. Since early discoverers like
Benjamin Franklin studied it, and
inventors like Nikola Tesla tested ways
to turn it into power, electricity has
not only been fueling generations of
new innovations but also become an
irreplaceable tool of modern life.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Electricity
Starting with your house,
electricity is important for
operating all appliances,
entertainment, lighting and
of course, all technology.
When it comes to travelling,
electricity is important for
the use of electric trains,
airplanes and even some
cars.
Technological Advancements
and How we live in it

Electricity
If you think about facilities such as schools,
medical facilities such as hospitals and retail
facilities, all need electricity to run efficiently.
When it comes to the medical field, electricity
allows for the availability of X-Rays, ECG’s and
instant results regarding blood tests, as well as
anything else. It allows for a more efficient
medical practice in these facilities. Electricity is
also important for the purpose and operation
of machines such as computers or monitors
that display data to enhance medicine. Without
electricity, hospitals and medicine would not be
able to be advanced and cure illnesses, which
would also result in more casualties.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The LASER (light amplification by
the stimulated emission of
radiation)
Discovered in 1960, lasers were so
before their time, scientists were
not even certain where exactly
they could be applied. Since then,
lasers have found their way into
nearly every sector, from medicine
to consumer electronics to
manufacturing. In fact, now, on an
average day, nearly every person
comes into contact with a laser in
some shape or form.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Lasers are used in optical disc drives,
laser printers, barcode scanners, DNA
sequencing instruments, fiber-optic,
semiconducting chip manufacturing
(photolithography), and free-space
optical communication, laser surgery
and skin treatments, cutting and
welding materials, military and law
enforcement devices.
Technological
Semiconductor chips
Advancements and How Many major technical
we live in it advances became the
springboard for countless
other new innovations. A
good example? The
semiconductor chip. The
electric circuit with many
components such as
transistors and wiring
opened the door to the
evolution of the laptop,
followed by the
smartphone and tablet.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
Semiconductor chips
Semiconductors are an
essential component of
electronic devices, enabling
advances in communications,
computing, healthcare, military
systems, transportation, clean
energy, and countless other
applications.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Semiconductor chips
Semiconductors are employed
in the manufacture of various
kinds of electronic devices,
including diodes, transistors,
and integrated circuits. Such
devices have found wide
application because of their
compactness, reliability, power
efficiency, and low cost.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
Semiconductor chips
In addition to consumer electronics,
semiconductors play a central role in
the operation of bank ATMs, trains,
the internet, communications and
other parts of social infrastructure,
such as the medical network used
for the care of elderly, among other
things.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Quantum computing
The invention of the computer,
and especially the personal
computer, will continue to
shape our lives. In October
2019, it was announced that a
quantum computer, which uses
quantum mechanics to
massively increase processing
power, solved a problem that a
standard computer couldn’t in
just 200 seconds, marking a
new realm of potential
applications to explore.
Technological Quantum computing
Advancemen Since the early 20th century
when the atom was first
ts and How studied, quantum physics has
we live in it been defying logic, as atoms
don’t follow the traditional
rules of physics we are used
to. Capable of moving both
backwards and forwards in
time, quantum particles can
exist in two places at the same
time and even ‘teleport’.
Technological
Advancements and How
we live in it

Quantum computing
Quantum computers are aiming to utilise these
capabilities to become highly-efficient, as they
use quantum bits or qubits instead of the
simple manipulation of ones and zeros. Qubits,
or quantum bits, are a unit of quantum
information and a two-state quantum-
mechanical system.
Technological
Advancements and How
we live in it

Quantum computing
Bits, used in our modern computers, can only be
either one or zero, but not both. Although
quantum computers also use ones and zeros, the
qubits have a third state titled ‘superposition’ that
permits them to represent both a one and a zero
at the same time. Four scenarios can be
represented at the same time through
superposition by using two qubits, which results in
a reduced data-crunching time.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The elevator
It is not exactly quantum
mechanics, but today’s cities
would be unimaginable without
the elevator. The elevator
unleashed a new wave of
architecture and the age of the
skyscraper. A new invention, the
MULTI, the first elevator designed
to move horizontally as well as
vertically, is similarly poised to
open new paths to urban planning
and building design.
Technological
Advancements and How
we live in it

