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STS Lesson 10 When Technology and Humanity Cross

Science Technology and Society (Kalinga State University)

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I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

II. LESSON TITLE

WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

This lesson will discuss several technological devices, the roles thay play in the society and their
effects, particularly in humanity

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the different technological advancement in the society
2. Discuss the development of science and technology in the Philippines
3. Discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the dilemma(s) they
face

V. LESSON CONTENT

The word technology comes from the Greek words techne, which means art, and logos, which means
word. In the seventeenth century, the word technology was only used to talk about arts, specifically
applied arts. As technology progress, the concept started to have a wider range of meanings where art
is no longer the only topic included. Machines and tool concepts were also attached to the word
“technology” which is the more popular sense of the concept nowadays.

Technology played a very crucial role not only to few but to everyone. Each person in society is directly
or indirectly affected by technology whether he wills it or not. Most people survive in everyday life
because of technological advancement available in the masses. Even though some claim that their
lives are not greatly affected by technology, it can be denied the fact that technology is already an
inevitable part of society.

People nowadays achieve such great inventions. It makes life easier and more convenient from the
simplest task at home to the most complex task in a laboratory or office. Technology brings many
benefits, from convenience to pleasure to human beings. Merely because of the different leisure
activities technology can offer.

Almost all human activities already require the assistance of some kind of technological advancement
and some argue that these technologies are no longer want but a necessity. People nowadays save to
acquire or buy these necessities while in the past, people save to purchase things they need for
survival.
In the past, anything that is outside the things needed for survival was considered a luxury which is no
longer the case at present.

Thanks to the ever-progressing of mankind, technology keeps on progressing. However, it is important

to note that anything too much is bad. The same problem is fading by technology. It faces criticisms

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and backlash. Various ethical dilemmas have been identified involving the use of different technological
devices and their effects on humanity.

TELEVISION SETS, MOBILE PHONES, COMPUTERS, AND HUMANITY

Television Sets Kantar Media – the most trusted television audience measurement provider
in the Philippines

• Television is the ultimate medium for advertisement placements

according to Manila Times in 1994 because 92% of the urban
homes and 70% of rural homes own at least one television set
• In 2012, Kantar Media also stated that the households with a
television set have already reached 15.135 million

Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, a German student in the late 1800s successfully

send images through wires with the aid of a rotating metal disk and is
called Electric Telescope. The invention has 18 lines of resolution.
In 1907, Alan Archibald Campbell – Swinton, an English scientist, and
Boris Rosing, a Russian scientist, created a new system of television by
using a cathode ray tube in addition to the mechanical scanner system.
These experiments inspired other scientists to continue improving the
previous inventions which led to the modern television people now have.

Mobile Phones Filipinos love to use their mobile phones anytime, anywhere not only for
communication purposes but for different purposes. More than half of the
Filipino population owns at least one mobile phone regardless of type.

• In 2020, Synogate declared that 67% of mobile phone ownership in

the Philippines
• In 2010, ABS – CBN news also claimed that mobile phones are
considered a must-have among young Filipinos
• In the 2011 – 2012 survey result conducted by Ipsos Media Atlas
Philippines Nationwide Urban, one in every three Filipinos cannot
live without a mobile phone
• Also in 2012, 30% of the Philippine urban population nationwide said
that mobile phone is a necessity in life
We can see Filipinos using their mobile phones in the streets and some
may even own more than one mobile phone.

Martin Cooper, a senior engineer in Motorola, made the world’s first

mobile phone call on April 3, 1973. He made a call to their rival
telecommunication company to inform them that he was making a call from
a mobile phone.

The mobile phone use by Cooper weighed 1.1 kilograms and measured

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228.6 x 127 x 44.4 mm and is capable of 30 – minute talk time. However, it

took 10 hours to charge. In 1983, Motorola made its first commercial mobile
phone available to the public known as Motorola DynaTAC 8000x.

Computers While almost all Filipinos own at least one television set and a mobile phone, it is not
possible for all Filipino families to own at least one computer or laptop.
Most of the profits gained by computer and laptop manufacturers come
from offices, businesses, or schools where such devices have become part
of their necessities.

In 2010, 3.6 million was the estimated total value output of all
manufacturing establishments. Semiconductor devices and other electronic
components took more than half of the total value output of all
manufacturing establishments. To be more specific, 5.4 percent of the total
value output came from computers and peripheral equipment and
accessories.

Charles Babbage, a nineteenth-century English Mathematics professor,

designed the Analytical Engine which was used as the basic framework of
computers even until the present time. Each generation of the computer
gave people a new and improved version of the previous one.

In April 1981, the first true portable computer was released and is called
Osborne I. The evolution of laptops continued until the present time where
various designs and models are already available.

