CHAPTER 12

GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY

Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter the students will be able to:

1 Give the benefits and the drawback of the use of technology

in our society 2 Surmise what would happen to technology in future years and

its would-be effect to our generation. 3. React in the inherent power of technology the power to
destroy and preserve truth.

4 Foretell how communication will transcend according to the occurrence of the cultural revolution in
relation to communication technologies and the digital age world.

Introduction

The society has changed dramatically due to the advancement of technology No doubt, technology
has played a vital role in reshaping the lives of people due to its influence in providing immense
opportunities for human's life making it easier and more comfortable. Unlike before, life was
burdensome but due to the advancement of technology, the access to medicine, transportation,
education, and industry has been simplified.

With the advancement of technology, people have more access to various forms of entertainment,
information, and communication. On a positive note, with all these changes, the lives of the people of
this planet have improved significantly due to the efficiency and convenience provided by technology
Modes of transportation have become more accessible using various applications such as Grab and
Uber. etc. Also, a broad range of options have become accessible to people Technology has also
aided people with special needs by providing them with hearing aids,

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text readers, and special chairs People with disability can now enjoy their daily living without thinking
so much of their disability

Technology and Computer Revolutions The rapid pace of technological change is one of the defining
features of the modern world. The interaction of technological forces is described as the era of "post-
post crisis" This period where everything has to fit the system is multidimensional, encompassing
government, private enterprises, environmental and human components Succinctly innovation and
sustainability are key determinants of the current civilization where new force will emerge and
continue to influence man and his environment in a wider scale

Indeed, the advancement of technology is advantageous to us, humans Technology in its simplest
definition, is the application of knowledge for practical purposes it relates to providing results and
solving complex problems of man and his environment. Burgelman et al. (1996) and Wahab (2011)
define technology from the perspective of a business context as the theoretical and practical
application of knowledge and skills used to develop products and services From the production of raw
materials to logistical and distribution components of a business organization, technology provides
ways to improve and develop products, ideas and systems to satisfy human wants

Though it has given us convenience and satisfaction, it has disadvantages too Due to irresponsible
usage of technology family relationship is being weakened for the family members have been
consuming most of their time chatting and using various technologies connecting to other people
around the globe. Though the use of technology has made education an accessible one. the use of
books has become obsolete Students have a hard time constructing grammatically correct sentences
and paragraphs for they usually spend their time using technology Excessive use of technology has
become an alarming issue to human's health. Too much exposure to technology brings too much
radiation which is bad to one's health and to serious health problems. A lessened time of socializing
with other people is also one of the disadvantages of technology for people tend to play games than
to walk outdoor mingling with others.

It is undeniably true; the advancement of technology has its advantages and disadvantages. We
cannot deny that the

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advancement of technology has improved our daily living. Let us just

be cautious of its advantages and disadvantages Advancement of Technology

Technology is permissively global and truly, the revolutions and changes brought by the
advancement of computer technology are not yet fully grasped by the majority of people around the
world especially those living in third world countries. Though people find technology drastically
changed their mindset and lifestyle, Linge (2013) admitted that the preservation of technology such
as the mobile phone, digital content, access terminals, and network switching, all of which has had an
enormous impact on society. has changed beyond recognition, is still very young.

This means that technology will continue to evolve according to what the people need and what the
people feel inventing in relation to making their work easier and doable in a very short time. Take for
example the case of computers. The need for computer communications led to the invention of a
technique for data transmission called packet switching which in turn formed the heart of what is
today known as the Internet. Digital networks merely provide a mechanism by which communications
are made possible and therefore an important aspect to the evolution of digital communications was
the availability of information delivery services that began with Viewdata services such as Prestel and
Minitel and which are today epitomised by the World Wide Web. Moving the computer from the
organization to the domestic user at home, together with a growth in demand for access to online
information, inevitably placed increased demands on the digital net using modems connected to the
telephone network and then through deployment of higher speed broadband access using fibre
optics. Notably, the application of digital technology to the mobile phone is examined from the dual
perspective of how the networks evolved and how the mobile phone was transformed into a pocket
computer

The trend is to make small but fast gadgets. Gone were the days when mobile phones were massive.
Today, mobile phones Included practicality and ingenuity to suit the fast food era. With the invention
of gadgets and the internet came the addicting social networks According to Kasket (2011), the
enduring and growing popularity of social networking sites and technologically mediated
communications means that not only are we increasingly telepresent

