SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

This chapter presents how science and technology figures into our everyday lives. First, we shall look at
the relationship of human societies to the natural world through various ecosystems. This shall be linked
to various food systems that provide everyday sustenance to people in society. Aside from food, we shall
also look into the various substances and machines utilized in our households. Lastly, we shall discuss
about information, communication and transportation technologies present in contemporary societies. All
these provide an overview on the relevance of science and technology to human societies as utilized in daily
activities necessary for survival.

Objectives:

Discuss the relationship between the physical environment and human societies;
1. Explain the relevance of science and technology through the different objects utilized in the daily
lives of humans, from food, simple machines, and communication;
2. Describe basic uses and functions of science and technology in everyday life.

As people go about their everyday lives, they constantly interact with each other as well as with their
physical environment. It is where people get their food in order to survive. Food getting or food production
are basic in any society but practices vary across cultures. Other substances are utilized in the home, aside
from food. Simple machines are also utilized not only in food preparation but also in other everyday tasks.
In modern societies, information and communication technologies have become part and parcel of everyday
interactions. All these shall be tackled to see how science and technology are so much embedded and
entrenched into the everyday lives of people in society.

2. 1 Environment and Society

Human societies exist in specific environmental contexts or the so-called natural world. This section
provides an overview of various ecosystems highlighting the relationship between humans and nature. It
encourages a conscious realization about the life support services provided by nature without which humans
would not be able to create something despite his mastery of science and technology. It is the objective of
this section to demonstrate a general appreciation of our environment and provide connections, through
examples, on how human ingenuity and creativity have harnessed his physical and ecological environments,
via technology, to enhance and provide meaning to his existence here on earth.

Basically, the planet Earth is our world. It is our home and is the only one of a kind in the solar system.
There might be earth-like planets discovered recently, but there is no other planet close to it yet. The
biosphere, the layer which we live, is very heterogeneous in form, land/seascapes, ecological habitats &
geographic features. It is broadly comprised of water, land, air, and life.

Humans exist together with many other life forms here on earth. The quality of our environment is very,
very important since it is equal to our own existence. The atmosphere provides us, air-breathing humans,
with oxygen 24/7, that without it we will not survive. The ocean provides varieties of marine life from
which we can harvest it for food. On land, plants grow and the wood can be used as raw materials for
making shelters. These material benefits are just a few that can be sourced from the environments.
Furthermore, the human ability to utilize, convert and transform these materials through science and
technology has led to more benefits for mankind.
Ecosystems & Ecosystem Services
The biosphere is the highest level of biological organization. It is also known as 'ecosphere' to refer to all
available ecological systems existing in our planet. A global representation of the ecosystems of the world
gives the extent of diversity of the biosphere. There are different types of ecosystems including forest,
grassland, tundra, desert, freshwater and marine ecosystems. But the growing human population have given
way to agro-ecosystems as well as urban ecosystems. Unlike the first six mentioned, these two ecosystems
are dominated by humans. Issues related to such ecosystems shall be discussed in later chapters.

This diversity of ecosystems excludes the enormous biodiversity of species per ecosystem from
microorganisms to the large, visible plants & animals that are featured in National Geographic
(http://www.nationalgeographic.com) & Discovery Channel (http://www.discoverychannelasia.com).
Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia,
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.

Ecosystems provide services that are important to human existence on a daily basis. Ecosystem services
include the following benefits to mankind: natural production of food, control of climate, support in terms
of cycles and recreational benefits (see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_services). We may not
know it or take it for granted but ecosystem services are fundamental to our existence.

Technology & Ecosystem Services

Understanding how nature works confers some benefits (i.e., economic) to humankind. This is possible
through the development of technology to come up with products that can be monetized and shared for the
common good.

Take the case of the Velcro; a product inspired by the burrs (i.e., dry seeds with hooks or teeth). "The Velcro
was the brainchild by Georges de Mestral, a Swiss engineer who, in 1941 went for a walk in the woods
and wondered if the burrs that clung to his trousers - and dog - could be turned into something useful" (see
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1996883,00.html). Today, the Velcro finds wide usage
as a fastener in space suits, car accessories, medical equipment, watch straps, etc. The rubber shoes you
wear now might have a Velcro. Or the pockets of your pants may have a Velcro as fastener instead of zipper
or buttons... & you wear this pants or shoes everyday.