It has been noted that a typical household owns at least four of the following devices: mobile phone
(89%), smartphone (53%), tablet (14%), desktop (39%), laptop or netbooks (37%), and smart TV (4%)
as published in 2013. These data only proves the deep-seated fascination of Filipino with different
technological devices
Here are some facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the Internet (Gonzales, 2019)
• Filipinos spend online daily for 10 hours and 2 minutes, the highest in the world
• Internet usage of Filipinos in front of desktop or laptop computer clock in at 5 hours and 4
minutes daily
• The Philippines is top when it comes to social media penetration with 76 million users. Of these
76 million, 75 million are on Facebook
• The Philippines tops social media use clocking at 4 hours and 12 minutes  67% of
Filipinos access social media on their phone

ROLES PLAYED BY THESE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Television sets, mobile phones, and computers or laptops all have different functions and roles played
in the lives of people. These roles are essential especially for Filipinos who developed a strong
inclination toward technology and its products.

TECHNOLOGY ROLE

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Television • Primarily, television is used for information dissemination and

advertisements. Advertisement companies trust that television is
the most technological device up until today
• Television also serves as a recreational activity and good stress
reliever to most Filipino families
• Television is also a good platform for different propaganda and
advocacies
• Television can be a good way to bond with one’s family
members

Mobile Phones • Primarily used for communication with its services like texting
and calling
• Mobile phones nowadays are used to surf the Internet and take
pictures more than to text or call
• Mobile phones have additional features such as a music player,
calendar, radio, television, photo editor, and so forth like an allin-
one device

Personal Computers and Even though the features of laptops or personal computers are also
Laptops found in mobile phones, a lot of people also prefer them over mobile
phones. Reasons are:
• Personal computer or laptop has a wide keyboard, wide screens
and sometimes (for personal computer) has separate keyboards
• Availability of mouse or touchpad which made it easier to
maneuver
• Allow the young and those who love to play, play with comfort
and convenience
However, it can be denied that most prefer using a laptop over a
personal computer for portability

ETHICAL DILEMMA FACED BY THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

Even though technological devices are useful and beneficial, there are still dilemmas faced by these
socalled “necessities”
1. Parents concern for their children well – being
Most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy. This is true for
people who are fixated on using these devices, start and end their day using the devices. They do
not do anything productive in their home. Furthermore, they do not just skip meals, but also lack
exercise and body movements.
Some people develop sickness through the excessive use of these devices. They can also become
reclusive, alienating themselves from other people. It can be argued that thru the use of these
technologies, people become closer. However, it is not always the case in the real world. Some
people are friends on social media yet not in real life.

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2. Moral Dilemma

People especially children are exposed to different things on television, mobile phones, laptops, or
computers. They can easily search or visit websites without restrictions because of Internet
availability and easy access to the Internet. It allows them to see, read, or hear things that are not
suitable for their young age. This makes them very vulnerable to character change and can greatly
affect the way they view the world and the things around them.

With the reasons stated, it can be said that devices are somewhat unethical because they bring
undesirable consequences to people. However, it can also be argued that those undesirable
consequences are not the fault of technological devices. Rather, it is the responsibility of the ones using
or making them. The word “responsibility” in the sense of being accountable for and accountable to is
very appropriate to the ethics of technology because it makes every person in the scientific-
technological development a proxy concerning one another.
People who are part of the scientific development should let the public know the good in their respective
technological contributions. In this way, people will have an idea of how the devices should be used to
maximize their positive results. It is also important to inform the masses of the dangers of their
contributions to the world of technology in bringing awareness to people on what they should and
should not do. Besides, the ones who are using the devices should be accountable to and accountable
for their use of their gadgets.
In a moral dilemma, it also is noted that adults who allowed the children to have access to such devices
in the first place without any supervision are to be blame. It is the recklessness and overconfidence of
the adults that cause the character change in children.

ROBOTICS AND HUMANITY

A robot is another product of the innovative minds of people and they are widely used such as the
socalled service robots and is defined as (IFR, 2012):
• A robot is an actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of
autonomy, moving within its environment, to perform the intended task. Autonomy in this context
means the ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing without human
intervention
• A service robot is a robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding
industrial automation applications. Note that a robot may be classified according to its intended
application as an industrial robot or a service robot
• A personal service robot or a service robot for personal use is a service robot used for a
noncommercial task, usually by laypersons. Examples domestic servant robot, automated
wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot, and pet exercising robot
• A professional service robot or a service robot for professional use is a service robot used for a
commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator. Examples are cleaning robots
for public places, a delivery robot in offices or hospitals, fire fighting robots, rehabilitation robots,
and surgery robots in hospitals. In this context, an operator is a person designated to start,
monitor, or stop the intended operation of a robot or a robot system

DESIRE (Deutche Servicerobotik Initiative-Germany Service Robotics Initiative) which was

launched on October 1, 2005, was a collaborative project sponsored by German Federal
Ministry. The service robot is expected to the following: (1) Clear up the kitchen table, (2) Fill the
dishwasher and (3) Clear up this room.

