GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #13
Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age-Automation Materials:
Student Activity Sheets, Ballpen
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to :
1. Identify different issues concerning automation. References:
2. Examine the positive and negative effects of automation. https://ww2.kqed.org/education/2016/0
5/13/will-robots-replace-us-at-work/
1.
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Hello STS students! The lesson for today is about Automation. Last meeting, we started already the discussion
about the History of Information Age. Today, the lesson is about impacts of Automation, part of the Information
Age. We will determine how Automation affects the environment, society and day to day living/
B.MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)
Highly modernized, automated, data-driven and technologically advanced – these best describe our society
nowadays, as evidenced by how information can be transferred or shared QUICKLY. The different areas of society have
been influenced tremendously such as communications, economics, industry, health and the environment. Despite our gains
due to the growing development of information technology, the rapid upgrade of information also has disadvantages. As
man evolved, information and its dissemination has also evolved in many ways. Eventually, we no longer kept them to
ourselves; instead, we share them and manage them in different means. Information got ahead of us. It started to grow at
a rate we were unprepared to handle.
(Source: Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018). Science, Technology and Society. 1st Ed. Philippines)
ADVANTAGES commonly attributed to automation include higher production rates and increased productivity,
more efficient use of materials, better product quality, improved safety, shorter workweeks for labor, and reduced factory
lead times. Higher output and increased productivity have been two of the biggest reasons in justifying the use of automation.
Despite the claims of high quality from good workmanship by humans, automated systems typically perform
the manufacturing process with less variability than human workers, resulting in greater control and consistency of product
quality. Also, increased process control makes more efficient use of materials, resulting in less scrap.
A main DISADVANTAGE often associated with automation, worker displacement, has been discussed above.
Despite the social benefits that might result from retraining displaced workers for other jobs, in almost all cases the worker
whose job has been taken over by a machine undergoes a period of emotional stress. In addition to displacement from work,
the worker may be displaced geographically. In order to find other work, an individual may have to relocate, which is
another source of stress. Other disadvantages of automated equipment include the high capital expenditure required to
invest in automation (an automated system can cost millions of dollars to design, fabricate, and install), a higher level of
maintenance needed than with a manually operated machine, and a generally lower degree of flexibility in terms of the
possible products as compared with a manual system (even flexible automation is less flexible than humans, the most
versatile machines of all).
(Source: https://www.britannica.com/technology/automation/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-automation)
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 1
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #13
Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age-Automation Materials:
Student Activity Sheets, Ballpen
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to :
1. Identify different issues concerning automation. References:
2. Examine the positive and negative effects of automation. https://ww2.kqed.org/education/2016/0
5/13/will-robots-replace-us-at-work/
1.
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Hello STS students! The lesson for today is about Automation. Last meeting, we started already the discussion
about the History of Information Age. Today, the lesson is about impacts of Automation, part of the Information
Age. We will determine how Automation affects the environment, society and day to day living/
B.MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)
Highly modernized, automated, data-driven and technologically advanced – these best describe our society
nowadays, as evidenced by how information can be transferred or shared QUICKLY. The different areas of society have
been influenced tremendously such as communications, economics, industry, health and the environment. Despite our gains
due to the growing development of information technology, the rapid upgrade of information also has disadvantages. As
man evolved, information and its dissemination has also evolved in many ways. Eventually, we no longer kept them to
ourselves; instead, we share them and manage them in different means. Information got ahead of us. It started to grow at
a rate we were unprepared to handle.
(Source: Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018). Science, Technology and Society. 1st Ed. Philippines)
ADVANTAGES commonly attributed to automation include higher production rates and increased productivity,
more efficient use of materials, better product quality, improved safety, shorter workweeks for labor, and reduced factory
lead times. Higher output and increased productivity have been two of the biggest reasons in justifying the use of automation.
Despite the claims of high quality from good workmanship by humans, automated systems typically perform
the manufacturing process with less variability than human workers, resulting in greater control and consistency of product
quality. Also, increased process control makes more efficient use of materials, resulting in less scrap.
A main DISADVANTAGE often associated with automation, worker displacement, has been discussed above.
Despite the social benefits that might result from retraining displaced workers for other jobs, in almost all cases the worker
whose job has been taken over by a machine undergoes a period of emotional stress. In addition to displacement from work,
the worker may be displaced geographically. In order to find other work, an individual may have to relocate, which is
another source of stress. Other disadvantages of automated equipment include the high capital expenditure required to
invest in automation (an automated system can cost millions of dollars to design, fabricate, and install), a higher level of
maintenance needed than with a manually operated machine, and a generally lower degree of flexibility in terms of the
possible products as compared with a manual system (even flexible automation is less flexible than humans, the most
versatile machines of all).
(Source: https://www.britannica.com/technology/automation/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-automation)
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 1