Some examples are briefly presented where technology complements or even enhances the free services
provided by nature:
1. The potential energy of a waterfall propels the operation of turbines & eventually brings electricity
to power homes so we could experience the convenience of daily living.
2. Urban forests & green spaces are patches of vegetations that provide 'free cleaning' services by
absorbing excess atmospheric carbon dioxides in urban areas & at the same time diminishing the
harmful effects of urban heat island (UHI) in cities & congested metropolis. There are technologies
(i.e., LiDAR) that enable rapid data collection over large areas while the data can be processed ang
mapped vegetation features using computer workstations with fast microprocessors.
3. During the last 10 years, there was a scramble to study & identify compounds, metabolites, &
organic molecules from species known to have medicinal properties. Further development of these
biomaterials should lead, not only to the extraction, but also purification, and later, mass production
of drugs & medicines. The herbal liniment that you used last night for your headache may contain
methyl salicylate (or oil of wintergreen) which is naturally produced by many species of aromatic-
smelling plants called wintergreens.
4. Increasing use of fossil fuel, emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could lead to increasing
frequency of typhoons that could hit land posing increasing risk of coastal inhabitants to disasters
(i.e. flooding, landslides, damage to ports & cities). In tropical regions, coral reefs & mangroves
 ecosystems (insert Fig.8 picture of mangrove vegetation in a coastal area) can protect coastal
communities by lessening the destructive impact of storm surges. Because of these free services,
risks could be minimized, a disaster avoided & lives & properties saved.

The next section focuses on various food technologies utilized by different societies to provide for the needs
of their populations. Food is a basic need and thus entails knowledge as well as skill in preparation. This
is where the diversity of food technologies across cultures is highlighted.

2.2 Food Technologies

As discussed in the previous section, the natural environment provides the basic needs of human societies,
foremost of which is food. Over human history and pre-history, food and sustenance are of primary
importance for survival. In the distant past, early humans gathered food from plants and scavenged for
bone marrow of animals killed by larger beasts. This enabled them to survive despite the harsh environment
at that time. Over time, food gathering developed with the invention of weapons for hunting as well as
technologies for food production. Planting crops using digging sticks and later the plow and the tractor
enabled human societies to produce their own food to provide for their needs for sustenance. Raising
animals likewise enabled human societies to produce milk, eggs, and meat. Agricultural production
intensified over time with the development of machineries for food preservation and food processing.

Initially, food technologies were developed only for survival. As technology developed, food production
per unit area per unit time increased. There are more goods produced than one can consume, hence, the
focus has shifted from survival to economic gains. This shift has also led to more innovation and
development in S&T in food processing thereby extending the shelf life of major food items so that it can
be transported elsewhere to other markets. Food technologies have also led to the discovery of new products
& new applications for the same ingredients. For example, think of corn (or maize). For the longest time
Filipinos have been eating corn as a staple food. Now, there are new products derived from corn such as
corn syrup, a clear viscous liquid use as extra additive when you order pancakes for breakfast. Corn could
also be processed to produce corn flakes as toppings for halo-halo. Food technology has enabled people to
make products even for the flimsiest of reasons. The diversity of processed food we eat today is thus a
reflection of our human desire to be in control and be at the top of the food chain.

Food Getting and Food Production

Human population follows an exponential rate of increase while food production grows arithmetically. In
the long run, population growth would outstrip food production. Based on world population statistics, there
are already 7.6 billion people on this planet. Such population increase necessitates increase in food
production systems in a sustainable way. Generally, anthropologists have categorized how humans have
utilized the natural environment to acquire products, especially food, to respond to their needs as well as
wants. These are also differentiated based on the technologies utilized for food getting and food production
– foraging, horticulture, pastoralism, agriculture, industrial and post-industrial societies.