The elevator
Elevator is important for patient,
guest, guardians, small children,
guest, visitors. It makes our life
easier; let us work and go to different
floors faster, allows us to transport
goods with ease and helps us feel
comfortable and relax all throughout
the ride.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The elevator
Not only did skylines change
but the elevator also had an
important socio-economic
impact. Suddenly, the upper
levels of buildings which
previously were harder to reach
via stairways, and therefore
inhabited by people with less
money, were attractive to the
wealthier class.
Technological The elevator
Advancements and How Elisha Otis invented a
we live in it safety brake that could
stop an elevator from
dropping, even if the cable
was cut. By making
elevators safer and more
reliable, it became
possible to use them in
tall, modern buildings.
With the ability to build
higher, it became possible
for large numbers of
people to live in a single
building.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
The Human Genome Project
No other modern advancement in science
has transformed medicine so radically as
the Human Genome Project. Completed
in 2003, the HGP mapped every gene in
the human genome. It opened the door
to medical studies on genes associated
with diseases and led to a flourishing of
biotech companies seeking to find new
applications in healthcare.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it

The Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project
identified the full set of human
genes, sequenced them all, and
identified some of the alleles,
particularly those that can cause
disease when they get mutated.
Genes can be mapped relative to
physical features of the
chromosome, or relative to other
genes.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
The Human Genome Project
The project was hugely significant to
biology and has influenced biological
research ever since. The main tasks
of the Human Genome Project were
to read and record the genetic
instructions contained within the
human genome and provide that
information to researchers
worldwide freely and without
restriction.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
The Human Genome Project
7 main goals of the human genome
project
1. Genetic Mapping.
2. Physical Mapping.
3. DNA Sequencing.
4. Gene Identification.
5. Technology Development.
6. Model Organisms.
7. Informatics.
8. Ethical, Legal, and Social
Implications (ELSI)
Technological Advancements and How we live in it
The automobile
Truly a vehicle for change: once the first car rolled off the assembly lines, it never stopped
moving. Originally seen as a panacea for all mobility challenges, the car has had to adapt to a
global demand to eliminate fossil-fuel use and decrease traffic. Enter the next generation:
hybrid cars, electric cars, and driverless cars, proving the car will be with us for centuries to
come.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The automobile
The automobile gave people
more personal freedom and
access to jobs and services. It
led to development of better
roads and transportation.
Industries and new jobs
developed to supply the
demand for automobile parts
and fuel. These included
petroleum and gasoline,
rubber, and then plastics.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The automobile
As the most widely accepted
method of transportation, cars
have changed the way people
live all over the world. With
the development of suburbia,
cars made it easier for people
to travel in this world, which
was beginning to spread out at
a rapid pace. They quickly
gained fame as the new and
fast way to travel.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The Global Positioning System
While cars accelerate our day-to-
day life, getting from A to B can
still be a challenge, especially in
a new place. First invented in
1973, Global Positioning System
(GPS) technology came on the
market in 1995. Using satellites,
it pinpoints a location and helps
you navigate. More recently, it
has been the cornerstone of a
host of smart city and urban
mobility apps.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System
(GPS) is a U.S.-owned utility
that provides users with
positioning, navigation, and
timing (PNT) services. This
system consists of three
segments: the space segment,
the control segment, and the
user segment.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The Global Positioning System
GPS satellites circle the Earth
twice a day in a precise orbit.
Each satellite transmits a
unique signal and orbital
parameters that allow GPS
devices to decode and compute
the precise location of the
satellite. GPS receivers use this
information and trilateration to
calculate a user's exact
location.
Technological Advantages of Global Positioning System :
Advancemen 1. GPS is extremely easy to navigate because it tells you