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The early conception of robots can be traced around 3000 BC from the Egyptians. Their water
clocks used human figurines to strike the hour bells. The mechanical device was built to carry
out a specific physical task regularly. From that time on, different machines were already built
that displayed the same mechanism and characteristics as the robots in present. The Unimate
(Universal Automation) was created by George Devol in the early 1950s which as people know
is the earliest robot. However, the attempt to sell the robot to the industry does not succeed.
After Unimate, several better versions of robots were invented and people never stop their
quest in the field of robotics.

ROLES PLAYED BY ROBOTICS

1. Robots are primarily used to ease the workload of mankind. They were invented to make life
more efficient and less stressful from performing a simple task to complicated activities.

2. Some robots are used to entertain people. These are found in amusement parks or exhibits

3. Also, some robots serve as toys. These perform different activities but usually are child
friendly. Also, some can be seen in movies.
Isaac Asimov formulated a set of rules and characteristics that define what a good robot is.
These are the following:
Law One: A robot may not injure a being or through inaction, allow a human
being to come to harm
Law Two: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law
Law Three: A robot must protect its existence as long as such protection does
not conflict with the First or Second Law

ETHICAL DILEMMAS
Although the idea is to help people and make their lives a lot easier than before, still it faces different
ethical dilemmas and possible undesirable outcomes.

1. Safety If someone’s safety is compromised, who should be blamed and who

should be held responsible if such a thing happens, is it the robot, the
one who is using the robot, or the maker/ inventor?
Using Asimov’s law of robots, it can be concluded that robots are
ethical but only if they strictly follow the rules specified. The laws
formulated by Asimov ensure the safety of not only the users of the
technology but also the people around him. However, if the user of
the robot misuse this technology to achieve a personal agenda, the
user should be held responsible for any consequence it may bring.
If the robot deviates from the law specified then the maker or the
inventor of the robot should be held responsible. This just means
that the robot is not properly programmed. However, if the robot

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develops the ability to think for itself in such a way that it can already
think for itself even without active participation from a human being,
the robot itself should be held responsible.

2. Emotional Component Looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, robots can develop
emotions. So what if robots become sentient, should they be granted rights and have their own
set of rights? When robots can already feel pain and pleasure, will they act differently or not at
all?
If the robot develops the ability to feel different kinds of emotion, it is
just right for the robots to be given their own set of rights without any
reservations. Should the time come, the robots should be treated
differently and should have a new set of laws to follow to
accommodate the new characteristics they have developed.

In the field of robotics, there are the so-called,

• Partial Autonomy which includes active human-robot interaction

• Full autonomy which excludes active human-robot interaction. In other words, a robot with full
autonomy that can perform action or activities even without a master telling it what should be
done or what should be performed next.

With the dilemmas stated, these are ethical that involve not only the machine but also mankind. It is
now impossible for technology and humanity not to cross paths because technology has become a
necessity for people. At the end of the day, ethics should still be enforced in the field of technology to
ensure the safety and morality of these devices to people.

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Seatwork (Essay):

1. Make an essay discussing the different ethical dilemmas faced by technological adavancements in
the society through a philosophical discussion.

Suggested Topics:
a. Do technological devices bring more good than bad to people?
b. Should there be more budget for technological researches despite the dilemmas they are
currently facing?
c. Should there be a limit to technological advancements?

2. Make an essay that shows your stand on the technological dilemma. Do not forget to show the role
or roles played by the technological advancement in the lives of the people. Choose one of the
topics below:

a. Robots that are capable of having emotions

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b. Google and stupidity

c. Filipino’s addiction to different technologies
d. Waze application

VII. EVALUATION (Note: Not to be included in the student’s copy of the IM)

VIII. ASSIGNMENT

1. Who are the contributions of the technological advances of the Information Age?
2. Aside from communication, what other aspects of society are being influenced by the Information
Age?
3. What other technological advancements can be developed in the future?

IX. REFERENCES

Gonzales, G. (2019, January 31). Rappler. Retrieved from Filipinos Spend Most Time Online, on Social
Media - Report: https://www.rappler.com/technology/philippines-online-use-2019-hootsuite-
weare-social-report

Serafica, J. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N., & Alata, E. P. (2018). Science, Technology and Society.
Quezon City: Rex Printing Company, Inc.

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