Foraging societies also referred to as hunting and gathering societies, exploit wild plants and animals in
their territory for food. People get their food from what is available in the natural environment. Thus, they
gather food from plants around them, and hunted animals for meat. They utilize simple implements to
gather plant foods and hunt animals, such as the stone tools of early humans. These societies are largely
nomadic moving from place to place searching for food. As population grew and resources became scarce,
food production technologies were developed primarily the domestication of plants (horticulture) and
animals (pastoralism) in order to provide for the needs of the growing population. Nowadays, there are
only a small number of foraging societies, including coastal fishing communities who gather food through
fishing, gathering of shellfish and other seafoods.

Horticultural societies utilized simple gardening tools in planting food crops. They practiced shifting
cultivation transferring from one plot of land to another to leave the land to fallow and regenerate its
nutrients. On the other hand, pastoral societies domesticated herds of animals not only for food but also
for other animal products including eggs from chicken, wool from sheep, and milk from cows or goats.
These societies are semi-nomadic as they do not settle in one place but transfer to other places in search of
greener pastures for their herds. As population grew, further cultivation technologies such as the invention
of the plow were developed in order to increase crop production. Agriculture utilized more complex tools
in both crop and livestock production. There was intensive cultivation of the land following the private
ownership of land. Being a largely agricultural economy, the Philippines still relies on agricultural
production to provide for the food needs of its population. Farming households usually own less than a
hectare which they utilize for planting crops and raising livestock to provide for the food needs of their
families.

With the further growing population, more advanced technologies in food production were developed,
specifically the mechanization and industrialization. Increased food production entailed the need for
processing and preservation so as to lengthen its viability. The market economy has ensured the distribution
of these processed food products to the consumers through grocery stores and supermarkets. Nowadays,
especially in urbanized areas, people no longer produce their own food through cultivation or pastoralism.
Instead they procure their food needs from a supermarket in the form of processed foods such as baked
products (bread, pastries, biscuits, etc.); canned goods (sardines, meat loaves, corned beef, etc.); bottled
juices or jams; among others. Various technologies have been utilized to process and produce such foods
which could be bought in the grocery store.

[Food Preparation and Processing

The alimentary tract of man is such that it is not possible to absorb the nutritive value of food
immediately. Absorption of nutrients generally takes place in the intestine after food is broken up into
small pieces. On the other hand, there are foods that our body needs but which should be pre-processed
before eating because it is not biologically & socially acceptable to ingest it in raw form. Raw meat is an
example.

Food must be pre-processed to avoid contamination without sacrificing the nutritive value of food. Take
the case of pasteurization of milk which is still applied today in the production of fresh milk Therefore,
food preparation and ways of cooking it are equally as important as the ingestion of food. For some, foods
(i.e., green salad) washing is already enough. Certain vegetables are blanched before they are eaten to
maintain their nutritive value. The addition of spices, herbs & natural colorings is done by the majority of
cultures & societies to enhance the visual & olfactory sensations of the food when cooked. The mixing of
major and minor (secret) ingredients in food is what makes the social function of food an important
component in today's culinary experience by people of all walks of life. A visit and eventual dining to a
food strip in a local market should lead to a gastronomic delight for a very hungry individual.

Food spoilage is a problem in developing nations located near the equator. The warm to hot environment
promotes the proliferation of microorganisms and leads to food contamination, food spoilage or worse, food
poisoning. This is one reason why the refrigerator was invented - to prolong the shelf life of food. However,
the recent advances in food technology go beyond human survival. Technology in food preservation is more
about economic advantage. Food companies will be able to extend the shelf life of food without sacrificing
its nutritive value, but at the same time, be able to ship & market their products across the globe to earn a
descent profit.
In today's interconnected world, transporting food is a multibillion industry. Likewise, the technology
of food preservation is also a multibillion industry. Food should be preserved so that it will reach its
intended markets. Today, there are already existing technologies (by freezing, freeze drying, sun drying,
salting, etc.) in food preservation for almost all food types (i.e., fruits, meat, vegetables, etc.).

