When Technology and Humanity Cross

Introduction
The ever growing society has made people see technology as some form of
NEED.

Technology
 From the Greek words techne (meaning: art) and logos (meaning: word)
A discourse on arts (Buchanan, 2010) 21 st century: concepts like machine and tools
were included
Technology
 Affects people directly or indirectly. Inevitable part of the society
Technology
 Makes life so much easier and more convenient than ever before
 Brings pleasure and happiness to people
 Allows us to communicate with our loved ones
 Allows us to surf and play games anytime, anywhere
Problems in technology
 Misuse
 Invented to produce bad results or danger
Television Sets, Mobile Phones, Computers and Humanity
Television
 92% of urban homes and 70% of rural homes own at least one TV set
(Kantar Media)
 TV remains to be the ultimate medium for advertisement placements (The
Manila Times, 2014)
 Current count of households with TV: 15.135 million (Noda, 2012)

Television History
Paul Gottlieb Nipkow
• a German student in the late 1800s
• Successful in his attempt to send images through wires with the aid of a rotating
metal disk
• The invention was called ELECTRIC TELESCOPE with 18 lines of resolution
Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton and Boris Rosing
• English and Russian scientist, respectively
• Created a new system of television by using CATHODE RAY TUBE in addition to
the mechanical scanner system
• Gave rise to mechanical and electronic television

Mobile Phones
• More than half of the Filipino population own at least one mobile phone
regardless of type
• 67% mobile phone ownership in PH (Synovate, 2010)
• Among young Filipinos, it is considered a must-have )ABS-CBN News, 2010)
• One in three Filipinos cannot live without mobile phones (Ipsos Media Atlas
Philippines Nationwide Urban 2011-2012 survey)

Mobile Phone History

Martin Cooper
• A senior engineer at Motorola
• Made the first mobile phone call on April 3, 1973 to their rival telecommunications
company
• The mobile phone used weighed 1.1 kilograms and measured 228.6 x 127 x 44.4
mm
• The device was capable of 30-minute talk time but took 10 hours to charge
• In 1983, Motorola DynaTAC 8000x available to the public as the first commercial
mobile phone
Computers and Laptops
• There are some Filipino families who own more than one computer or laptop.
• Low sales compared to TV and phones due to relatively higher cost
• Most of the profits come from offices, businesses and schools
• In 2010, 3.6 trillion was the estimated total value output of all manufacturing
establishments
• 5.4% came from computers and peripheral equipment and accessories (PSA,
2013)
Computer History
Charles Babbage
• A 19th century English Mathematics professor
• Designed the Analytical Engine which was used as the basic framework of the
computers
• Can be classified into three generations
• Osborne I (Orfano, 2011)
• The first true portable computer released in April 1981
A typical household owns at least four of the following devices:
(Philstar, 2013)
• A mobile phone (89%)
• Smartphone (53%)
• Tablet (14%)
• Desktop (39)
• Laptop or notebooks (37%)
• Smart TV (4%)
Fun facts!
• Mobile phone subscription is at 119 million.
• Filipinos spend approximately 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop
daily.
• The Philippines has one of the highest digital population in the world.
• There are now 47 million active Facebook accounts in the Philippines.
• The Philippines is the fastest-growing application market in Southeast Asia.
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements
• Television
• Platform for advertisements and information dissemination
• Recreational activity and good stress reliever to most families
• Good platform for different propagandas and advocacies
• Good way for family bonding
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements
• Mobile phones
• Primarily used for communication
• Used to surf the Internet
• Used to take pictures
• And many more!

Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

• Personal computers and laptops
• Can be used to surf the Internet and communicate
• Has a wider keyboard, screens and the availability of a mouse or touchpad,
making them easier to maneuver
• Can play different games with comfort and convenience

Ethical Dilemma Faces by these Technological Advancements

• Most parents argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy.
(Blame: the users of device)
• Children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for themselves what is
right or wrong are freely exposed to different things on these technologies. (Blame:
Adults who allowed the children to use devise)
• The abuse of technology may cause alienation, or separation of oneself to
others. (Blame: The people in scitech world)
Responsibility
• Each person must indicate the priorities, values, norms and principles that
constitute the grounds for one’s actions and define one’s contribution to the scientific-
technological event.
• People who are part of the scientific development ought to let the public know the
good and the dangers of their contribution.
Robotics and Humanity
Robot
• An actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of
autonomy, moving within its environment, to perform intended tasks.
• Autonomy in this context means the ability to perform intended tasks based on
current state and sensing without human intervention
Service robot
• A robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding industrial
automation application.
• Note: a robot may be classified according to its intended application as an
industrial robot or a service robot.
Personal service robot
• A service robot used for a noncommercial task, usually by laypersons. Examples
are domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot and
pet exercising robot.
Professional Service Robot
• A service robot used for a commercial task, usually operated by a properly
trained operator. Examples are cleaning robot for public places, delivery robot in offices
or hospitals, fighting robot, rehabilitation robot, and surgery robot in hospitals.
• Operator is a person designated to start, monitor and stop the intended operation
of a robot or a robot system.
Robots
• Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots.