ts and How to direction for every turns you're taking otherwise
you need to fancy reach to your destination.
we live in it 2. GPS works altogether weather so you would like to
not worry of climate as in other navigating devices.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The smartphone
Cellular phones have had a major
impact on our lives and the way
that we perform every day tasks.
Many of these changes are
apparent, while others we may
not even be aware of. Cell
phones have brought a whole
new meaning to the term
multitasking. Cell phones have
enabled us to do various tasks all
at the same time.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
The smartphone
We hate to admit it, but the
smartphone has become
ubiquitous and absolutely
necessary for modern living. One
reason why it is so special is that it
can be linked up to, and harnessed
by, so many other technical
advancements, from GPS to mobile
banking to fitness apps. When
Apple launched its first
smartphone in 2007, there was
simply no going back.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The smartphone
Some advantages smartphones
provide are -- better means of
communication, learning
options to users, great
exposure to the latest things,
ways to personality
development, simple ways to
access applications, ideas to
succeed in business, platforms
to grow their applications, and
more.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it
The smartphone
The mobile phone devices have
facilitated the user in every aspect of
their lives. Whether you are a student
or business professional, mobile apps
can help you manage your tasks
efficiently. The mobile device has
made your life simpler and allowed
you to research the material related
to your studies.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The smartphone
According to researchers,
smartphone affects our
mental health. Addiction to a
cellphone can lead to
depression and social
anxiety. Research done on
college kids claims that the
increased use of
smartphones has affected
their well-being.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
The smartphone
A study on “Technoference,”
the interference of technology
in relationships, found that 70
percent of participants
reported that smartphone
interruptions negatively
impacted interactions with
their romantic partners. It
leads to more insecurity in
ourselves and more
uncertainty about our
relationships.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Robotics is the 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.
Many aspects of robotics involve
artificial intelligence; robots may be
equipped with the equivalent of
human senses such as vision, touch,
and the ability to sense temperature.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Robotics and Artificial
Intelligence
Robots eliminate dangerous
jobs for humans because they
are capable of working in
hazardous environments. They
can handle lifting heavy loads,
toxic substances and repetitive
tasks. This has helped
companies to prevent many
accidents, also saving time and
money.
 Technological Advancements and How
we live in it
7 Advantages of Robots in the
Workplace
1. Safety. Safety is the most
obvious advantage of
utilizing robotics
2. Speed. Robots don't get
distracted or need to take
breaks
3. Consistency Robots never
need to divide their
attention between a
multitude of things
4. Perfection
5. Happier Employees
6. Job Creation
7. Productivity
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Artificial intelligence (AI)
is the ability of a
computer or a robot
controlled by a computer
to do tasks that are
usually done by humans
because they require
human intelligence and
discernment.
Technological
Advancements and
How we live in it

The basic goal of AI is to enable

computers and machines to
perform intellectual tasks such as
problem solving, decision making,
perception, and understanding
human communication.
Technological
Advancements
and How we live
in it
Artificial Intelligence Uses in Daily
Life
1. Maps and Navigation. AI has
drastically improved traveling
2. Facial Detection and
Recognition
3. Text Editors or Autocorrect
4. Search and Recommendation
Algorithms
5. Chatbots
6. Digital Assistants
7. Social Media
8. E-Payments
 Current
Trends of S&T
in PH
Rank in global innovation index
Recently, the Philippines ranked 50th
out of 131 countries in terms of
Global Innovation index. Cornell
University, INSEAD and the World
Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO, a specialized agency of the
United Nations) co-publish The
Global Innovation Index (GII). The GII
measures 131 economies around the
world, using 80 indicators, which
include the quality of universities,
availability of microfinance and
venture capital, to gauge innovation
capabilities and measurable results.
Current
Trends of S&T
in PH