FOF ESSAY 1. In underdeveloped economies where food preservation technology is non-existent, food
preservation takes on a different approach and is done in the traditional way. Preservatives like salt or sugar
are used to extend the shelf life of the food. The process of drying excess catch of the day is another form
of preservation. The dried food could be consumed at a later date. It is very common sight to see this type
of preservation method in fishing villages of remote islands in the Philippines where there is no electricity.

In Central Philippines notably in Cebu and its neighboring islands, the customary drying of fish, squids &
other fishery products has led to the development of the 'bulad' industry. The 'bulad' products which are
considered a delicacy by the Filipinos are sold at the Taboan Market (Fig._ panoramic view of the Taboan
Market) in Cebu City. It is currently visited by domestic & international tourists due to the variety of 'buwad'
products sold in various stalls & also the distinct pungent odor one sniffs once you are in the vicinity. It is
noteworthy to say that the economics of this type of traditional delicacy are thriving due to its market
demand despite the absence of technology.

Changing Food Technologies in the Modern World

Modern technology is changing our food. Conventional food processing methods which are lengthy and
time-consuming are made to be easier and faster. Food preservation, food delivery and food safety are
almost done automatically in a flick of a button. Some food information are already accessible through the
web, to know the pH value of common drinks like coffee, milk and soda can be accessible through the
smart phone and social media. Food technologies also paved way to numerous inventions, discoveries and
innovations which help reduce food shortage, track and understand our food system and even provide
information on how to do about our food waste and other related environmental issues.

In food production, the use of chemicals in agriculture is already the norm. Inorganic fertilizers, insecticides
and herbicides are commonly used in crop production of rice, corn and vegetables. Aside from these,
biotechnology has also been utilized to genetically modify certain crops to increase productivity. A GMO
crop or plant is something has been genetically modified to have certain traits incorporated in the plant
called input traits. Examples are insect-tolerant trait (Bt) which gives the plant the strength to resist against
insect attacks. Another example is herbicide- tolerant trait, these traits change the way how insecticides
and herbicides are used on the crop. An example of this is the Golden Rice technology which produces
Vitamin A-enriched rice grain. Recent technologies have also been applied to livestock and fish as well.
There may be some advantages resulting from such technologies but there are also disadvantages resulting
from these. These shall be tackled in more detail in the later chapters of this book.

Comparison of Two Kitchens

The kitchen has significantly evolved from what it used to be. It is this area of the house where food is
prepared, cooked and served. The architectural development of the kitchen as an integrated unit of the house
is directed to make it as sanitary (thereby avoiding contamination problems) and as hazard-safe (thereby
avoiding fire hazard) as possible. A comparison between the old versus the modern kitchen is presented.

'Dirty' kitchen, Philippine style. Generally, the 'old' kitchen is what one calls as 'dirty' kitchen today. Most
'dirty' kitchens today have a simple configuration where one does not need electricity since there are no
kitchen appliances to speak of. There are probably two stoves made of cement with iron grill to put the
kettle for boiling water or soup, or pan for sautéing. The kitchen is enveloped by thin galvanized sheets to
lessen the effect of wind & rain. The legs of the 'dirty' kitchen is made up of wood while the base is made
of plywood with a layer of compact sand to avoid untoward burning of the plywood base.

Modern kitchen. The modern kitchen is packed with ultra modern appliances, is more spacious & most of
all, needs electricity to energize the appliances. In the Philippines, the basic appliances include the ff:
refrigerator, gas range, rice cooker, microwave oven, electric kettle and many extra appliances such as
coffee brewer, juicer, fume hood, etc. The modern kitchen is equipped with a fire alarm system that connects
to the fire department.

Future kitchen appliances will be part of the internet of things (IoT) where it will incorporate the latest
microprocessors that can be programmed & operated remotely.

