Technology and World Change

Session 1 

Brief Overview

The very first lesson of Technology and World Change was kicked start with a round of introductions about ourselves and also shared on how each of us perceived technology. It was a fruitful sharing session because you are able to see how technology is multifaceted that you cannot interpret technology just based on your reasons alone. I feel that technology is an integral part of our lives and is something we cannot do without. Technology is, as others have pointed out, a double-edged sword. It can be used both for good and for bad. For example, on one hand, technology could aid as a tool that brings people across the globe closer together through instant messaging tools such as Skype. On the other, people could be so engaged with their phones that they neglect the physical contact with one another thus driving people further apart.

Shortly after, we started things proper with a video on Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Through the video as well as the other articles recommended to us, we dived into the deeper questions that surround technology and the change it has brought upon the world. How do two different countries become so unequal? What are the factors that have contributed to the rise and fall of different civilizations?

Interesting Observations and Ideas

One interesting observation that truly piqued my curiosity was how technology evolved in the Middle Eastern world and how the advanced really quickly but soon plateaued. The Muslim Scholars were well advanced in a myriad of fields from mathematics to medicine. But why did it plateau off? The professor then mentioned about religion. Religion first served as a stimulus for the pursuit of further knowledge and learning but it later transformed and became an inhibitor for such pursuit of knowledge.

The professor also challenged us to think about the future of the human race. Would we be facing obesity pandemic? Would there be more cases of anorexia? I feel that healthcare is greatly linked to the future of the human race when it comes to the problem of obesity. In our society, the choices we make are what shape the future. Being in a proactive country like Singapore, there are certain measures in place to curb with this urban problem such as offering healthier choices as food stalls, disallowing schools to sell soft drinks and other unhealthy snacks or even to walkathons organized by community centres to encourage a healthier lifestyle. Hence, where the rest of the world experiences an increase in childhood obesity, Singapore sees a decline.

Key Takeaways

One key takeaway from this session was when the professor said that it was important to Stay Hungry, for the pursuit of knowledge. When you are motivated and challenged to acquire more knowledge, you would naturally want to learn more and that is how we can improve in society. This not applies to the advancements technology alone but in all aspects of the world such that we can all benefit from it.

Another learning point from this session was how the world is ever changing. With the “ Shift Happens” video in mind, it is clearly evident that change is happening even as you read this sentence. It shows how things are so different comparing then and now and how the dynamics of society are changing too. For example, how China will soon be the largest English-Speaking country in the world.

Issues for Further Discussion

Maybe we could have considered the ethical issues behind certain technology advancements such as cloning or genetically modified foods just to name a few. It would have been great to shed some light on these areas and maybe some reasons could be thought as to why some advancements in technologies in one field is greater than others.

Personal Ratings

I would rate the session at about 6 because it being the first lesson, it would take some time getting used to the rigour and expectations of the class. I will definitely make an effort to participate more actively in class. Hopefully, that would make the sessions in the coming months more fruitful and engaging.