Brief Summary:
-
In this week's class, we covered what technological assessment was and also the driving factors behind technology assessment. As mentioned by one of the class presenters, technological assessment is the evaluation of a technology to see how practical and effective it is, and also if it is worth investing money in.
-
Driving factors for this type of assessment is firstly due to an exponential growth in the range of new technologies, and firms would have to determine which ones best suit their interest. Secondly, the environmental and social impacts of implementing these new technologies will have to be evaluated. Furthermore, due to the large increase in number of new technologies, assessment is needed to determine what priority should be assigned to each invention.
-
Interesting Ideas:
-
I feel that while firms engage in the process of technological assessment, they should also take in account the views of the public. This is an important factor as if the public disapproves of the method used in producing their products, they could choose to boycott the firm's products. Take for example, D&G produces unique jeans through the method of sandblasting. As much as this technology allows the creation of faded jeans, the process in making these jeans actually harm the workers involved. When information about this got leaked to the public, it eventually affected the sales of these jeans. As can be seen, it is unwise to not take into consideration the opinions of the public as they might object to the types of technologies employed.
-
Key takeaways
-
1. It is necessary to appropriately evaluate the types of technologies employed as inaccurate evaluations could potentially harm both workers and their business.
-
2. In the era of increasing technological advances, by evaluating and employing the right technologies will allow firms to have a competitive advantage over their competitors. This is as employing suitable technologies can lead to increased efficiency and productivity.
-
Discussion:
-
I felt that it would be good to look into more of the factors evaluated in an assessment. While it is true that these factors defer from firm to firm, we could have been able to observe certain trends which determine which factors are generally more important.
-
Ratings:
-
I would give the lesson a 8/10. This lesson was interesting as it gave me an insight into the process of assessment, and the need for it. Furthermore, as we progress on to our careers, we might be required to do these assessments frequently.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Week 10 (Emerging and Future Technologies)
Brief Summary:
-
This week, we looked both into the possible technologies and inventions that might arise in the future and also the possible factors that might be driving their development. A couple of ideas were shared during the lesson. The first being that supply can sometimes generate demand. This is especially true in today's generation where new products which have never been seen before, now dominates a large share of the world market. These products include smart phones and iPads which have taken the world by storm ever since their introduction.
-
Another concept introduced was how market-driven research and development could lead to the invention of technologies that greatly benefit humankind. By targeting specific areas that can be improved, these inventions aim to provide solutions to both problems that we face now, and also possible problems we might face in the future.
-
The last idea is about the interaction of 4 factors which would make emerging technologies more possible. These factors include smart people, smart ideas, smart money and smart alliances and partnerships. With the possession these 4 factors, there is a greater likelihood for one to develop the technologies of the future.
-
Interesting Ideas:
-
This has been mentioned in class before and I totally agree that for these future inventions to materialize, people must first have a shift in their world views. In fact, I believe that this has been the trend for us all throughout history. Take for example, when In-Vitro Fertilization was first introduced, many people were against this procedure for moral and religious reasons. However through the course of time, people gradually came to understand how beneficial this technology could, and it has thus been adopted by many states around the world.
-
History has showed us that while certain discoveries are able to greatly enrich the human life, the masses will require time to adjust and get acquainted with them. While getting the funds and talents for research may seem like a hard task, getting people to readily accept such new technologies might prove to be even more daunting. People who are used to their current ways of life would find it even harder to adapt to newer technologies. Perhaps, the challenge for future technologies lies in first convincing people to change their negative mindsets with regard to new inventions.
-
Key Takeaways:
-
Firstly, with the implementation and discovery of new technologies, I do feel that the world is taking greater strides towards sustainability. Not only such, the rate in which the world is moving is getting exponentially faster, making us excited as to what our future entails.
-
Secondly, with regard to the presentation about mind control technology, I feel that it might be eventually possible for us to do things just with our thoughts. Such technology would greatly increase our efficiency as we are able to process information faster in our minds. However, we have to be careful that we do not become overly dependent on these technologies.
-
Discussion:
-
Perhaps we could have looked into certain limitations with regard to technology. Between us and the limitless possibilities of the future, there lies a thin line consisting of issues such as ethics and religion. How do we decide when and what is enough already?
-
Ratings:
-
I would give the lesson a 8/10. The student presentations were all very engaging and interesting. The different inventions they introduced have been fascinating, and it definitely worthwhile to see if these inventions do materialize in the future.
-
This week, we looked both into the possible technologies and inventions that might arise in the future and also the possible factors that might be driving their development. A couple of ideas were shared during the lesson. The first being that supply can sometimes generate demand. This is especially true in today's generation where new products which have never been seen before, now dominates a large share of the world market. These products include smart phones and iPads which have taken the world by storm ever since their introduction.
-
Another concept introduced was how market-driven research and development could lead to the invention of technologies that greatly benefit humankind. By targeting specific areas that can be improved, these inventions aim to provide solutions to both problems that we face now, and also possible problems we might face in the future.
-
The last idea is about the interaction of 4 factors which would make emerging technologies more possible. These factors include smart people, smart ideas, smart money and smart alliances and partnerships. With the possession these 4 factors, there is a greater likelihood for one to develop the technologies of the future.
-
Interesting Ideas:
-
This has been mentioned in class before and I totally agree that for these future inventions to materialize, people must first have a shift in their world views. In fact, I believe that this has been the trend for us all throughout history. Take for example, when In-Vitro Fertilization was first introduced, many people were against this procedure for moral and religious reasons. However through the course of time, people gradually came to understand how beneficial this technology could, and it has thus been adopted by many states around the world.
-
History has showed us that while certain discoveries are able to greatly enrich the human life, the masses will require time to adjust and get acquainted with them. While getting the funds and talents for research may seem like a hard task, getting people to readily accept such new technologies might prove to be even more daunting. People who are used to their current ways of life would find it even harder to adapt to newer technologies. Perhaps, the challenge for future technologies lies in first convincing people to change their negative mindsets with regard to new inventions.
-
Key Takeaways:
-
Firstly, with the implementation and discovery of new technologies, I do feel that the world is taking greater strides towards sustainability. Not only such, the rate in which the world is moving is getting exponentially faster, making us excited as to what our future entails.
-
Secondly, with regard to the presentation about mind control technology, I feel that it might be eventually possible for us to do things just with our thoughts. Such technology would greatly increase our efficiency as we are able to process information faster in our minds. However, we have to be careful that we do not become overly dependent on these technologies.
-
Discussion:
-
Perhaps we could have looked into certain limitations with regard to technology. Between us and the limitless possibilities of the future, there lies a thin line consisting of issues such as ethics and religion. How do we decide when and what is enough already?
-
Ratings:
-
I would give the lesson a 8/10. The student presentations were all very engaging and interesting. The different inventions they introduced have been fascinating, and it definitely worthwhile to see if these inventions do materialize in the future.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Week 9 (Energy and world change)
Brief Summary:
-
In this week's lesson, we looked into the factors regarding energy that drive world change. In the past, the inability of wood to supply us with enough energy led to the discovery of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. In today's society where it becomes increasingly clear that our pool of fossil fuels are inevitably going to run dry, the world has to once again look towards other sources of energy. That would be renewable energy which includes sources such as biomass, wind and energy from the sun.
-
With the shift to renewable energy, countries who traditionally sell oil as a source of national income would have to start developing new sources of energy. We would also want to see how the poor can be positively affected, and also how the transport industry will evolve in the future due to this change.
