HSC option: Social Impact of Technology
Defining - Technology as hardware, eg appliances, gadgets, toys
technology - Technology as software, eg applications, databases, websites
- Technology as organisation of knowledge, eg communications, media, internet, home entertainment
⇾ Technology: the study, development and application of devices, machines and techniques to manufacturing and productive processes
⇾ UNESCO: ‘... the know-how and creative processes that may assist people to utilise tools resources and systems to solve ’ (1985, p. 3)
⇾ Technology is the application of knowledge, experience, tools and resources in response to human problems. It’s determined by values, standards, and
beliefs. It is measured by how well it satisfies needs + wants, and its impact on wellbeing (SPEECS).
Technology as… Description Example Primitive Complex
Hardware ⇾ Physical devices we use to accomplish Computers, dishwashers, Stone axe, kettle, glasses, Fridge and freezer in one
tasks blow dryers, washing hearing aids Auto vacuum cleaner
⇾ Can physically interact with technology machine, Spear, payphone, iphone Contact lenses and cochlear
⇾ Support ourselves, making a task easier or - Appliances, Glass marbles, wooden implant
more efficient gadgets, toys blocks Vehicles with built in gps
Software ⇾ Imbedded into and used in hardware Microsoft word, google Abacus Photoshop, skype
⇾ Allows us to manage music files, digitally docs, etc Filing cabinet Google drive
manipulate photos, online stores etc - Applications, Encyclopedia Google
⇾ Allows us to store and retrieve information websites, databases
and reduces the need for physical storage
of files.
Organisation of ⇾ Modern day structuring/representation of Google and the internet Smoke signals, morse code, Email, the ‘cloud’, ebooks,
knowledge knowledge and information - Communications, posted mail podcasts, computer
⇾ Technological aspect of obtaining, storing, media, home Black and white tv, vinyls, Cds, dvds, online news,
retrieving and using knowledge entertainment, film photography webcam, foxtel, netflix
⇾ Organise and manage information or internet Telegram Satellite, youtube,
knowledge to make it available to people webpages
Describe both primitive and complex technologies
1
, Primitive Technology:
⇾ Simple
⇾ Date back to the earlier generations
⇾ Associated with survival
- E.g stone tools for carving, hunting tools, hammer, weapons, shovel, bag
Complex Technology:
⇾ Complicated
⇾ Multiple parts in them
- E.g phones, ipad, eftos, paypal
Historical perspectives
- The Digital Revolution
The digital revolution is the progression from analogue, electronic and mechanical devices to digital technologies. This process began in the 1980s, and is considered
the beginning of the Information Age.
The movement towards digital technology and away from analogue, mechanical and electronic technology
⇾ Electronic → devices that have a cord and electrical circuit
- Eg.toasterandfridges
⇾ Digital → involves mobile phone devices and the internet
⇾ Positive:
- Amazing ability to communicate and connect with our family members, friends, and colleagues who live throughout the world
⇾ Negative
- Some industries have become redundant, individuals have lost jobs
- The Information Age
Information Age: A time when large amounts of information are widely available to many people, primarily through computer technology.
⇾ Processes such as shopping and learning have changed because we can now use digital technology complete both tasks
⇾ Access to the internet = access information almost every topic
⇾ Communication networks, including the internet, have reshaped our world – they are disruptive technologies.
- Disruptive technologies: innovations that significantly alter the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate.
- sweeps away the systems or habits it replaces, because it has attributes that are recognizably superior.
⇾ The flow of information through computers, smart phones, entertainment, household technologies, etc. has altered life.
2
, ⇾ Positive:
- Lots of information
⇾ Negative:
- May not be accurate information
- job and income distribution
- automation of industry
- increased productivity
- job loss
- personal data security and privacy
Outline how the nature and use of information and communication technology has evolved
1980’s→ Mobile phones (today almost as many phone subscriptions as people in world)
Mobile internet, data→ becomes important; social media trends
Cyber criminality→ poses threat to individuals and society
Examine data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to compare trends in household use of information and communication technology over time
94% of Australians use the internet at ;least once a week
18-24→ Highest internet usage
64% of population bought goods online
2009→ 6 million households in Aus had access to internet
Reasons for the Improve upon existing technology
development of - economic benefit
technology - consumer demand and human needs
- social betterment
- the global community
- response to social problems
analyse how technology has emerged within the following contexts:
3
Defining - Technology as hardware, eg appliances, gadgets, toys
technology - Technology as software, eg applications, databases, websites
- Technology as organisation of knowledge, eg communications, media, internet, home entertainment
⇾ Technology: the study, development and application of devices, machines and techniques to manufacturing and productive processes
⇾ UNESCO: ‘... the know-how and creative processes that may assist people to utilise tools resources and systems to solve ’ (1985, p. 3)
⇾ Technology is the application of knowledge, experience, tools and resources in response to human problems. It’s determined by values, standards, and
beliefs. It is measured by how well it satisfies needs + wants, and its impact on wellbeing (SPEECS).
