MODULE 7:

When Technology and Humanity Cross

Edgar Menor, RPh.
Isabela State University – Cauayan Campus
 INTRODUCTION

• Our world is entering a period of truly transformative change where many of us will be surprised by the scale
and pace of developments we simply hadn’t anticipated, the exponential technological advances offer
tremendous potential, and with these opportunities cone tremendous new responsibilities.

• This module covers the discussion on the several technological devices and the roles it play in the community
and its impact to the people’s lives.

• Ethical dilemmas faced by this technological advancement will also be discussed.

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Evaluate contemporary human experience to strengthen the human person functioning in society.

• Discuss the importance of human rights in the face of changing social conditions and technological
development.

• Identify laws or policies in the country that protect the well-being of the person in technological
advancement and ethical dilemmas the list of competencies that students should acquire during the
learning process.
 LEARNING CONTENT
• The ever-growing tracing back its origins, the word TECHNOLOGY came from the Greek words “techne” and
“logos” which means A discourse on art (Buchanan, 2010).

• It is appeared in the seventeenth century where the concept was only used to talk about the arts,
specifically applied arts.

• As technology progressed, the concept also started to have a wider range of meaning where art is no longer
the only topic include but also in the Concepts like machines and tools were also attached to the word
“technology”.

• In one way or another, each person in the society is directly or indirectly affected by technology whether
he wills it or not.

• In fact, most people survive their everyday lives with great reliance to the different technological
advancements already available to the masses.

• While there may be some who would claim that their lives are not greatly affected by technology, the fact
cannot be denied that technology is already an inevitable part of the society.
 LEARNING CONTENT
• In general, technology keeps progressing due to not only the changing times and environment but also to
the ever-progressing mind of mankind.

• However, it is also important to note that anything too much is bad.

• The same problem is faced by technology.

• Although it has been very helpful to people, it is still not to immune to criticism and backlash.

• Various ethical dilemmas involving the use of technological devices have been identified throughout time
involving the use of different technological devices and its effects to humanity.

• Usually different problems arise when either the technological device available is misused or if in the first
place, it was invented to produce bad results.
 LESSON 1. Some Technological Devices

• Television
• According to Kantar Media, in the Philippines 92
percent of urban homes and 70 percent of rural homes
own at least one television set.

• Households with TV set reached 15.135M (Noda, 2012)

• Ultimate medium for advertisement placements

• Almost all use this particular type of device

• Television plays a great role in the lives of the people

• Television was a product of different experiments by

various people
 Some Technological Devices

• Paul Gottlieb Nipkow

• In the late 1800s, he was a successful in his attempt to send images through wires with the aid of a rotating
metal disk (Nipkow disk) this invention was then called “electric telescope” that had 18 lines of resolution.

• Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton and Boris Rosing

• An English Scientist and Russian scientist, created a new system of television by using the cathode ray tube
in addition to the mechanical scanner system.

• This success story gave rise to two type of television systems, namely, mechanical and electronic
television.
 Some Technological Devices

• Mobile Phones
• Mobile phones are considered a must-have among young
Filipinos (ABS-CBN News, 2010).

• 1 out of 3 Filipinos cannot live without a mobile phone

(Ipsos Media Atlas Philippines Nationwide Urban 2011 -
2012).

• Almost 30 percent of the Philippines urban population

nationwide said that mobile phones are necessities (Roam,
2012).
 Some Technological Devices

• Mobile phone used by Martin Cooper

• He is a senior engineer at Motorola, made the world’s first
mobile phone call.

• He called their rival telecommunication company and properly

informed them that he was making the call from a mobile
phone.

• The following are the features of the mobile used by Cooper:

• Weighed 1.1 kg
• Measured 228.6 x 127 x 44.4mm
• 30-minute talk time
• 10 hours to charge
• Motorola DynaTAC 8000x in 1983
 Some Technological Devices
• Computers and Laptops
• These gadgets have also become part of many Filipino
households.

• Some families owns more than one computer or

laptop while some household own at least one.

• But due to relatively high prices, not all Filipino

families to own at least one computer or laptop.

• The most profits gained by computer and laptop

manufacturers come from offices, businesses, or
schools.

