Impact of Modern Technology on Society Final Exam

Chance of human extinction expressed as a percentage

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ELSI: Ethical, Legal, Social Implications of technology

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Three laws of robotics

1. a robot may not injure a human being. 2. a robot must obey orders given to it by human beings 3. a robot must protect its own existence

Orwell

1984

Silver

A Glimpse of Things to Come

Paradigm shift

A change in the basic assumptions within the ruling theory of science

Brave New World

A future world gov't exerts complete control over human reproduction and human nature

Dystopic

A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. through and exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm or political system

Weapons of mass destruction

A nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to man-made structures, natural structures, or the biosphere

Harm principle

A person's liberty is justifiable restricted to prevent harm to otehrs caused by that person

Population control

A policy of attempting to limit the growth in numbers of a population by programs of contraception or steriliaztion

Molecular assembler

A proposed device able to guide chemical reactions by positioning reactive molecules with atomic precision. Theoretical human-made devices

Global positioning system

A satellite based navigation system that transmits time and location data continuously

Carnivore

A software package created by the FBI to monitor email and electronic communications. It used a customizable packet sniffer to monitor all of a target user's internet traffic

Genetics, Nanotechnology, Robotics technologies and their threats

Ability to self-replicate, life-extending possibilities, enabled by knowlege

Governance

All processes of governing, whether undertaken by a government, market or network whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization or territory and whether through laws, norms, power or language

National parks

An area of countryside for public use designated by a national government as being of notable scenic, environmental, or historical importance

Nuclear weapons

An explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion

Commodification of personal data

Any consumer activity not being recorded is money lost Post dot com era means personal info is worth more than services

Murphys Law

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong

Idea of humanizing globalization

Aspire toward sustainability to meet human needs while preserving life support systems

Reproductive freedom

Basic rights of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual reproductive healt

Genetic determinism

Belief that genes and environmental conditions determine a living organism's morphological and behavioral phenotypes

Stanley & Steinhardt

Bigger Monstor, Weaker Chains

Huxley 6

Brave new world - why we can't just say no to cloning - list

Digitization

Conversion of analog information in any form (text, photographs, voice) to digital form with suitable electronic devices (computer) so that the information can be processed, stored, and transmitted through digital circuits, equipment, and networks

Risk assessment

Determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat

Autonomy

Directed by considerations, desires, conditions, and characteristics that are not simply imposed externally upon one, but are part of what can somehow be considered one's authentic self

Video surveillance

Electronic system of monitoring activity in an area or building using CCTV

Reproductive technologies

Gender selection, computer generated pictures, two classes exist - naturals and GenRich

Taylor

In Praise of Big Brother

Cloning

Is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms reproduce asexually

Commons

Land or resources belonging to or affecting the whole of a community

Nanobots

Machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer

Self-replication

Making an exact copy or copies of itself, as a strand of DNA

Chaos theory

Mathematical theory that describes chaotic behavior in a complex system

Three goals for successful sustainability

Meeting human needs, reducing hunger and poverty, preserving the life support systems

Kurzweil

Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Ethics

Surveillance society

No outside world that is not watched, video surveillance, facial recognition, drones/robotics, data surveillance

Ethical egoism

Normative theory that the promotion of one's own good is in accordance with morality

Infertillity

Not fertile or productive

Technical solutions

One that requires a change only in the techniques of natural sciences

Luddite

One who is opposed to technological change

Sustainable development

Organizing principle for human life on a finite planet. It posits a desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource use meet human needs without undermining the sustainability of natural systems and the environment, so that future generations may also have their needs met

Population growth Malthus

Population is a major problem with no technical solution. Believed populations tended to grow geometrically, today it is algorithmically

Kass

Preventing a Brave New World

Globalization

Process of integreation across world-space arising form the interchange of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture

2020

Projected date when nanotechnology and Al will be possible

Neem tree symbolism

Represents globalizing world Spreads through religious influence Globalization is old

Olive tree symbolism

Represents tradition, family, home Solid roots in one place, does not change Globalization is new

Game theory

Set of concept aimed at decision making in situations of competition and conflict under specified rules

Population

Summation of all the organisms of the same group or species, who live in the same geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding

Data profilling

Synergies of surveillance that come into play with data collection. When enough pieces of data are assembled together, they add up to an extremely detailed and intrusive picture of an individual's life and habits

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred to the cytoplasm of an enucleated egg

Biometrics

Technologies that identify us by unique bodily attributes such as our fingerprints, faces, iris patterns, or DNA

Reproductive technology

Technology used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means

Friedman

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

Kates

The Nexus and the Neem Tree

TIPS

The Terrorism Information and Prevention System. "The program's website implied that US workers who had access to private citizens' homes, such as cable installers and telephone repair workers, would be reporting on what was in the people's homes if it were deemed suspicious.

Surveillance

The act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime

Individual freedom

The action or principle of asserting one's independence and individuality

Tragedy of the Commons

The assumption that decisions reached individually will be the best decision for society is flawed

Data surveillance

The collection of information about an identifiable individual, often from multiple sources, that can be assembled into a portrait of that person's activities

Genetic engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology

Biotechnology

The manipulation though genetic engineering of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products

Moore's law

The observation that, over the history of computing hardware, the number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles approximately every two years

Rational self-interest

The principle that an action is rational if and only if it maximized one's self-interest

Reproductive cloning

The process of creating an exact copy of a human or animal using the DNA of the original human or animal

Law of accelerating returns

The rate of change itself is accelerating. Evolution applies positive feedback, technological paradigm shifts and resources underlying the exponential growth

4th amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures

Nanotechnology

The science of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale especially to build microscopic devices

Privacy

The state of being free from intrusion or disturbance in one's private life or affairs

Extinction

The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct

Terrorism

The systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

Robotics

The technology connected with using computer-controlled robots to perform manipulative tasks

Reprogenetics

The use of genetics in reproduction, especially in order to choose traits in an offspring or to minimize the risk of genetic disease

Consumption

The utilization of economic goods in the satisfaction of wants or in the process of production resulting chiefly in their destruction, deterioration, or transformation

Overfishing

To deplete the stock of fish in a body of water by too much fishing

Dehumanization

To deprive of human qualities, personality, or spirit

Relinquishment

To withdraw or retreat from; leave behind

Nihilism

Total and absolute destructiveness, especially toward the world at large and including oneself

Hardin

Tragedy of the Commons

Genetic enhancement

Transfer of genetic material intended to modify non-pathological human traits

Echelon

US led global spy network that operates an automated system for the interception and relay of electronic communications including telephone calls, email messages, faxes, satellite transmissions, and internet downloads of both pubic and private organizations and citizens worldwide

Genetic information

Unique data found in DNA that is specific to each person, which can reveal the occurrence of, or predisposition to, various diseases

PATRIOT ACT

Unititing and strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2011. immediately following 9/11

Nuclear, Biological, Chemical tecnologies of the 20th century

Weapons of mass destruction. powerful and enormous threat. needed raw materials and protected information

Consequentialism

Whether an act is morally right depends only on consequences

Joy

Why the Future Doesn't Need Us

Advantages of the surveillance society 5

Would no longer need witnesses, reduce wrongful convictions, more equitable justice system, crime deterrent, prevent police abuse of power

RFID chip

a tag, label or card that can exchange data with a reader using radio frequency

Polypotency of technology

many purposes for a technology, good or bad

Defensive technologies

or military technologies: the collection of equipment, vehicles, structures and communication systems that are designed for use in warfare