Technology as… Description Example Primitive Complex
Hardware ⇾ Physical devices we use to accomplish Computers, dishwashers, Stone axe, kettle, glasses, Fridge and freezer in one
tasks blow dryers, washing hearing aids Auto vacuum cleaner
⇾ Can physically interact with technology machine, Spear, payphone, iphone Contact lenses and cochlear
⇾ Support ourselves, making a task easier or - Appliances, Glass marbles, wooden implant
more efficient gadgets, toys blocks Vehicles with built in gps
Software ⇾ Imbedded into and used in hardware Microsoft word, google Abacus Photoshop, skype
⇾ Allows us to manage music files, digitally docs, etc Filing cabinet Google drive
manipulate photos, online stores etc - Applications, Encyclopedia Google
⇾ Allows us to store and retrieve information websites, databases
and reduces the need for physical storage
of files.
Organisation of ⇾ Modern day structuring/representation of Google and the internet Smoke signals, morse code, Email, the ‘cloud’, ebooks,
knowledge knowledge and information - Communications, posted mail podcasts, computer
⇾ Technological aspect of obtaining, storing, media, home Black and white tv, vinyls, Cds, dvds, online news,
retrieving and using knowledge entertainment, film photography webcam, foxtel, netflix
⇾ Organise and manage information or internet Telegram Satellite, youtube,
knowledge to make it available to people webpages
Describe both primitive and complex technologies
1
, Primitive Technology:
⇾ Simple
⇾ Date back to the earlier generations
⇾ Associated with survival
- E.g stone tools for carving, hunting tools, hammer, weapons, shovel, bag
Complex Technology:
⇾ Complicated
⇾ Multiple parts in them
- E.g phones, ipad, eftos, paypal
Historical perspectives
- The Digital Revolution
The digital revolution is the progression from analogue, electronic and mechanical devices to digital technologies. This process began in the 1980s, and is considered
the beginning of the Information Age.
The movement towards digital technology and away from analogue, mechanical and electronic technology
⇾ Electronic → devices that have a cord and electrical circuit
- Eg.toasterandfridges
⇾ Digital → involves mobile phone devices and the internet
⇾ Positive:
- Amazing ability to communicate and connect with our family members, friends, and colleagues who live throughout the world
⇾ Negative
- Some industries have become redundant, individuals have lost jobs
- The Information Age
Information Age: A time when large amounts of information are widely available to many people, primarily through computer technology.
⇾ Processes such as shopping and learning have changed because we can now use digital technology complete both tasks
⇾ Access to the internet = access information almost every topic
⇾ Communication networks, including the internet, have reshaped our world – they are disruptive technologies.
- Disruptive technologies: innovations that significantly alter the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate.
- sweeps away the systems or habits it replaces, because it has attributes that are recognizably superior.
⇾ The flow of information through computers, smart phones, entertainment, household technologies, etc. has altered life.
2
, ⇾ Positive:
- Lots of information
⇾ Negative:
- May not be accurate information
- job and income distribution
- automation of industry
- increased productivity
- job loss
- personal data security and privacy
Outline how the nature and use of information and communication technology has evolved
1980’s→ Mobile phones (today almost as many phone subscriptions as people in world)
Mobile internet, data→ becomes important; social media trends
Cyber criminality→ poses threat to individuals and society
Examine data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to compare trends in household use of information and communication technology over time
94% of Australians use the internet at ;least once a week
18-24→ Highest internet usage
64% of population bought goods online
2009→ 6 million households in Aus had access to internet
Reasons for the Improve upon existing technology
development of - economic benefit
technology - consumer demand and human needs
- social betterment
- the global community
- response to social problems
analyse how technology has emerged within the following contexts:
3