-
Interesting points:
-
One fact that caught my attention was about how the shift from traditional wood to coal and oil actually helped preserve our forests on earth. This is in contrast to the general view of the public, where many believe that the use of coal and oil have brought devastating effects on our planet. Of course this view is also not entirely wrong. The use of coal and oil have released significantly more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the search and excavation of oil/coal mines have destroyed natural habitats and drove many animals from their homes. However, the video shown during class has shown me that there was more to coal and oil.
-
If we had continued with using wood as our primary source of energy, with the increase in energy consumption over the years, there would have probably also been no more forests left in the world. Does this not also result in a negative impact on our environment? Furthermore, coal and oil were one of the few driving forces in the industrial age and without it, many technologies we see today would not have been possible. Man's greed have caused us to over exploit these resources, hence causing these fossil fuels to deplete quickly as well as many other envirnmental problems.
-
Key takeaways:
-
Over the past few years, the world has taken massive steps towards the building of a sustainable environment. Countries such as Germany have encouraged this by introducing policies that have made the market for renewable energy more attractive. In our search for new sources of energy, I feel that it is also important to turn away from potential sources of danger such as nuclear energy. These sources might sound lucrative, but if things go wrong, many innocent lives could be lost and negatively impacted. This has been exemplified in incidents such as the Chernobyl disaster.
-
Discussion questions:
-
Although the topic "Energy for the poor" was briefly mentioned, I feel that it could have been a topic that we could have dwelt deeper into. As renewable energy is generally more costly than traditional energy, would the poor have the ability to have access to these sources of renewable energy? Installing solar panels for example, is expensive and it would not be practical for poor people to install them. What would happen to poor countries if and when sources of coal and oil are to run out?
-
Ratings:
-
I would give this lesson an 8/10. The lesson has been very beneficial in introducing new ideas which are developed to act as alternative sources of energy. While some sources are relatively safe, others bring about huge risks such as the use of anti-matter as a source of energy. The question we have to ask ourselves is "in spite of the risks involved, should we still be using this as a source of energy?".
-
In this week's lesson, we looked into the factors regarding energy that drive world change. In the past, the inability of wood to supply us with enough energy led to the discovery of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. In today's society where it becomes increasingly clear that our pool of fossil fuels are inevitably going to run dry, the world has to once again look towards other sources of energy. That would be renewable energy which includes sources such as biomass, wind and energy from the sun.
-
With the shift to renewable energy, countries who traditionally sell oil as a source of national income would have to start developing new sources of energy. We would also want to see how the poor can be positively affected, and also how the transport industry will evolve in the future due to this change.
-
Interesting points:
-
One fact that caught my attention was about how the shift from traditional wood to coal and oil actually helped preserve our forests on earth. This is in contrast to the general view of the public, where many believe that the use of coal and oil have brought devastating effects on our planet. Of course this view is also not entirely wrong. The use of coal and oil have released significantly more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the search and excavation of oil/coal mines have destroyed natural habitats and drove many animals from their homes. However, the video shown during class has shown me that there was more to coal and oil.
-
If we had continued with using wood as our primary source of energy, with the increase in energy consumption over the years, there would have probably also been no more forests left in the world. Does this not also result in a negative impact on our environment? Furthermore, coal and oil were one of the few driving forces in the industrial age and without it, many technologies we see today would not have been possible. Man's greed have caused us to over exploit these resources, hence causing these fossil fuels to deplete quickly as well as many other envirnmental problems.
-
Key takeaways:
-
Over the past few years, the world has taken massive steps towards the building of a sustainable environment. Countries such as Germany have encouraged this by introducing policies that have made the market for renewable energy more attractive. In our search for new sources of energy, I feel that it is also important to turn away from potential sources of danger such as nuclear energy. These sources might sound lucrative, but if things go wrong, many innocent lives could be lost and negatively impacted. This has been exemplified in incidents such as the Chernobyl disaster.
-
Discussion questions:
-
Although the topic "Energy for the poor" was briefly mentioned, I feel that it could have been a topic that we could have dwelt deeper into. As renewable energy is generally more costly than traditional energy, would the poor have the ability to have access to these sources of renewable energy? Installing solar panels for example, is expensive and it would not be practical for poor people to install them. What would happen to poor countries if and when sources of coal and oil are to run out?
-
Ratings:
-
I would give this lesson an 8/10. The lesson has been very beneficial in introducing new ideas which are developed to act as alternative sources of energy. While some sources are relatively safe, others bring about huge risks such as the use of anti-matter as a source of energy. The question we have to ask ourselves is "in spite of the risks involved, should we still be using this as a source of energy?".
Monday, October 10, 2011
Individual Topical Paper (Invention of the Television)
The Invention of the Television
Executive Summary
The television has become an integral part of our lives today. Having taken over the radio and the press as the leading source of entertainment and information now, the television has become one of the largest influencers in society. Be it our morals, our ways of thinking or even with regards to our sense of humour, the television has had a huge hand in shaping who we are today. Hence, we will be looking into how we were like before the invention of the television and how the television has impacted society. Furthermore, with the internet developing at a rapid pace, we will also want to look at whether the television will still continue to be the dominant source of entertainment and information in the future.
Background
The television is a device that is able to incorporate moving images with audio sounds, and was a major breakthrough for technology during the 1900’s. The television was traditionally seen as a one-directional mode of communication from the producer of television programs to the masses in society. I use the word traditionally as modern televisions are no longer static but interactive, featuring new applications such as gaming as well as Skype, a programme which allows one to communicate with his or her friends.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (2010), the proportion of households in the world with a television was 79%, as compared to a 30% who have internet access.1This shows that the television is still a dominant force in the telecommunications market today as it reaches out to a much larger proportion of the masses as compared to the internet.
Historical Perspective
Before the invention of the television, the main modes for mass communication were the radio and the press. The radio and press then were the main sources of information and entertainment.
According to Anthony Rudel, (2008), “In 1928, radio networks had newly and broadly changed the dynamics of politics” 2. He also mentioned that the radio was “most families’ primary source of entertainment”. Regardless of what times we are in, mass communication has always been a medium for authorities to achieve political and social objectives. This is as mass communication is the quickest method to relay information to the masses, and hence newspapers and radios were employed to achieve these objectives. Another crucial aspect of mass communication is entertainment. Good entertainment is the key factor which attracts viewers or listeners, and makes the medium well received by the masses.
The first concept for the television according to Neil Postman (1999) was created by Fransworth in 1927 when “they saw the first all-electronic television picture ever transmitted” 3. This invention was a stark contrast to the existing technology then, and drew explosive responses from the public. The television was able to combine the features of both the radio and the press by having moving images and audio.
The television excelled the capabilities of the press as it was a more accessible source of information. Furthermore, it allowed viewers to obtain real-time information, as any changes in information could be readily adjusted and broadcasted over the television. When compared to the radio, the television revolutionized the experience of entertainment as viewers could now not only hear but also see events unfolding in short dramas and sports for example. The masses could also now see historical events, such as the September 9/11 incident and wars unfolding right before their eyes, thus changing the experience in which viewers receive information. This is not to say that the press and radio have no role to play in today’s society, but instead of how they now have to take up roles to support the television which has become the dominant mode of communication.
The television itself has also experienced improvements in technology. The rate of development of television over the past few decades has been exponential. Starting from the development of colour in televisions, the world has seen large improvements in the quality of images with the invention of high-definition television as well as the increase in portability with the new plasma televisions. Furthermore, with the increased efficiency in producing a television, televisions have become much more affordable now as compared to the past. Robert Quigley (2010) in his diagram stated that a normal colour television set in 1979 would have cost $1,650 as compared to a plasma television which only costs $899 in 2010. 4 This shows that with more advanced technology, television prices are driven down instead of up, making them more affordable for the average households.