DESIRE ( Deutsche Servicerobotik Initiative)

A collaborative project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education
and Research’s Service Robotics Innovation Lead Initiative launched on October 1,
2005
• Individual objectives (DESIRE, 2009)
• To achieve a technological edge toward attaining key functions and components
that are suited for everyday use
• To create a reference architecture for mobile manipulation
• To promote the convergence of technologies through integration into a common
technology platform
• To conduct pre-competition research and development activities for new products
and technology transfer in start-up enterprises in the field of service robotics
DESIRE
• Expected work to be performed (Mock, n.d.)
• “Clear up the kitchen table” – all objects on top of the kitchen table will be moved
to where they belong
• “Fill the dishwasher” – the dirty dishes will be sorted correctly into the
dishwasher; and
• “Clear up this room” – all objects that are not in their proper places will be moved
to where they belong
Robots (History)
• Earliest conception can be traced around 3000 BC from the Egyptians
• Water clocks used human figurines to strike the hour bells
Robots (History)
• Wooden pigeons that could fly
• Talking dolls
• Steam-powered robots
• Hydraulically-powered statues that could speak and gesture
Robots (History)
George Devol
• Created the earliest robots in the early 1950s
• “Unimate” from “Universal Automation” was the name of his first invention
• However, his attempt to sell the product did not succeed
Roles Played by Robotics
• Used to ease the workload of mankind
• Perform complicated activities which human beings are incapable of doing
• Perform simple tasks so that their masters can focus on the complex ones
• Some are made to entertain people, some made to serve as toys
Laws of Robots (formulated by Isaac Asimov, 1940s)
• Law One - A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a
human being to come to harm.
• Law Two - A robot must obey the orders given it by the human being except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
• Law Three - A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection
does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Robotics
• Safety – It is important to know who should be blamed and who should be
responsible if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot.
• Emotional component – What if robots have feelings? Should we grant them
rights?
• Partial autonomy – active human-robot interaction
• Full autonomy – can perform actions or activities even without a master telling it
what should be done or what should be performed next (IFR, 2012)

Television sets, Mobile phones, Computers, and

Humanity

A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the
most accessible place to anyone. Having said that, it can also be easily inferred
that these technological devices are some of the most popular and most
commonly used types of devices across all age groups. To be more specific, these
“celebrities” in the field of technology are television sets, mobile phones, and
computers. People all over the world use these technologies every day to
accomplish different purposes.

In television, used mainly as a platform for advertisements and information

dissemination. It remains to be the most used avenue by different advertisement
companies not only in the Philippines but also all over the world. Various
advertising companies trust that television is still one of the most used
technological devices up until today. It also serves as a recreational activity and
good stress reliever to most families, specifically to Filipino families. Television also
is a good platform for different propagandas and advocacies. Lastly, it can also be
a good way to bond with one’s family members.

In mobile phones, used primarily for communication. It offers services like

texting and calling. In the past, these were the only functions of the mobile phone
but as technology progressed, there have been many additional features included
on mobile phones. In the present, people use their mobile phones to surf the
Internet and to take pictures more than text or to call people. This is the reason
why more and more people all over the world prefer to buy smartphones over the
old models where such features are not available. These make this particular
technological device very appealing to the masses. Additionally, it is very portable
and convenient because it can fit into any space, may it be inside the pocket or
bag.

Computers and laptops, on the other hand, can be used to surf the Internet
and communicate. For a lot of people, they prefer to do their job using either a
personal computer or a laptop than a mobile phone. Personal computer or a laptop
has wide keyboard, wide screens and separate keyboards than mobile phones.
Another reason is that the availability of a mouse or a touchpad made these two
technological devices easier to maneuver than mobile phones. Lastly, for the youth
and those who love to play different computer games, personal computers or
laptops are really the better choice because these allow them play with comfort
and convenience.