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with one another in life, but we leave behind a digital legacy when we die, often to include detailed,
co-constructed representations of ourselves in the form of, for example, Facebook profiles In fact
virtual reality is now the fab in first world countries As much as people can hold on to the latest and
fastest technology and internet connection, the 24-hour time threshold will never be enough In
technology time moves so fast that the existence of free time in the real world has lost its popularity
No doubt, computer revolutions help people do their work efficiently as well as enjoy the easy access
of information around the world however it also demoted human beings into lazy thinkers

It is sad to note people have forgotten the art of abstraction Most of the time, the internet citizens are
too dependent on World Wide Web It appears though that internet connection, computer and high-
tech gadgets are synonymous to happiness as manifested by the addiction of its users

Heidegger (1971) said that the peak of [the] abolition of every possibility of remoteness is reached by
television, which will soon pervade and dominate the whole machinery of communication. We now
know that this assumption was premature The Internet far outpaces television in its ability to diminish
the distances of time and space and, increasingly social networking sites are coming to dominate that
machinery of communication. The social networking site Facebook is now one of the primary means
of technologically mediated communication. Over 800 million of us worldwide use Facebook as a
vehicle for self-representation and interaction. If Facebook's population was a country, it would be the
world's third largest One can only wonder what the name of the capital of Facebook country will be.
Cyberspace in general, and social networking sites in particular have rapidly evolved into extensions
of our human bodies, opening up new possibilities for us to be with one another in the digital world
(Kim, 2001).

If there is one more alarming issue as regards the advent of internet, it would be the rise of
cybercrimes. UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNCPCTO)
defines cybercrimes or computer crimes as illegal act and behavior directed by means of electronic
material directed towards the security of computer systems. These computer-related crimes include
illegal possession, offering or distribution of information electronically or with the use of a computer
network. This downside

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of 4 IR added burden to the damaging effect of the internet, an act that goes beyond the normal and
ethical use of the internet and computer Privacy of individuals and organizations are at risk every time
cybercrimes occur in the internet.

Edwards (2006) mentioned ways to survive the electronic republic. He stated that, disintermediation
is a major threat to democracy, as democratic intermediaries fulfil a variety of filter functions that are
essential to the quality of democratic processes. Although ICT is developing rapidly, no attempts have
yet been made to develop broader framework for analyzing how ICT -particularly the Internet-affects
democratic intermediation. To move ahead means to embrace that we are all citizens of the electronic
republic People should also be more critical in everything that they see on the internet. Take for
example the presence of fake news. The existence of this abomination in the world of information
transparency and freedom made a huge impact in the political landscape. Harnessing this art of
spreading lies as a weapon is next to nuclear weapons when it comes to how big the damage will be
measured if people will believe the lies. It can even change history and the belief system of the
people. This is the true power of technology. It has the power to destroy and preserve truth. The truth
where relativity is no longer an issue when a massive number of people were imbued and spirited
with lies

Information Technology 2030

Technology Focus

Data Solutions

Potential for 2030

New solutions will continue to emerge in big and data processing and analysis

Issues
There is uncertainty of determining big data that are useful to utilize by organizations. issues are high
due to vast availability of data.

Impact

There are

numerous opportunities for private and government organizations in developing services to clients
and communities they serve.

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Social Networking

Smart City Technologies

Larger market base and users of social networking sites as new platforms are becoming more
innovative

More smart and developing cities will implement IT integrated infrastructure to maintain services they
provide to the market and public

High potential for security and privacy issues where cybersecurity is a primary challenge in
maintaining confidentiality and privacy of users

There are only few cities that can sustain the vision of smart cities. The rising costs and complexity of
sustaining infrastructure are visible issues that will challenge these cities

Social media sites are being used as useful alternative in communications However these networking
sites are used by groups for dangerous and costly purposes

High possibility on the quality of life of people. Increased public safety and improved commercial
activities are huge gains.

Table 12 1 Information Technologies of 2030. Source: US National Intelligence Council

The world of 2030 will experience reliance on informational technology and its major breakthroughs
The next 15-years, connectivity aspects of technology will continue to affect key industries and
sectors as brought by higher widespread and diffusion. This speed of global development will depend
on the availability of resources such as capital in developing countries, rule of law and the desire of
businesses in developing markets to grow globally (US National Intelligence Council, 2012). Private
organizations are expecting an immediate rise of new and large markets like social media and
cybersecurity US NIC report has projected the year 2030 with three massive information
technological changes and developments.