In the next section, we will go on to see what television we currently have, and how they have changed the role of mass communication.
Current Situation
The television is now an integral part of society. As mentioned earlier, there is a very high usage of televisions in society now and indicates the importance of the television in societies now.
Televisions now are becoming increasingly interactive. The recent development of 3-Dimentional (3D) television immerses viewers in a sort of virtual reality where it is increasingly difficult to differentiate reality from what is not. The integration of communication in televisions such as Skype as changes the way in which people interact with it. As mentioned earlier, the television is no longer isolated but instead, integrated in a whole network of televisions.
Moving on from that, entertainment on television has also undergone a huge revolution. Rather than just screening dramas and comedies, programs that heavily involve viewer participation are also gaining in popularity. Viewers get to participate in quizzes that are flashed in the middle of programs and stand to win prizes as well. Reality television programs such as Singapore and American Idol rely heavily on viewer participation to select the best participant who appeals most to the public. Also, in David Copperfield’s televised magic shows, he not only performed for the audiences in the studio but also dedicated specific tricks for viewers at home. Viewers are no longer seen as just a viewer but instead, a virtual participant in the program itself. Furthermore, features such as 3D television makes what seems like fiction become reality, adding on to value of entertainment one derives from watching the television.
While it can be argued that the value of entertainment has definitely improved due to interactive technology, others have argued that the programs like reality television “are banal to extreme but they also lack the educational value of traditional documentary” Peter McMahon (2003) 5. In order to raise the value of entertainment, some producers have chosen to go with what appeals most to the public over what benefits them the most. Educational content have taken the backseat, with fast-paced action and drama forming the crux of the entertainment industry nowadays. Furthermore, some reality television programs present viewers with an unrealistic view of life. Shows such as American Idol portray ideas of anyone being able to live the dream and become the next big thing. While it is not entirely untrue, it becomes a problem when one is too fixated on that idea and is unable to see the true reality of life where dreams do not come true so easily.
The mass reach of television has also drawn interest from politicians in various countries. As compared to the radio, the television has been the preferred choice of communication for political information in recent times. Many see this medium as a potential platform to share their views with the public, while others also see it as an opportunity to make their competitors lose their footing in the political scene. In the recent elections in Singapore, election speeches were broadcasted over the television and enabled the masses to hear what the election nominees had to say. In addition to that, presidential and wars speeches, just to name a few, have also been broadcasted over the television all around the world. With the assumption that there is no overwhelming censorship in the country, the television provides a platform for the various parties to voice out their views to the masses.
However, the reach of televisions is like a double-edged sword. It could also be used by controversial organizations to achieve their own political agendas in the country. When used inappropriately, it could cause unrest and instigated people to fight in the favour of the organization. In the recent war in Iraq, as sources in the Guardian quote, Saddam Hussein’s speech on television urged citizens to rebel and fight against the United States army. 6 Ultimately, the information that is relayed down to the masses in in the hands of the people who control the medium of mass communication, be it the immediate owners of the broadcasting station or the governing authority of the nation. With increasing access to the television, these controversial organizations will only gain in power and influence over the people.
Lastly, we look at the social impacts of the television. Governing bodies are also turning to the television in order to achieve their social objectives and relay social information. Such social objectives include social security which “accounts for over a third of total government spending in most industrialized countries.” Guido Tabellini (2000). 7 As such, certain programs are specifically designed to improve social security in the country. One example would be the program Crime Watch shown in various countries such as United Kingdom and Singapore. This program raises people’s awareness about crimes that might potentially happen to them, and also teaches people how to avoid being in dangerous situations. Programs such as President’s Star Charity in Singapore aim to raise funds for and awareness about the less privileged people in Singapore. These different programs are beneficial to the society at large as it is educational in nature and would bring about a betterment of society.
However, while programs and news keep viewers updated about the latest societal concerns, an over-reliance on the television might cause one to pick up bad habits which affect one’s health and social life. A term coined to describe one such habit is the “couch potato”. According to Collins English Dictionary, this term is used to describe “a lazy person whose recreation consists chiefly of watching television and videos”. 8 Greg Thom (2011) states in his article that “researchers calculated every hour of TV viewed shortened the viewers’ life expectancy by about 22 minutes.” 9 The impact on health is even greater for “couch potatoes” as much of their time is devoted to watching the television. Furthermore, with a large portion of their time devoted to watching the television, “couch potatoes” inevitably will have less time to engage in social interactions with people outside home. This will have an impact his or her relationship with their friends or family, leaving to problems in their social lives.
We can also see how the television has brought revolutions to the old methods of marketing. Televised marketing have taken over from the traditional methods such as door to door marketing, radio marketing or by placing advertisements on newspapers. Other than just broadcasting programs, specific time slots are also set aside by broadcasting agencies for advertisements, showing how the economic aspect of the television has become just as important as entertainment. Televised advertising has added a whole new dimension to marketing as the television is able to reach out to more people as compared to the press. Furthermore, for the duration of the televised advertisement, there are no other programs broadcasted concurrently, shifting all of the viewers’ attention towards the advertisement. This is in contrast to newspapers where many advertisements, placed side by side, compete with each other for the attention of readers.
However, there is also a cost to using this technology. Advertising and production costs for televised commercials are much more expensive as compared to the radio or the press. The cost is high as companies not only need to pay for the license to broadcast their advertisements on the television, but will also require a large sum of money to film and put together a decent commercial. The large capital needed for this might prove to be a strong deterrent for smaller firms, making the television a less preferred choice as compared to other mediums for these firms.
Future
With the emergence of the internet, the dominance of the television will soon be called into question. The internet is a powerful tool which surpasses the ability of the television as it contains a much greater pool of information. Users are also able to search for specific information pertaining to their needs using the internet whereas compared to the television; information available is limited to the content broadcasted in programs. Television programs are no longer exclusive but are also now accessible from the Internet, further questioning the need for the television.
With regard to economic value, the Internet has also proved to be a much preferred choice as a medium for advertisement. Advertising costs on the Internet is much lower than that of the television. The Internet is also able to reach out to a large pool of people, with millions of people frequenting websites such as Facebook and Twitter each month. Advertisements placed on these websites would then be able to draw a greater amount of response as compared to the television. With all these in mind, the internet could eventually take over as the leading source of entertainment and information unless more innovative features and functions are developed for the television.
One of the positive steps in which the television could be heading towards would be the incorporation of virtual reality into its programs. Virtual reality not only makes use of 3D technology but also allows users to interact with 3D objects projected from the equipment. Such technology is already available in today’s society. Tracy Staedter (2007) wrote about the development of a “computer system that allows shoes shoppers to stand in front of a virtual mirror and try on a variety of styles just by pointing at a computer screen”. 10 By incorporating virtual reality technology with television programs, viewers are able to put themselves in the shoes of other people and experience living in the other parts of the world. This would not only improve the value of entertainment, but could act a powerful source of education as people are now better able to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds from all over the world.
Another direction the television could go towards would be the creation of an interactive news system, where viewers are able to search for specific information that they require. This function would be similar to that of the internet, where users are able to search and locate specific information that they seek. Currently, channels are already divided into different genres such as sports, business news and political news etc. However, if the television could alter the news program to only present news relevant to the individual needs of the different households, this will make the accessing of information much more convenient for users.
It would also be important for the television to maintain its economic value by driving down advertising costs. Instead of having many lengthy advertisements which is costly to produce, firms should instead focus on short, direct and captivating advertisements. New and more innovative methods, such as 3D technology, should be employed to make advertisements more captivating and appealing to the masses.