=====
Exercise 1
Arrange a cursory visit to the city abattoir & observe the procedure by which a pig is butchered, weighed,
cleaned, up to the point it is sold. Try talking to the manager on how he manages the facility including
where the abattoir gets its income. Write a very short report after the visit
=====

=====
Exercise 2
Ask each student to draw on a 1/8 illustration board the kitchen in their household. Classify the drawings
based on the kind of implements, tools or appliances (as a representation of technology) present. Let them
identify these and specify their corresponding uses or functions in preparing food.
=====

2.3 Household Chemistry

The previous section discussed food technologies utilized by human societies from food gathering to food
production to food processing and preparation. Modern food technologies were also described including
the contrast between the traditional kitchen and the modern kitchen. Aside from food, there are also a
number of substances and objects utilized in our households. It is also important to know what these are
made of, their uses and possible reactions and effects on people. This section explores the chemistry of the
substances used in every household. It is with chemistry that one understands the basic properties of the
chemicals inside every household and learns how to predict, explain how chemicals change as they react to
form new substances. Understanding the chemistry of household chemicals enhances our awareness of
household chemical safety and precaution.

Essay 2. Building Learning Opportunity:

1. Give two substances found in the kitchen and identify their uses.
2. Give two substances that you usually use or apply on your body.
3. Identify two substances that you add or mix and describe what happens.

Chemicals in Our Households

Substances we hold, touch, see, use, taste, smell and even eat involves chemistry and chemicals or matter.
Tasting, smelling, touching, using or consuming these chemicals involves a single or series of chemical
changes or reactions. Chemistry and chemicals are not only limited to beakers or laboratories; it is
everywhere. With a huge number of chemicals found in every household, it is essential to learn about
chemistry at a practical level to understand the world and reactions around us.
A wide range of chemicals can be found inside our homes, some might be simple to identify and understand
how it works or being used. Others are made from two or more simple chemicals. Fluorine, chlorine, silver,
copper are examples of familiar chemicals found in the house hold. Fluorine is found in toothpaste; chlorine
is used as a disinfectant in drinking water; silver is a material in spoons and forks; and copper is found in
electric wires. The wonder of chemistry is when these chemicals are added or mixed together they form
into something new totally different and unique from the original chemicals. Changes can be observed as
two chemicals are added or mixed. Changes can range from simple darkening of color, formation of a solid
substance to formation of bubbles or it may be accompanied by evolution of heat or flame. Browning of a
sliced apple and souring of milk are common examples. Other examples of observable chemical changes at
home are the burnt smell and the turning to black of overcooked sugar in a pan.

Change can be simply a transformation of one chemical from one state to another as solid ice turns into
liquid water in the process of melting. In the process of boiling and evaporation, liquid water turns into a
gaseous state.

Uses of Household Chemicals

A number of chemicals are found and used in every household intended for cleaning, pest control and
general hygiene purposes. These are classified as non-food chemicals commonly known as household
chemicals which can either be used alone or combined with other reagents.

Soap and detergent are sometimes used interchangeably but chemistry tells us they are different. Both
contain a head and a tail. Detergent is a chemical substance which contains a water loving head
(hydrophilic) and a tail which is attracted to dirt, grease and oils (hydrophobic). The hydrophobic end of
the detergent which pulls away the dirt from the fabric is a more effective cleaning agent than soap since it
is less sensitive to the hardness of water and seldom forms a film. Soap can also remove oils and dirt by
working as a bridge between the polar water molecules and non-polar oil and dirt molecules allowing oil
and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing.

Household cleaning is a common task where chemicals are used for different purposes.
Consumers use cleaning products according to labels provided with little thought on how they exactly work.
Cleaning products have their respective chemical properties and pH which make them suitable for cleaning
different items may it be glass, metals, wood, floors, upholster, cloth and different hard surfaces. The
chemical properties and pH of cleaning products will indicate what type of material and stain they will
work well with.

Surfactants contained in dishwashing detergents are important in the cleaning process as they facilitate the
interaction between water and other substances such as stains, grease, oil, and stuck on food, thus making
it easy to loosen such substances from the dish. Surfactants break molecular barriers between two phases
and reduces surface tension allowing water to spread thereby making it possible to rinse away the substances
stuck on a surface.

Insert: Photo how surfactant works?

Fun Facts: Did you know?

  The word ‘surfactant’ is the shorthand of “ SURFaceACTiveAgeNT” reducing interfacial tension
between two phases allowing water to penetrate into stains, grease, oil and stuck-on food, removing
these substances during cleaning process.