• However, there is still an increasing number of

Filipinos who continuously using the internet.
 Some Technological Devices
• Charles Babbage
• An English and Mathematics professor designed the
analytical engine in the 19th century.

• The British government has commissioned before a

Difference Engine, a simpler calculating machine but
Babbage was able to find ways to improve it by
generalizing its operation that could perform other kinds
of calculations.

• Hence, the creation of analytical engine was used as the

basic framework of the computers even until the present
time.
 Some Technological Devices
• In the Philippines, a typical household owns at least four of the following devices (Philstar, 2013):
• A mobile phone (89%)
• Smartphone (53%)
• Tablet (14%)
• Desktop (39%)
• Laptop or netbook (37%)
• Smart TV (4%)
•
• Facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the Internet:
• Mobile phone subscription is at 119M
• 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily
• Philippines has one of the highest digital populations in the world
• 47M active FB accounts
• Fastest-growing application market in South East Asia
 LESSON 2.
Roles Played by these Technological
Advancements
 Roles Played by these Technological Advancements

• The products of technology has increased strong inclination in a certain household as it becomes essential
in their living such as television sets, mobile phones and computers or laptops.

• Among Filipino users, the following were specifically the roles these technology products played in their
lives:

• A. Television
• Mainly used as a platform for advertisements and information dissemination.

• Serves as a recreational activity and good stress relievers to most Filipino families.

• Platform for different propagandas and advocacies.

 Roles Played by these Technological Advancements
• B. Mobile phones
• Primarily used for communication (texting, calling, chatting, video calls etc.)

• Surf the internet and to take photos and videos.

• C. Personal computers and Laptops

• Surf the internet and communication.
•
• Have features like the mobile phones calendar, calculator, music player, movie player, camera, etc.
•
• Has wide keyboard and monitor screen unlike mobile phones hence, better for presentation and other
online/offline activities.

• Best used for computer games.

 ROBOTICS and HUMANITY

• Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the ROBOTS. The international Federation
of Robotics (IRF) and United Nations Economic and Commission for Europe (UNICE) made it their task to
formulate a working definition for service robots to particularly do specific task but focus mainly in
assisting their masters in their everyday tasks.

• The following are the relevant definition for a robot (IFR, 2021):

• A robot is an actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of autonomy, moving
within its environment, to perform intended tasks.

• Autonomy is the ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing without human
intervention.

• Service Robot is a robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding industrial
application.
 ROBOTICS and HUMANITY
• A robot may be classified according to its intended application as an industrial robot or a service robot.

• Personal Service Robot is a robot used for a noncommercial task, usually by laypersons.

• For example: domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot, pet exercising
robot.

• Professional Service Robot is a service robot for professional use.

• It is also used for a commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator.

• For example: cleaning robot for public places, delivery robot, firefighting robot, rehabilitation robot,
surgery robot.
 ROBOTICS and HUMANITY
• Roles played by Robotics
• Ease the workload of mankind
• Make life more efficient and less stressful
• Perform complicated activities - Pleasure, entertainment in parks or exhibits
• Toys, child-friendly
• Used in movies

• Isaac Asimov
• He was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University.
• He formulated a rules and characteristics that define what a good robots is and was thinking of the
ethical consequences of robots
 Three Laws of Robotics
• "Three Laws of Robotics"
• 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
• 2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the
First Law.
• 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or
Second Law.

• Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics

• 1. Safety
• Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot?
• Who should be blamed, the robot, the agent using the robot, or the maker/inventor of the robot?

• 2. Emotional component
• It is not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions.
• What if robots become sentient?
• Should they be granted robot rights?
 SUMMARY
• Technology has been seen as some form of necessity due to its impacts on how society works today.

• It is evident that technology keeps o advancing not only because of the changing times but also to the ever
progressing mind of mankind.

• But it is still necessary to note that too much on anything is bad and this goes also with technology.

• Despite the usefulness and benefits from the use of technology there are still problems that should not be
set aside.

• Specifically, these problems are ethical in nature that involves both machine and mankind.

• It should be noted that ethics should be enforced in the field of technology to ensure safety and morality
of these devices to the community.
Do you have any questions?
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

[email protected]
ISU Cauayan Campus.