However in my opinion, I believe that televisions would still be the primary source of information used by governing bodies in the future. This is as compared to the internet, television programs are much easier to regulate. Governments are, to some extent, able to control the type of information being presented, sifting out sensitive information which might cause unrest in society. Internet, on the other hand, is much harder to regulate as every user is seen as a source of information. As such, it is difficult to prevent sensitive and controversial information from being published on the Internet, thus making it a potential threat to societal stability.
Conclusion
The TV has had major impacts on the human race ever since its invention due to its involvement in entertainment, politics and the shaping of society. The television has brought about both positive and negative implications. If we look closer at these implications however, we notice that these are not caused directly by the television, but instead, on how we make use of the television.
Hence, I believe that like many other technologies that are available to humanity, whether or not they positively affect our lives depends on how the technology is being used. The future of the television is also unclear at the moment. The television could potentially be phased out by the invention of the Internet. If the television does not development new and innovative features, further developments to the Internet could very much make that a reality.
References
References
1. International Telecommunications Union. (2010). ITU Statistics: Proportion of households with a TV/Internet access [data file] Retrieved from http://www.itu.int/ict/statistics
2. Anthony Rudel (2008, October 9) Before TV and the Internet – When Radio was the First Electronic Medium, USNews, Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/10/09/before-tv-and-the-internet--when-radio-was-the-first-electronic-medium
3. Postman, Neil (1999, March 29) Electrical Engineer Philo Farnsworth, Time Magazine US, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990620-2,00.html
4. Robert Quigley (2010, 17 February) The Cost of Technology over the Decades. Geekosystem. Retrieved from http://www.geekosystem.com/technology-cost-decades/
5. Peter McMahon (2003, 26 November) A Stagnant and meaningless popular culture is a big problem for society, Onlineopinion, Retrieved from http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=879
6. Guardian.co.uk (2003, 4 April) Excerpt from Saddam Hussein’s speech, The Guardian, Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/apr/04/iraq1?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
7. Guido Tabellini (2000) A Positive Theory of Social Security, The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Vol. 102, No. 3, Social Security in the 21st Century, pp. 523-545. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/pss/3440633
8. Couch potato. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved September 26, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/couch potato
9. Greg Thom (2011, 16 August) Watching too much TV kills couch potatoes. Herald Sun. Retrieved from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/watching-too-much-tv-kills-couch-potatoes/story-fn6bfm6w-1226115474334
10.Tracy Staedter (2007, 29 March) Next in Virtual Reality: Shoe Shopping. Discovery News. Retrieved from http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/03/29/shoes_tec.html?category=animals&guid=20070329101530
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Week 7 (Agribiology, environmental & industrial)
Brief Summary:
-
This week, we looked into how technological advances have impacted the biobusiness industry in areas such as agriculture, environmental and industrial life sciences. Though these industries differ greatly in their nature, there was one common goal that they were all striving for and that was the idea of sustainability. Quoted from Professor Gurinder in his slides, he mentioned that "When we are able to grow the resources we need, we will finally be on the road to sustainability".
-
In the agriculture industry, constant research is being done to increase the harvest and food supply to feed the growing population of the world. This includes technology which both improves farming techniques as well as genetic modification in plants to increase their yield. For environmental life sciences, we focused on waste management, and the possibilities of using our waste as a alternative source of energy. A key aspect of industrial life sciences is that of biofuels, and how that could also contribute to being another source of energy to power the world. However we also noticed that there were hurdles to these developments. Strong protests against genetically modified food, for example have hindered its developments, and it is important to see how we balance these 2 conflicting points of views.
-
Interesting Ideas
-
An astonishing amount of food is thrown away each year. It could be due to food products meeting their expiry dates or restaurants throwing out half-eaten or unwanted food. I feel that if we could minimize wastage, this would greatly increase food supply and help in the meeting of increased demands for food. In Singapore for example, millions of kilos of food are thrown out every year. That is alot of food wasted which could have been prevented if we had followed better food practices.
-
Even though some restaurants in Singapore have already started trying to curb food wastage by imposing extra costs on buffets for customers who have a large portion of uneaten food, it does not do enough to change the mindset of people towards food wastage. In a country abundant of food, it is difficult for people to understand what extreme poverty really is. Hence, to combat this, I feel that raising public awareness and education is of upmost importance. In addition, some form of incentive or deterrence has to be set up to ensure that this becomes a lasting solution.
-
Key Takeaways:
-
Technology has enabled us to battle some of the biggest issues that mankind face, including food and energy supplies. Breakthroughs in any of these 2 areas will allow the world to take one major leap towards sustainability.
-
However, it is important to understand that while researchers and scientists have a huge role to play in our road to sustainability, we as individuals also have a massive role to play. Our every action might have a small impact on our surroundings, but when multiplied by the billions of people all over the world, the effect of the impact is greatly magnified. Hence, we should not undermine our role as a global citizen.
-
Issues for dicussion:
-
How do we choose to strike a balance between natural food and genetically modified food in the future? Do we have a 50-50? Or is it possible that we would only consume genetically modified food in the future? This is a question I feel is quite worthwhile to discuss more in-depthly.
-
Ratings:
-
I would rate the lesson as a 8/10. The lesson has provided me with new insights on the world and its attempt to attain sustainability. Many of the new technologies introduced, such as converting waste to energy, is really interesting and has left me curious as to what other new technologies are being developed at the moment.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Week 6 (Bioscience and healthcare)
Brief overview:
-
Today we looked into the biobusiness sector, focusing on the biomedical and healthcare aspects. There are 2 main types of diseases, namely chronic diseases such as diabetes and AIDS, as well as communicable diseases such as respiratory system infections. The first trend observed regarding these 2 diseases is that while more-developed countries suffer from a high number of chronic disease cases as compared to communicable diseases, countries such as Africa were quite the opposite and suffered from a high number of communicable disease cases instead. Furthermore, from 1990 to 2020, chronic diseases have taken over communicable diseases as the leading causes of global deaths and disability. What these figures suggest is that even though some countries become more developed and are able to better combat communicable diseases by providing better living standards and sanitization, they now come face to face with a new type of disease known as chronic diseases.
-
We have also looked into the healthcare revolution, where technology changes the way in which the healthcare industry operates. Treatment standards are improved with telemedicine as this allows doctors from different countries to communicate beyond borders and exchange ideas in regard to new treatments. The BioTech revolution also sees the increase in productivity of new vaccines and drugs with the assistance of technology. Contract Research Organizations also attribute to this increase in productivity as they are specialized in the research of these new drugs.
-
Interesting Ideas:
-
Is it possible to rid the world of diseases of any sort with the use of technology? With the advancements of technology, many new solutions to treat existing illnesses are being discovered rapidly. Take for example, regarding the recent SARS epidermic in the world, many scientists were soon researching and producing vaccines in order to combat the spread of this deadly virus. Though not all vaccines were effective, it can be seen how quickly the world can now react to and combat new diseases. Improvements in infrastructure such as the provision of clean water, good sanitization and improved hygiene can also help in battling communicable diseases such as the diarrhoeal disease.
-
However, it is interesting to note from the trends mentioned in the brief overview that while we are able to solve many diseases of the past, many new diseases are also emerging. These new diseases, also known as the "disease of excess", could possibly be caused by our lifestyles which are influenced by technology. I feel that diseases such as high blood pressure and obesity result from our over dependence on technology where commuting is now so convenient. Fast-food that can now be prepared and served instantly also cause harm to our bodies if not eaten in moderation. Hence, while technology could assist us in battling some of these diseases, the convenience that it provides us with could also lead to the emergence of new diseases.