 Ocean surface are full of surfactants! It’s the reason why ocean waves are foamy as they break.

Insert: Photo of foaming waves

2.4 Simple Machines

In the previous sections, we looked at the physical environment, food technologies and household chemicals
which we are exposed to everyday. This section shall focus on the simple machines that human societies
commonly utilize in their daily lives in various arenas of social life. We may ignore these simple
implements and tools, but these are the common technologies we use everyday.

1. Find a partner. Look inside your bags and within the classroom for at least two simple machines.
2. Describe each machine in terms what it is made of and what is its purpose or function.
3. Explain in what way the simple machine is able to make work a lot easier.
4. As an extension, think of simple machines you may also find in the library, canteen, office,
playground, gym, inside your bags, at least one machine in each location.
5. We will discuss this activity at the end of this section.

Work and Machines

People perform work every single day. Scientifically, work is done by a person who exerts force on an
object that causes the object to move across a distance. Here are some examples of people performing work;
 Mario pushing a table from one corner of his classroom to another corner,
 Pedro climbing a flight of stairs or a coconut tree,
 Juan throwing a stone on a lake;
 Teban lifting a barbell, and
 Janet sweeping the floor.

[insert photo of a man climbing a coconut tree]

These types of work can be done without machines, but there are other everyday activities that need simple
machines such as a can opener to open canned goods, a pair of scissors to cut fabric or paper, a shovel to
dig holes in grounds, a screw driver to tighten or loosen screws, a ramp for people with disability (PWD)
to carefully walk through, a paddle to move a boat across water, and a hammer to pull out an embedded
nail. Simple machines have become integral parts of people’s daily activities. People utilize machines as
they perform their usual daily routines in the house, garden, office, gym, playground, park, movie house,
or just anywhere they are located.

Simple machines make moving objects a lot easier, with less effort. Effort here is associated with muscle
exertion, such as a push, pull, or lift. Since machines tend to decrease muscle effort, one can think of
machines as an extension of a man’s muscle. Simple machines are grouped as follows: lever, pulley, wheel
and axle, inclined plane, wedge, and screw.
Common Simple Machines Used
A lever is the simplest machine of all. It is a long, straight or folded bar that can lift a load on of its ends
while applying a little physical force or effort on the other end. A see-saw is an example of a lever. When
a child sits on one end, a second child must sit on the opposite end to lift the first child. People in the past
used the lever for moving heavy stones, for digging, or for raising or moving heavy load (See Fig. __).
Other examples of a lever include a shovel, a pair of scissors, wheel barrow, bottle opener, nut crackers. In
the human body, the biceps, elbow and forearm act as a lever.

An inclined plane is any surface, flat or jagged, that is sloping at an angle. Unlike the lever, the two ends
of an inclined plane are fixed, with one end higher than the other end. Inclined plane is used to move
particularly heavy objects up or down two different levels. A flight of stairs is an example of an inclined
plane where people can move up and down different floors of a building or house. Ramps, slides,
wheelchair ramps, skateboard ramps, and escalators are a few examples of inclined planes.

A wedge is another kind of simple machine used to push things apart. It is triangular in shape and thick on
one side and thin with sharp edge on the other side. Technically, it consists of two inclined planes put
together back-to-back. One example of a wedge is an axe. A force is applied on the handle which pushes
the axe on the wood and splits the wood into two. Other examples of wedges include a shovel to push dirt
apart, a knife to cut bread or meat, a nail to crack or split the wood. A pair of stiletto heels can crack floors.

A wheel and axle is a simple machine that consists of a wheel with a rod through its center called the axle.
If the wheel turns, so does the axle. If the axle turns, so does the wheel. One example of a wheel and axle
is a door knob (Fig. __). The wheel is the door knob and it is attached to a short rod considered as the axle.
When a hand wraps around the wheel and rotates the wheel, the axle likewise turns which in turn opens the
door. The wheel is considered as the effort arm and the axle as the resistance arm which turned open the
door. A wheel and axle is most often found as a smaller part of a larger machine. It is used to move or turn
other parts. However, there are some very small machines that also use a wheel and axle to work.
Mechanical pencil sharpeners, doorknobs, and electric mixers are just a few examples.