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Resource Technologies

Technology Focus

Agriculture

Genetically modified crops will increase as new applications and automation of equipment are to be
used for advance farming

Issues

Water Management

Solar Energy and Biomass

Potential for 2030

Costs of new equipment and advanced technologies used in production. Governments will face
uncertainty as there are issues on the safety and genetically modified crops

Microirrigation technology will

be too expensive to countries that have severe water problem and poor urban planning.

There will be tremendous increase of water demand especially in new and large cities where
population is continuously rising. To combat water crisis, improvements in irrigation and water
distribution system will be introduced Advances in Environmental storage technologies and smart grid
solutions for solar energy are perceived to be more

consequences of using technology and solar energy

Large-scale agricultural operations will be seen in developing markets as quality improvements and
higher yields will be addressed to countries that have food scarcity Insufficient supplies of water is
likely to be a problem to residential and highly urbanized areas among the developing world where
there is increasing demand of water

Cost- competitive and a potential climate change mitigation strategies.

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Disease Management

competitive in delivering energy Diagnostics technologies and genetic sequencing for more
personalized healthcare will be offered.

Higher costs for individuals and those that do not have sufficient means.

Increase quality of life and longer life expectancy

Table 122 Resource and Health Technology Source US National Intelligence Council

The diffusion of technological developments from western world to countries where there is limited of
resource consumption will result to crisis and insecurity It must be understood that technologies are
built not only to distribute information and data across societies but to find solutions to the problems
of people's lives as well. One problem is the continuous increase of global population which is
described as a serious threat to the limited availability of resources worldwide There are numerous
attempts and technological advances to confront these problems and challenges as brought by
climate change, demographic changes, and excessive industrialization. These innovations in science
and technology are considered as best options in finding ways in addressing food, water

and energy problems.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

From the earliest time until the beginning of the 21st century volume of production and services
worldwide has made huge increases. From the extraction and manufacturing of raw materials up to
the distribution of finished products, the world has witnessed immense changes of the economy It
was in Britain when the first recorded development of industrial transformation took place Another
breakthrough was the introduction of steam engine in the 18h century, as part of the First Industrial
Revolution This key device in manufacturing facilities gave rise to the increase of production across
industries as demand was drastically increasing especially in the textile industry This development
was followed by the introduction of electronically-powered mass production known as the Second
Industrial Revolution At the end of the 19th century industrial

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transformation saw number of technological innovations powered by electricity. Known outputs of this
phase were the expansion of petroleum and coal as major components in industries, mass production
and division of labor in businesses The year 1969 experienced significant rise and developments of
electronics, Information Technology (IT) and automated production Developments in
telecommunications and computers as well as high-level of automation in production

The convergence of these remarkable technologies from the First to Third Industrial Revolution has
fundamentally altered, changed and transformed the way man and his environment work, live and
operate. The Fourth Industrial Revolution which is building on the Third IR phase is characterized by
the fusion of physical, digital and biological spheres (Schwab, 2016).

In a study conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the arrival of the Fourth IR is described
as the combination of speed, velocity and systems impact. The speed of current breakthroughs is
evolving at an exponential and not linear pace (Schwab, 2015, David, et al. 2018). This stage of
technological development is disrupting almost all sectors and industries in all countries worldwide. Its
depth and breadth of impact has transformed the entire systems of management, production, and
governance both public and private organizations.

Opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The arrival of the Fourth IR will reshape the future of organizations, businesses and entities globally
Its impact and the increasing role of technology will continue to play significant functions on decisions
that have adverse effect.

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The following are opportunities that come with the period of Fourth IR:
1 Lower barriers in business transactions, A major shift on the business side is expected to happen
within this phenomenon. It will reduce barriers between developers, inventors, and business
organizations because of the introduction of new technologies used in business. The use of improved
prototyping techniques like 3D printing will offer start-up businesses lower costs of operation. The
introduction of new technologies allows organizations to create new ways of serving market through
innovative services, improved and efficient value-chain.
2. Increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Modernists see this trend as an opportunity that will
bring rapid changes to organizations. This highly specialized and technical part of computer science
aims to design intelligent machines. There is a fear that Al is threat to the existing nature of
employment such as industries like aerospace automotive, financial services and oil exploration

3. Integration of different techniques and domain. New forces will come together to create new and
improve systems and techniques The integration of technical, digital and biological spheres is
accepted to offer new opportunities for growth and improve markets. This innovative fusion of
scientific and technical disciplines will make incremental developments in a trans-disciplinary sphere

4. The role of robotics. Robots are automated motorized tools (WEF 2017). Robots are made to
improve the quality of lives of people through performing tasks such as moving an item form one
place to other, cleaning a house and running a machine Because of robots, new jobs will be created
however there are losers as well because of a possible displacement of existing jobs in the market.
There are human tasks and assignment that could be performed and replaced by robots which are
detrimental to the relevance and importance of humans in the operation of an organization.