-
Key takeways:
-
I feel that the prevention of diseases in the form of good healthcare is both the responsibility of the government as well as the individuals themselves. Governments can do their part by providing good sanitization and clean water, thus effectively combating communicable diseases. Public education about healthy living is also important for the citizens to be aware of the causes of these diseases.
-
Individuals themselves also have a huge part to play. By eating in moderation and exercising regularly, one is able to better safeguard themselves from diseases such as heart attacks, obesity and high blood pressure. Furthermore, educated individuals who are aware about HIV should also restraint from conducting activities that expose them to the risks of contracting the disease.
-
Discussion Questions:
-
It would have been good if we could have dwelt into the issue of the new medical practices versus ethics. Medical practices such as the stem cells research, which can be seen as a solution for many problems, is also violently objected to by many religious bodies who say that this practice is unethical. How do we find the balance between these 2 points of views?
-
Ratings:
-
I would give this lesson a 8/10. Personally, the opening video of the lesson regarding the future of bioscience opened my eyes to see the limitless opportunities that technology can bring. Though it seems like a optimistic view of the future, at the rate technology is advancing in our age, it could possibly be achievable.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Group Topic (Photography)
(Main page)
Executive Summary
- discuss why we decided to choose photography
- state that there are different kinds of photography in our current day
and age and that it has grown from normal films, to polaroids to digital
camera etc. (even the type of cameras have changed over the years)
- how has this development of photography impacted the world on a whole (source of information, social, political impacts)
Background/Introduction
- define photography
- probably give a list of the types of photography/camera
Historical Perspective
- background info on the invention of the camera? (who invented it, when and why etc)
- when the camera was first introduced, only specific people had access to a camera (a symbol of power)
- discuss the growth and changes in photography since it's invention (timeline of its evolution, using Kodak as a case study)
Current Situation
- how cameras are now available to the majority
- how has development in photography changed our lives? (To quote the iPhone advertisement "we can now capture any memory, every dimple, every smile, every …)
- are the impacts as a result of the changes in photography significant?
- How so? (We can mention how we get information from photographs (in journalism), advertisement, etc...)
Future considerations
- where do we see photography advancing to?
- are there any new developments in photography that is currently being
developed or researched? (could refer to the "wvil" that integrates the iPhone with the DSLR)
-In the near future, could there be a possibility of 3D photos?
Conclusions
- are we optimistic or pessimistic about the future of photography?
- can it potentially be replaced by another type of technology?
(Subsequent pages, 1)
Photography in sports
-how it has changed from the past, to the present
-what we foresee in the future
(Subsequent pages, 2)
Photography used in journalism (promoting certain values or ideas)
-how photography has been used for political or social agendas over time
-how everyone can be a photojournalist themselves now
(Subsequent pages, 3)
Photography and it's impact on culture (arts)
-impact on artists
-photography seen as a new artform (can it replace traditional art)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Week 5
Brief Summary:
Today, we have discussed about Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and how this might bring about world change. ICT is actually a very broad topic, and covers aspects such as mass media, the internet, gaming, wireless technologies, interactive technologies, information systems and cloud computing.
ICT is widely regarded as a step in a positive direction as it not only increases productivity, but could also be the solution to solve poverty, lack of education and gender inequality in countries. However, along with these benefits, it could also bring about security concerns where there is espionage of intellectual property, the invasion of privacy, identity theft and a possible exposure to corrupting influences such as pornography. This great leap forward towards a knowledge-based society, like the use of any other technology, can be either good or bad depending on how we use it.
Interesting Ideas:
I believe that the solution to many of life's problems is knowledge and education. With knowledge, many of life's greatest problems such as poverty, child mortality and gender inequality can be solved. Furthermore with the advancement of ICTs, knowledge is only a fingertip away from all of us as we can access countless sources of information with the use of the internet. With India and many developing countries looking to make ICTs readily available for it's people, I do foresee a very promising future the whole of mankind.
However, the greatest problem I see with ICT is that its greatest strength of connecting people together from all around the world, can always be it's greatest weakness. One wrong or insensitive comment on a medium of ICT is able to form ripples all over the world. One example would be when Danish newspapers published cartoons regarding religion causing massive uproar among many people. Sensitive comments placed on blogs are also open to rebuke by online citizens. It can be seen that the inappropriate use of ICTs could actually pose to be more of a problem then the good it serves (ps. I won't be going into freedom of speech).
Key Takeaway Messages:
I believe that ICT would be a major factor is providing solutions to some of the major problems we face today as it provides us with an endless flow of information. However, it is important to note that we are to be careful in how we use the different mediums of ICT as inappropriate actions could bring about massive consequences now that the world is so connected.
Furthermore, the flow of information increasingly changing from what used to be a "one to many" system, to one now where individuals are able share information with one another. The information available on the internet might not always be accurate as ideas can now be contributed by individuals instead of going through regulating institutions. Hence, it is important for one to be able to discern between correct and incorrect information on the web.
Issues for discussion:
An issue I thought we could have dwelt-in deeper was the idea about responsibility of the people governing these modes of ICT. As ICTs could greatly influence one's way of thinking, these people play an important role in determining the general mindset of society. Hence, it would be interesting to see what the decision-making process is like in this highly-influential industry.
Ratings:
I would give the overall lesson an 8/10 as it introduced me to many ideas regarding ICT that I had never considered before. The idea of using ICT to alleviate poverty is especially new to me as ICT was traditionally considered as something that was available and widely-used only by developed countries. Furthermore, I feel that the concepts taught during class is very relevant to our current situation where advancements in technology constantly changes our modes of communication.
Today, we have discussed about Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and how this might bring about world change. ICT is actually a very broad topic, and covers aspects such as mass media, the internet, gaming, wireless technologies, interactive technologies, information systems and cloud computing.
ICT is widely regarded as a step in a positive direction as it not only increases productivity, but could also be the solution to solve poverty, lack of education and gender inequality in countries. However, along with these benefits, it could also bring about security concerns where there is espionage of intellectual property, the invasion of privacy, identity theft and a possible exposure to corrupting influences such as pornography. This great leap forward towards a knowledge-based society, like the use of any other technology, can be either good or bad depending on how we use it.
Interesting Ideas:
I believe that the solution to many of life's problems is knowledge and education. With knowledge, many of life's greatest problems such as poverty, child mortality and gender inequality can be solved. Furthermore with the advancement of ICTs, knowledge is only a fingertip away from all of us as we can access countless sources of information with the use of the internet. With India and many developing countries looking to make ICTs readily available for it's people, I do foresee a very promising future the whole of mankind.
However, the greatest problem I see with ICT is that its greatest strength of connecting people together from all around the world, can always be it's greatest weakness. One wrong or insensitive comment on a medium of ICT is able to form ripples all over the world. One example would be when Danish newspapers published cartoons regarding religion causing massive uproar among many people. Sensitive comments placed on blogs are also open to rebuke by online citizens. It can be seen that the inappropriate use of ICTs could actually pose to be more of a problem then the good it serves (ps. I won't be going into freedom of speech).
Key Takeaway Messages:
I believe that ICT would be a major factor is providing solutions to some of the major problems we face today as it provides us with an endless flow of information. However, it is important to note that we are to be careful in how we use the different mediums of ICT as inappropriate actions could bring about massive consequences now that the world is so connected.
Furthermore, the flow of information increasingly changing from what used to be a "one to many" system, to one now where individuals are able share information with one another. The information available on the internet might not always be accurate as ideas can now be contributed by individuals instead of going through regulating institutions. Hence, it is important for one to be able to discern between correct and incorrect information on the web.