A screw is a special variation of an inclined plane. An inclined plane is twirled about a cylinder or cone
from top to bottom to form a spiral. A screw is used to move a load up and down, or is used to press two
objects together or to pull them away. Another example of a screw is that of a water bottle and its cover,
as shown in Figure __. Both the rim of the bottle and the inside of the cover has grooves.

A pulley is a wheel and axle with a rope or chain attached. A pulley can move objects up and makes work
easier. Suppose a boulder is to be lifted to the third floor of a building. One can tie the boulder to a piece
of rope and another person standing on the third floor pull the boulder straight up. Another way is to put
up a pulley on the third floor, wrapped the rope around the pulley and then pulls down the other end of the
rope (Fig. __). Pulling down the rope is easier than pulling it up. Examples of pulleys you may use include
flagpoles and mini-blinds. Cranes and tow trucks also use pulleys to move heavy loads.

All these simple machines are present in most societies although these objects may be taken for granted,
they function to make human activities easier to do. These simple machines are also the bases for the
development of more complex machines in society. These are all manifestations of how technology has
been developed by human societies; and how technology has impacted human societies as well.

FUN FACTS: Did you know?

 The human body is a complex machine with lots of moving parts.

 More than 2000 years ago, the ancient Greeks built a 6 –km inclined plane to move boats overland,
instead of letting it sail around dangerous peninsulas. The inclined track made of limestones was called
“Diolkos”, translated as portage across.
 Your teeth act like a wedge when you bite an apple. You split the apple using the muscles of your jaw.

2.5 Information and Communication

Human interactions take place on a daily basis. In Sociology, social interactions are considered the
foundations of societies and cultures. It involves a sequence of social exchanges between individuals or
groups which form the basis for social structure. Through interaction, people design rules, institutions and
systems in their respective cultures which are communicated and passed on to the next generations also
through interaction. Information exchange takes place through social interaction. For example, we interact
with our family, neighbors, and classmates everyday through face-to-face as well as virtual interactions.

In early human societies, communication and information exchange are done face-to-face. Over time,
information and communication technologies have been developed in order to make communication and
information exchange faster and reach vast distances. The invention of the telegraph, telephone, two-way
radio, among others, enhanced the manner by which people communicated with each other. A major
technological breakthrough was the invention of the computer which paved the way for the information
revolution. Computer technology and the power of the internet connected people from far places together.
Thus, people can work almost anywhere even outside the office as they could still utilize laptop computers,
cellular phones at home, in a coffee shop or anywhere else. It has made the world a “smaller place” as
communication and information technology brought people actors the globe together in the virtual world.

This rapid growth and development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has resulted to
dependence of society on such technologies. Young people nowadays can no longer imagine life without
a cellphone or a computer. A number of transactions are already done online. Even playing, making
friends, and dating are also done online. Doing simple mathematical computations are no longer done
mentally as students have become very dependent on the calculator. In present-day societies, computer
literacy is very important in order to participate in the activities of modern society and avail of various
opportunities. However, there are still groups or categories of people who have limited access to basic
computer literacy – those living in geographically isolated and depressed areas; persons with disabilities or
learning difficulties; resource-poor households; among others. This limits their opportunities in accessing
information and communicating with others.

Nevertheless, the proliferation of cellular phones in the market has enabled even computer illiterate people
to gain access to communication and information technologies. Even in the most remote barangays, there
are already cellular phones being used by some residents. There are now online shopping sites, online
gaming, social networking, among others. More young people nowadays work in the service sector
including business process outsourcing companies rather than in factories manufacturing goods as
automation has lessened the number of workers in factories. Modern information and communication
technologies are now more accessible and affordable. Based on statistics, as of July 2016, the Philippines
has an internet penetration rate of 43.5%. It is also considered the second largest Facebook market in
Southeast Asia, next to South Korea; as an estimated 47 million users access social media on a monthly
basis.