Compared to other economies

in Southeast Asia, East Asia,
and Oceania, the Philippines
performed above average in
the pillars of Business
sophistication and Knowledge
and technology. This overall
performance earned the
Philippines rank 11th among
the 17 economies in the said
region.
Current Trends
of S&T in PH

The Philippines was also cited

to be well-integrated into the
global trade, being tagged as
top 1 in rank in High-
technology imports, 3rd in
High-technology exports, and
8th in ICT services exports.
Further on, the Philippines
was rank 10th in the Creative
goods exports.
Current Trends of S&T in PH
Diwata -1: First Philippine
Microsatellite
In April 2016, the country
launched into space its first micro-
satellite called Diwata-1. It was
designed, developed and
assembled by Filipino researchers
and engineers under the guidance
of Japanese experts. The Diwata
(deity in English) satellite provides
real-time, high-resolution and
multi-color infrared images for
various applications, including
meteorological imaging, crop and
ocean productivity measurement
and high-resolution imaging of
natural and man-made features.
 Current Trends of
S&T in PH
Diwata -1: First Philippine Microsatellite
It enables a more precise estimate of the
country’s agricultural production, provides
images of watersheds and floodplains for
a better understanding of water available
for irrigation, power and domestic
consumption. The satellite also provides
accurate information on any disturbance
and degradation of forest and upland
areas.
 Project NOAH
Current
Project NOAH is the government’s flagship program for
Trends of disaster prevention and mitigation which aims to create a
S&T in PH disaster-free Philippines by providing tools and
information to mitigate or avert disasters caused by
natural hazards.
 Project NOAH
Current Since its inclusion in the NDRRMC’s Pre-Disaster Risk
Assessment system, Project NOAH has been instrumental
Trends of in identifying areas that would be hit by hazards brought
S&T in PH about by extreme weather events. In line with the
NDRRMC’s principle that warnings should be “hazard-
specific, area-focused, and time bound,” Project NOAH has
had great success in determining which hazards would hit
specific areas at particular times.
Current
Trends of S&T
in PH
Project NOAH
The project developed
hydromet sensors and
high-resolution geo-
hazard maps, which
were generated by light
detection and ranging
technology for flood
modeling.
 Intelligent Operation Center Platform
Current Another hope lies in the so-called Intelligent Operation
Center Platform. Established through a collaboration
Trends of between the local government of Davao City and IBM
S&T in PH Philippines Inc., the center resulted in the creation of a
dashboard that allows authorized government agencies,
such as police, fire and anti-terrorism task force, to use
analytics software for monitoring events and operations in
real time.
Looking onto You might have already seen movies or documentaries
Ethical featuring robots and the multitude of things they could do.
Robots have been designed to mix drinks, perform
Dilemmas housekeeping, or even portray human emotions. But how
Confronting would you feel about robots performing medical/surgical
Robotics procedures on humans? You read that right, there is such a
thing as robotic surgery.
Looking onto
Ethical Dilemmas
Confronting
Robotics
Robotic surgery has been practiced
in certain countries for quite some
time already. Most commonly, a
trained surgeon gives the
commands to the robot which, in
turn, is in direct contact with a
patient on the operating table. The
idea is that the use of robots is
supposed to enhance dexterity
and reduce unwanted movements
by the surgeon which may lead to
mistakes during the actual
procedure.
 Looking onto Ethical
Dilemmas Confronting
Robotics

With the movement towards

maximizing the use of artificial
intelligence, it is not unthinkable that
the ability of AI-operated robots to
perform medical/surgical procedures,
might be put to test in the near
future. Surely though, this would not
happen without opposition from
various individuals and groups.
Looking onto
Ethical Dilemmas
Confronting
Robotics

Imagining a future when

these robots are actually
the ones doing these
delicate procedures, what
is left to do for surgeons?
More importantly, in case
something bad happens
to the patient as a result
of the procedure, will we
be able to hold the robot
used, accountable?
Looking onto Ethical
Dilemmas
Confronting Robotics