Issues for discussion:
An issue I thought we could have dwelt-in deeper was the idea about responsibility of the people governing these modes of ICT. As ICTs could greatly influence one's way of thinking, these people play an important role in determining the general mindset of society. Hence, it would be interesting to see what the decision-making process is like in this highly-influential industry.
Ratings:
I would give the overall lesson an 8/10 as it introduced me to many ideas regarding ICT that I had never considered before. The idea of using ICT to alleviate poverty is especially new to me as ICT was traditionally considered as something that was available and widely-used only by developed countries. Furthermore, I feel that the concepts taught during class is very relevant to our current situation where advancements in technology constantly changes our modes of communication.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Week 4
Summary:
Drivers of world change come in many different forms and each have different impacts on the world. Some examples of these drivers are environmental change, technological innovations and globalisation. However, one key concept to consider when dealing with these drivers are whether they cause an evolutionary or revolutionary change. Evolutionary would be, as the name implies, a slow and gradual change over time as the world adapts to the driver. Revolutionary, on the other hand, implies a sudden and extreme change which sends shockwaves through the entire world.
We also looked into what differentiates a leader, a visionary and a manager. A visionary has great insights and understandings of the workings of this world, and is able to see what the world requires in the future. A leader is one who is able to create a framework and is able to band people together for a common purpose. A manager is the one who manages these followers and ensure that they follow the framework laid down. Each role is not mutually exclusive, and one may possess more than one of these qualities.
Interesting Ideas:
While I am certain that there are many drivers that can cause change in the world, for example global warming changes the living conditions of people and many policies have to be put in place to curb the emission of greenhouse gases, I would also propose that world change has a major hand in producing these "drivers". I believe that while these "drivers" affect world change, world change can also be seen to be the driving force behind these "drivers".
Let us look at a simple analogy. Technological advances have made information more accessible for people with the invention of the internet. However, it could also be argued that people's growing need for information was a key driver in the development of the internet by the IT industry. Hence I feel that we cannot view these "drivers" and world change as seperate entities, but we have to view them as a whole in order to have a better understanding of the entire issue.
I also asked myself, among the qualities of a visionary, leader and manager, which is the most important? Can they thrive in isolation? I believe the answer is no. All organisations, regardless of size, require people to fulfill many different roles and all these roles are equally important. A visionary, by himself, though possessing greats insights, might not have the skills neccessary to band together a group of people to support his cause. Leaders might not know how to manage people, and managers might not possess good insights.
Key takeaways:
One key takeaway I have is that if we are not prepared to deal with changes and do not change our mindset towards innovative thinking, we might not be able to deal with a revolutionary change effectively. This will result in us lagging behind the rest of the world as the rest continue to surge forward. Changes cannot be prevented, but it is how we react to them that makes the difference.
Another takeaway is that while it is best that we possess all 3 qualities of a visionary, leader and manager, good teamwork is often the best way to attain success. Instead of trying to take on everything by myself, it would probably be better to find a group of like-minded individuals each possessing different qualities to strive for the same goal.
Issues for Discussion:
I thought another aspect of in which we could have dwelt in deeper was the idea of an effective visionary or leader. There are many that claim to be visionaries but what makes some tick but others not? And also what makes some leaders more effective than others? This is an issue that is quite relevant to our daily lives where everyone is seen as a leader.
Rating:
I would give the class an 8/10 as I was really intrigued by one of the videos shown during class. The main message was about how it is not only about the leader, but the first follower who gets the ball rolling. This made me reflect alot about the role of a leader and how sometimes, we have placed so much emphasis on being a leader that we have forgotten that it is the followers that really keep the "dream" going.
Drivers of world change come in many different forms and each have different impacts on the world. Some examples of these drivers are environmental change, technological innovations and globalisation. However, one key concept to consider when dealing with these drivers are whether they cause an evolutionary or revolutionary change. Evolutionary would be, as the name implies, a slow and gradual change over time as the world adapts to the driver. Revolutionary, on the other hand, implies a sudden and extreme change which sends shockwaves through the entire world.
We also looked into what differentiates a leader, a visionary and a manager. A visionary has great insights and understandings of the workings of this world, and is able to see what the world requires in the future. A leader is one who is able to create a framework and is able to band people together for a common purpose. A manager is the one who manages these followers and ensure that they follow the framework laid down. Each role is not mutually exclusive, and one may possess more than one of these qualities.
Interesting Ideas:
While I am certain that there are many drivers that can cause change in the world, for example global warming changes the living conditions of people and many policies have to be put in place to curb the emission of greenhouse gases, I would also propose that world change has a major hand in producing these "drivers". I believe that while these "drivers" affect world change, world change can also be seen to be the driving force behind these "drivers".
Let us look at a simple analogy. Technological advances have made information more accessible for people with the invention of the internet. However, it could also be argued that people's growing need for information was a key driver in the development of the internet by the IT industry. Hence I feel that we cannot view these "drivers" and world change as seperate entities, but we have to view them as a whole in order to have a better understanding of the entire issue.
I also asked myself, among the qualities of a visionary, leader and manager, which is the most important? Can they thrive in isolation? I believe the answer is no. All organisations, regardless of size, require people to fulfill many different roles and all these roles are equally important. A visionary, by himself, though possessing greats insights, might not have the skills neccessary to band together a group of people to support his cause. Leaders might not know how to manage people, and managers might not possess good insights.
Key takeaways:
One key takeaway I have is that if we are not prepared to deal with changes and do not change our mindset towards innovative thinking, we might not be able to deal with a revolutionary change effectively. This will result in us lagging behind the rest of the world as the rest continue to surge forward. Changes cannot be prevented, but it is how we react to them that makes the difference.
Another takeaway is that while it is best that we possess all 3 qualities of a visionary, leader and manager, good teamwork is often the best way to attain success. Instead of trying to take on everything by myself, it would probably be better to find a group of like-minded individuals each possessing different qualities to strive for the same goal.
Issues for Discussion:
I thought another aspect of in which we could have dwelt in deeper was the idea of an effective visionary or leader. There are many that claim to be visionaries but what makes some tick but others not? And also what makes some leaders more effective than others? This is an issue that is quite relevant to our daily lives where everyone is seen as a leader.
Rating:
I would give the class an 8/10 as I was really intrigued by one of the videos shown during class. The main message was about how it is not only about the leader, but the first follower who gets the ball rolling. This made me reflect alot about the role of a leader and how sometimes, we have placed so much emphasis on being a leader that we have forgotten that it is the followers that really keep the "dream" going.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Outline for Individual Project - Invention of the Television
Executive Summary (Why I chose the television):
• The television has become an integral part of our current lives
• We will want to see how the television impacts us socially, politically and economically
• Determine the future of the television
Background
• The television has evolved from normal flat screen to HD and now even the 3D.