5. The Internet of Things (IoT). This trend of the 4th IR is defined as the internetworking of devices
with the interconnectivity of systems and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine (M2M)
including variety of domains, protocols and applications (Holler et al. 2014 and David, et al. 2018).
The introduction and development of internet made everything possible from transfer of data up to the
rise of smart

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cities and improvements of applications and techniques in health and

education

Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Impact on Government

Policymakers and regulators will face increasing pressures on its services to the people.
Governments and political entities must deal with the convergence of traditional and new forms in
engaging with other social institutions both government and private. Moreover disruptive changes
brought by the 4th IR will introduce technological innovation to governments which are aimed for
efficiency and more transparent public service. In addition, changes in infrastructures like digitization
of processes, surveillance systems, and enhanced regulatory frameworks will take place substituting
the inefficient and costly bureaucratic infrastructures and services of governments. As a
consequence, countries that have struggling governmental operations would be at challenging times
because of the lack of capital and investment for systems development used for public services.
Impact on Business

Due to velocity, speed and systems impact of the 4IR, private and business sectors will be the
primary beneficiaries and highly- affected entities of the phenomenon. Correspondingly, organizations
with enough machineries and resources are identified as possible winners of IR given that they have
the ways and means to compete. Large enterprises see this trend as a period where shifting
demands and movements of goods and services will be at unprecedented scale Capital, investment
and systems will be at tremendous expansion due to increasing international demand brought by the
rise of income of consumers. The development and changing fixtures of commercial infrastructures
and business applications will be at major transformations too MNCs and other transnational
corporations see these technological breakthroughs as an opportunity to sustain market dominance
and revenue leadership worldwide In a similar manner, technology makers and innovators view the
4IR as an efficient substitute to the costly pool of manpower

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in businesses and organizations. The robot revolution for example is expected to generate massive
transformations in industries. By 2022 financial services will adopt humanoid robots, automotive
aerospace and supply chain will rely on stationary robots, oil and gas will shift to aerial and
underwater robots and non-humanoid land robots will produce a big impact to supply chain,
automotive and aerospace operations.

Humanoid Robots

Stationary Robots

Aerial and Underwater Robots

Non- Humanoid Land Robots

Adoption Among Companies

First Movers

23%

37%

19%
33%

Financial Services and Investors

Automotive, Aerospace and Supply Chain

Oil and Gas

Automotive Aerospace and Supply Chain

Table 12.3. The Many Face of the Robot Revolution. Future of Jobs Report 2018. Source: World
Economic Forum

Impact on People

The deep relationship between technology and people lies in the manifestation of the growing
influence of the latter to the lives of people On the positive angle, the identified gains that bring
beneficial effects to the lives of the public include the continuous improvement of various means of
communication that provides a closer tie among people from different territories. Such development
offers lesser costs and timely movement of information and data sharing among people. Another
good outcome is the E-commerce which is a method of buying and selling products and services
through electronic means such as internet and mobile applications This is a major provider of stress-
free transactions to both business and consumers,

As there are benefits, there are also unfavorable conditions that the application of scientific
knowledge entails. Thus, societies and organizations were warned by experts on the recognized
dangers of the 4IR. A major downside of such phenomenon is its

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impact to people as it is labelled as a threat to people's employment There will be skills that are seen
to be declining and emerging as the period of technological advancement under 41R continues to
flourish. In a report published by WEF it listed down growing and declining skills for the year 2022

The succeeding table itemized eight skills under the two

mentioned categories.

Growing Skills
Analytical thinking and innovation

Creativity, originality and initiative

Active learning and learning. strategies

Technology design and programming

Critical thinking and analysis

Complex problem-solving

Leadership and social influence

Emotional intelligence

Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation

Systems analysis and evaluation

Declining Skills

Manual dexterity, endurance and precision

Memory, verbal, auditory and spatial abilities

Management of financial, material resources

Technology installation and maintenance

Reading, writing, math and active listening

Management of personnel

Quality control and safety

awareness
Coordination and time

management

Visual, auditory and speech abilities

Technology use, monitoring and control

Table 12.4 2022 Skills Outlook. Source: World Economic Forum