Some of you might argue that

the makers of the robot are to
be blamed should an untoward
incident happened. An error in
the procedure done by the
robot reflects errors in how it
was designed or programmed.
But what if the robot had been
so designed to think on its own,
and act based on its own
judgement? Will we still be
advancing the same argument?
Looking onto Ethical
Dilemmas Confronting
Robotics

We expect diverging answers to all

these questions and we will not be
trying to claim that one answer is
correct and the other is not. This is
simply because there is no existing
common global ethics as to
advancements in technology as of
present. We also do not have a globally-
accepted legal rights and
responsibilities when it comes to
technological advancements as in the
case of robotics.
Looking onto Ethical Dilemmas
Confronting Robotics

What is clear at present is the need to re-examine

our “ethics” at the face of all these advancements
and reflect on whether technology or humanity
should matter more than the other. We are in an
era when we are both excited and anxious to learn
where our human ingenuity could bring us. Will we
be able to maximize technology without sacrificing
humanity? Would we be able to teach robots to
think and act based on the ethics that we subscribe
to? More importantly, how will we accept the
future of robotics as part of our future’s reality?
Looking onto Ethical Dilemmas
Confronting Robotics

We have only used robotics to illustrate the kind

of dilemmas that we might be confronted with in
the future. Other issues may still arise from
advancements in other fields such as
biotechnology, data science, and even space
science. Nobody knows where these issues will
take us and how they will transform us as
humans. What is certain is that these
advancements will change the landscape of the
global society. Whether to our benefit or
otherwise, that is left for us to see.
Science, Technology and
Condition of Regulating Policies

As the world develops, scientific

breakthroughs have become a major driving
force for law making at this day and age
(Cruz and Cruz, 2018). The overlap between
legal and scientific developments have
become inevitable. This overlap opened
complexities brought about by the
development in science and technology that
were previously unregulated.
Science, Technology and Condition of
Regulating Policies

Moses in 2007 as cited by Cruz and Cruz (2018), identified four

common legal problems brought about by the rapid and continued
development in S&T which include:
1.The potential need for laws to ban, restrict or, alternatively,
encourage a new technology.
2.Uncertainty in the application of existing legal rules to new
practices.
3.The possible over-inclusiveness or under-inclusiveness of
existing legal rules as applied to new practices.
4.Alleged obsolescence of existing legal rules.
Science,
Technology and
Condition of
Regulating Policies
When the law fails to exist to
govern newfound ways
through science and
technology, the society opens
opportunities which can be
exploited under the security
blanket of having no governing
law. This results to a dilemma.
Offenders will grab the
opportunity of keeping in pace
with the scientific and
technological developments
which are still not regulated by
law.
Science, Technology and Condition of
Regulating Policies

When there is no law that covers an ill-act, then the government

would have no basis to punish that person. This is the reason for
enactment of new laws to define new crimes. The cybercrime law in
the Philippines is a good example of this new enactment. Previously,
ill acts that are done over the cyberspace are basically immune to
lawsuits as there are no crimes defined over the platform. While
some recourses were still afforded to those who were aggrieved,
the punishment was not commensurate to the damage that has
been afflicted to the victims. Therefore, there is a need to have
prospective coverage to laws in anticipation of the yet to be
possible crimes as foreseen by science.
 Science, Technology
and Condition of
Regulating Policies

Adding to the dilemma, Cruz and

Cruz (2018) mentioned that many
science-based policies that have
been well consulted with proper
academic institutions have very
little to zero influence in translating
their research into public policy.
These remains to be a gap between
scientific and policy making.
Science, Technology
and Condition of
Regulating Policies

The lag in the development of new

law or policies that can regulate
the rapid opening of new avenues
offered by the development of
science and technology have
brought about ethical dilemmas.
This dilemma can be amplified in
the setting where the legal system
is a lot more complicated.
Let us watch!
Thank
you for
listening
!