• There is a shift from the radio to the TV in being the main source of information and entertainment
Historical Perspective
• Before the TV, the most common source of information was the radio and the press
• Even without moving images, these were the main sources of entertainment, as well as political and social
• Eg. The radio was used by the Japanese to broadcast propaganda speeches during the war
• Eg, In the King’s Speech during WW2, the radio was used to broadcast wartime messages
• In the past, the radio was more of a necessity rather than a want
o Important information about the progress of war, for example, were broadcasted over radio to civilians (though the accuracy of the information is questionable)
Current
• With the invention of the TV, the value of entertainment definitely improved drastically
o Incorporated moving images with audio
o Could be positive as well as negative. If the increased emphasis on visual effects comprises the content, it could be seen as a negative implication
• Television still used for political reasons
o Rally speeches in Singapore broadcasted over the television
o Terrorists have also used the TV and video to communicate their intentions
o Depending on what political ideas are put across, it can be either positive/negative
• Social impacts of television
o Broadcast of programs such as Crime Watch raises people’s awareness about crimes and changes the social dynamics of people. (Positive)
o Change’s people’s habits into becoming couch potatoes (Negative)
• TV has also changed as an economical agent as many firms are advertising on it
o A change from newspapers to the TV
o TV taking over as the dominant source of information and entertainment
Radios in cars are gradually being changed to mini televisions
• TV is seen more as a want, rather than a need
Future
• With the invention of the internet, the TV is possibly facing becoming obsolete
• There is a need for more innovative purposes of the TV to be invented
o Ie. 4D TV where human sensation/interaction is also incorporated
o Virtual Reality (which is already in the process of being invented)
• However, TV is an important instrument to Government as they can exercise more control over it as compared to the internet
o Thus in the future, will still be seen as the main tool to achieve political and social objectives
Conclusion
• The TV has had major impacts on the human race ever since its invention during to its hand in political, social and economic aspects. However, it is facing being obsolete with the invention of the internet.
• Like the use of many other technologies, whether or not it positively affects our lives depends on both how the users use it and how the owners govern it.
• The television has become an integral part of our current lives
• We will want to see how the television impacts us socially, politically and economically
• Determine the future of the television
Background
• The television has evolved from normal flat screen to HD and now even the 3D.
• There is a shift from the radio to the TV in being the main source of information and entertainment
Historical Perspective
• Before the TV, the most common source of information was the radio and the press
• Even without moving images, these were the main sources of entertainment, as well as political and social
• Eg. The radio was used by the Japanese to broadcast propaganda speeches during the war
• Eg, In the King’s Speech during WW2, the radio was used to broadcast wartime messages
• In the past, the radio was more of a necessity rather than a want
o Important information about the progress of war, for example, were broadcasted over radio to civilians (though the accuracy of the information is questionable)
Current
• With the invention of the TV, the value of entertainment definitely improved drastically
o Incorporated moving images with audio
o Could be positive as well as negative. If the increased emphasis on visual effects comprises the content, it could be seen as a negative implication
• Television still used for political reasons
o Rally speeches in Singapore broadcasted over the television
o Terrorists have also used the TV and video to communicate their intentions
o Depending on what political ideas are put across, it can be either positive/negative
• Social impacts of television
o Broadcast of programs such as Crime Watch raises people’s awareness about crimes and changes the social dynamics of people. (Positive)
o Change’s people’s habits into becoming couch potatoes (Negative)
• TV has also changed as an economical agent as many firms are advertising on it
o A change from newspapers to the TV
o TV taking over as the dominant source of information and entertainment
Radios in cars are gradually being changed to mini televisions
• TV is seen more as a want, rather than a need
Future
• With the invention of the internet, the TV is possibly facing becoming obsolete
• There is a need for more innovative purposes of the TV to be invented
o Ie. 4D TV where human sensation/interaction is also incorporated
o Virtual Reality (which is already in the process of being invented)
• However, TV is an important instrument to Government as they can exercise more control over it as compared to the internet
o Thus in the future, will still be seen as the main tool to achieve political and social objectives
Conclusion
• The TV has had major impacts on the human race ever since its invention during to its hand in political, social and economic aspects. However, it is facing being obsolete with the invention of the internet.
• Like the use of many other technologies, whether or not it positively affects our lives depends on both how the users use it and how the owners govern it.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Week 3
Summary:
"It is not possible to have a linear process of manufacturing in a world finite in resources indefinitely." What this means is that if we do not consider how to preserve our current resources and continue to use up these resources indiscriminately, we will eventually run out of them. This is as the earth's natural resources disappear once used and cannot be replenished.
Secondly, we also learnt about the innovation process in innovation management where we see that an good and creative idea is still not yet an innovation, and still has to go through the process of research, development as well as application before it is considered an innovation. Research happens when there are new insights and understanding of the matter or product involved after observation. Development would be the translation process where the product or idea is materialised. Application would be the business side of the model where the product or idea is engaged in commercial, clinical or social use and is open in the market to the public after the firm evaluates the product's potential in the market.
Intersting ideas:
I think that a concept that is generally accepted to be inseparable from innovation is the idea of capitalism. An idea, no matter how creative or good, is not considered an innovation unless it is able to reap some sort of financial benefits. This step is also seen as the business-case validation where the firm will evaluate if the product is able to bring in economic benefits. To be practical, a firm will require income if it is to continue operating in the market and innovation is very much profit-driven. However, what if we change points of view and view this in the Government's perspective instead of the firm's? Does the link between innovation and capitalism still apply?
The Government can participate the innovation process of firms by giving grants or providing training, hence easing the development stage for firms. Does the government benefit from engaging in such activities? In my opinion, when the Government provides grants for research, it greatly increases the likelihood of firms to engage in more extensive research and development. When these firms become successful and expand their production, more jobs are created, thus reducing unemployment and improve the general standards of living for people in the country. Hence it can be seen that innovation could also help governments to achieve their economic objectives.
Key takeaways:
My main takeaway is that creativity does not equate to innovation, but instead is a part of the process of innovation. It is important to understand the various stages of the innovation process such as research, development and application for one to excel in this highly competitive market.
Another key takeaway I have is that we should not make decisions and actions now that would reduce options for future generations. Another way to explain this is that we should not make a mess out of this world, and expect our future generations to clean it up for us. Instead, we should aim at creating an environment which is increasingly comfortable for our future generations to live in.
Issues:
"Creating value" is a concept that could be discussed in greater detail. Though these 2 words seem to be easy to understand, the 2 words are hugely subjective and vary in meaning for many different people. By mentioning maximizing value creation, it would be good to discuss if there was an general standard in which people could use to measure the value of an idea or innovation.
I would give this lesson a 6 out of 10 as mainly due to time constraints, we were not able to get in-depth into many issues regarding sustainable development. However, the processes involved in innovation management were very clearly stated, and had benefitted me greatly from knowing and understanding the processes involved.
"It is not possible to have a linear process of manufacturing in a world finite in resources indefinitely." What this means is that if we do not consider how to preserve our current resources and continue to use up these resources indiscriminately, we will eventually run out of them. This is as the earth's natural resources disappear once used and cannot be replenished.
Secondly, we also learnt about the innovation process in innovation management where we see that an good and creative idea is still not yet an innovation, and still has to go through the process of research, development as well as application before it is considered an innovation. Research happens when there are new insights and understanding of the matter or product involved after observation. Development would be the translation process where the product or idea is materialised. Application would be the business side of the model where the product or idea is engaged in commercial, clinical or social use and is open in the market to the public after the firm evaluates the product's potential in the market.
Intersting ideas:
I think that a concept that is generally accepted to be inseparable from innovation is the idea of capitalism. An idea, no matter how creative or good, is not considered an innovation unless it is able to reap some sort of financial benefits. This step is also seen as the business-case validation where the firm will evaluate if the product is able to bring in economic benefits. To be practical, a firm will require income if it is to continue operating in the market and innovation is very much profit-driven. However, what if we change points of view and view this in the Government's perspective instead of the firm's? Does the link between innovation and capitalism still apply?
The Government can participate the innovation process of firms by giving grants or providing training, hence easing the development stage for firms. Does the government benefit from engaging in such activities? In my opinion, when the Government provides grants for research, it greatly increases the likelihood of firms to engage in more extensive research and development. When these firms become successful and expand their production, more jobs are created, thus reducing unemployment and improve the general standards of living for people in the country. Hence it can be seen that innovation could also help governments to achieve their economic objectives.
Key takeaways:
My main takeaway is that creativity does not equate to innovation, but instead is a part of the process of innovation. It is important to understand the various stages of the innovation process such as research, development and application for one to excel in this highly competitive market.
Another key takeaway I have is that we should not make decisions and actions now that would reduce options for future generations. Another way to explain this is that we should not make a mess out of this world, and expect our future generations to clean it up for us. Instead, we should aim at creating an environment which is increasingly comfortable for our future generations to live in.
Issues:
"Creating value" is a concept that could be discussed in greater detail. Though these 2 words seem to be easy to understand, the 2 words are hugely subjective and vary in meaning for many different people. By mentioning maximizing value creation, it would be good to discuss if there was an general standard in which people could use to measure the value of an idea or innovation.
I would give this lesson a 6 out of 10 as mainly due to time constraints, we were not able to get in-depth into many issues regarding sustainable development. However, the processes involved in innovation management were very clearly stated, and had benefitted me greatly from knowing and understanding the processes involved.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Technology and Global Dominance/Human Development
Summary:
-
This week, we were introduced to 2 news way of viewing technology. Firstly, we saw technology's impact on global dominance, and secondly, its impact on human development.
-
Starting with global dominace, we discussed about the different dimensions of global dominance such as social, cultural, economical, industrial, military, and what I find increasingly influential today, information or disinformation. We were also introduced to a simple principle which could describe and explain the rising and falling powers of today. A rising star is a firm or even an entire nation that has an open perspective and was always open to new ideas while the falling star was quite the opposite and was mainly arrogant. These different attitudes towards new technologies could explain the disparity of power and influence in today's society.
-
Regarding technology and human development, there are also multiple point of views that we can take to further break down this large concept. We examined the issue from social, economical, industrial, cultural and sustainability perspectives. Human development is generally seen a progress in a positive direction. However it might also bring about negative implications and hence, it is essential to do an economical/social impact assessment to determine if we should continue to use technology to undergo human development.
-
Interesting observations:
- To me, I feel that information will become one of the largest factors in global dominance. This is observed as information is increasingly becoming a "necessity" in the lives of many. I use the inverted commas as though it is not as essential as food and water, having sufficient knowledge is still a major factor for one's livelihood if one is to stay competitive in the global market. Further more, due to technological advances, these firms are not bounded by their country's territories but are able to broadcast their information globally. Major news agencies such as CNN and BBC are now global and many across the world turn to it for information. Web giants such as wikipedia and google are sources of information or search engines that provide the assessibility of information. These huge firms determine what information is presented to the public, and thus have a huge impact of the lives of people all over the world.
- My next observation is related to both global dominance and human development. History tells us of the countless times humans have used their superior technology in an attempt to exert their authority over others. From the European countries colonising the African or Asian communites, to World War 1 & 2, and the most recent invasion of Iraq, we have seen the destruction and devastation of communities. Many lifes have been lost. However, have we humans learnt from these lessons? Have we become better as humans in that we care more for one another now? Certainly technology allows us to have greater life expectancy and improves our standard of living, but it has not made us better humans. Of course this view is rather extreme considering the collective efforts of the UN in trying to eliminate poverty, and only the future will decide if we have really become better humans.
Key takeaways
- Firstly, like the video about the 8 Millenium Goals that we watched, I really believe that we could make the word a better place for all to live if we all worked together as a global community. That involves us putting aside our personal interests and putting the needs of others first. This is probably the biggest hurdle that we have to overcome before we can realise these 8 Millenium Goals.
- Secondly, I feel that the key principles that determine a rising star and falling player is very applicable to both firms and us individually. Just as a firm is able to gain power and influence in the market if it is open to new ideas and positive, we can also grow and learn much more if we follow these same attitudes. This will greatly increase our knowledge and widen our perspective of the current world.
Issues
Due to time constraints, we did not have a chance to really go in-depth into technology and human development. While we have talked much about improving the mechnical human (capabilities), we did not have much a chance to discuss about improving the software (thinking) of humans. Education certainly has a large hand to play in improving the software of humans and knowing both aspects would give us a better all-rounded view of human development.
Rating
I would rate the class as 8/10 as the lessons learnt during the class are very applicable to our daily lives. Furthermore, we have discussed issues such as global dominance more in-depthly whereas normally we would just view it as something that is part of the status quo.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Technology and change
In the first week of lessons for TWC, 2 main ideas brought up was first, about technology and change, and secondly, about the different rates of progress for different civilizations.
-
During lesson, it was highlighted that technology and the rate of its development & impacts are growly exponentially. The use of the word "development" stood out to me as I too, wrestled with the idea as to whether technology was more beneficial or harmful.
-
On the positive side, technology has enabled us to live much more comfortable with the invention of mobile vehicles and mass transport, and also enabled ideas to be exchaged easily through the internet and sophisticated communication devices.
-
On the flip side, technology has also led to the invention of weapons, ranging from ones with small impacts such as guns, to those which can totally devastate an entire nation such as nuclear bombs. It seems that the technology that could propel us into a future of limitless possibilities could also be the one to destroy it.
-
I believe, the key lies in how we decide to use technology and whether we can overcome our own selfish desires and work together towards a better future.
-
Then there was also the topic about the different rate of progress for different civilisations. Someone mentioned that geographical differences had a major hand in this and I totally agree with him. However, I feel that the presense of a capable leader or government to direct the community towards a common goal could also be a major factor. One example could be that the China was united under the Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and this could have led to its gain in political and military power.
-
I believe that understanding the cause for these differences could provide us the knowledge we need to further improve our current society based on the lessons of the past.
-
I wish that we could have debated more about the origins of the human civilization. This would offer a me a different point of view as opposed to my current stand on Creationism. The idea of evolution and the survival of the fittest are ideas that I have been less exposed to and would be essetial that I do not possess a lopsided view of the world.
-
I would rate the lesson at 7 as I feel that it has opened up my perspective to alot of issues around me. However, it would be great if we were to dwelt in deeper into these subjects.
-
Matthias
-
During lesson, it was highlighted that technology and the rate of its development & impacts are growly exponentially. The use of the word "development" stood out to me as I too, wrestled with the idea as to whether technology was more beneficial or harmful.
-
On the positive side, technology has enabled us to live much more comfortable with the invention of mobile vehicles and mass transport, and also enabled ideas to be exchaged easily through the internet and sophisticated communication devices.
-
On the flip side, technology has also led to the invention of weapons, ranging from ones with small impacts such as guns, to those which can totally devastate an entire nation such as nuclear bombs. It seems that the technology that could propel us into a future of limitless possibilities could also be the one to destroy it.
-
I believe, the key lies in how we decide to use technology and whether we can overcome our own selfish desires and work together towards a better future.
-
Then there was also the topic about the different rate of progress for different civilisations. Someone mentioned that geographical differences had a major hand in this and I totally agree with him. However, I feel that the presense of a capable leader or government to direct the community towards a common goal could also be a major factor. One example could be that the China was united under the Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and this could have led to its gain in political and military power.
-
I believe that understanding the cause for these differences could provide us the knowledge we need to further improve our current society based on the lessons of the past.
-
I wish that we could have debated more about the origins of the human civilization. This would offer a me a different point of view as opposed to my current stand on Creationism. The idea of evolution and the survival of the fittest are ideas that I have been less exposed to and would be essetial that I do not possess a lopsided view of the world.
-
I would rate the lesson at 7 as I feel that it has opened up my perspective to alot of issues around me. However, it would be great if we were to dwelt in deeper into these subjects.
-
Matthias
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)