Ethical Dilemma Faced by these technological advancements

It is true that these technological devices are useful and beneficial, the fact
remains that there are several dilemmas faced by these “necessities”. First, most
parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy.
This is because of the fact that people who are fixated on these technological
advancements start and end their day by using such devices. For example, those
who love to watch television shows stay in front of the television for more than six
hours a day while those who love to surf the Internet or play computer games stay
on their laptops, computers, or mobile phones for more than half a day. These
people have the tendency to be unaware of the time because they are so
engrossed with the use of technological device. Also, there are the same people
who are more likely to experience alienation because they no longer take time to
get out their houses and mingle with other people. It is really concerning to know
that there are people who develop different kinds of sickness because of too much
use of technological devices. The agents using the devices are the ones to be
blamed for the undesirable consequences, namely, laziness and unhealthiness. In
terms of alienation, it can be concluded that the people in the scientific-
technological world are blameworthy because they tell the people something that
seems positive but when examined closely, brings worse than good.

Another dilemma faced by these technological devices is the moral dilemma.

People, especially the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for
themselves what is right or wrong, are freely exposed to different things on
television, mobile phones, laptops, or computers. Because of the availability and
easy access to the Internet, they can just easily search the web and go to different
websites without restrictions. This allows them to see, read, or hear things which
are not suitable for their very 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. The people in the scientific world nor the children are blameworthy
because first, the children are not yet capable of rationally deciding for themselves
what is good and what is bad. Second, even if creators of these technologies went
out of their way to inform children of the pros and cons of these technological
contributions, it would still be useless because the children have no capacity to
understand them yet. So, the ones to be blamed are the adults who allowed the
children to have access to such devices in first place without any supervision.

Robotics and Humanity

Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the robot
which are now widely used. For example, there are so -called service robots that
do specific tasks but focus mainly in assisting their masters in their everyday tasks.

Germany was one of the first countries to develop service robots. As part of the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s “Service Robotics
Innovation Lead Initiative,” it sponsored a collaborative project called DESIRE
(Deutsche Servicerobotik Initiative Germany Service Robotics Initiative) which was
launched on October 1, 2005. Some of the expected work to be performed by
DESIRE are the following: (1) “Clear up the kitchen table” – all on top of the
kitchen table will be moved to where they belong; (2) “Fill the dishwasher” – the
dirty dishes will be sorted correctly into the dishwasher; and (3) “Clear up this
room” – all objects that are not in their proper places will be moved to where they
belong.

Roles played by Robotics

Robots play different roles not only in the lives of the people but also in the society
as a whole. They are primarily used to ease the workload of mankind. They were
invented to make life more efficient and less stressful. They perform complicated
activities which human beings are incapable of doing. On the other hand, they
perform the simplest tasks at home so that their masters can perform the complex
ones without stressing themselves over the simple tasks. There are also robots
which are made for pleasure. To be more specific, these types of robots perform
activities to entertain people. They can usually be found in amusement parks or
exhibits. In addition, there are also some robots which were made to serve as toys.
They also perform different activities but they are usually child-friendly.

Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics

Just like any other technological advancements, robotics also faces different
problems and dilemmas. Although the idea is to help people and make their lives a
lot easier than before, it is still not immune to different ethical dilemmas and
possible undesirable outcomes. One of the dilemmas faced by robots is safety.
Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot?
It is important to know who should be blamed and who should be held responsible
if such thing happens.

Another dilemma is the emotional component. This may seem a little absurd
as of the moment, but looking at how fast technology progresses nowadays, it is
not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions. So here, the questions
become, “What if robots become sentient? Should they be granted robot right?
Should they have their own set of rights to be upheld, respected, and protected by
humans?” It is just right for the robots to be given their own set of rights should
they develop the ability to feel different kinds of emotion.

Moral and Ethical Issues in Advanced Technology

Individuals and organizations use technology to enhance their daily

operations, be it business, learning, construction, or medical activities.
Advancement in technology does not elicit ethical or moral issues, but it is the use
of technological inventions that raises these issues.

Ethical dilemmas arise when there are competing goods and competing
evils. In regard to IT, the sharing of private information within an organization
raises the question of whether the action is moral or immoral. Information systems
enable people to manipulate records within a short period, thus raising questions
on whether the information is genuine or vague.
 In addition, will genetic engineering improve the quality of life or destroy it?
These are some of ethical dilemmas that are yet to be solved. Furthermore,
biotechnology raises some moral issues. It is difficult to justify the use of living
organisms during research and other technological discoveries. For instance, vitro
fertilization enables women who are not in a position to have their own children to
undergo the process. Religious groups are opposed to such practices because
their beliefs do not agree with them.

Similarly, the uses of technology have the capability of making many

innocent people to suffer; this is a moral concern. For example, nuclear technology
has the potential of killing many people, and consequently destroying the
environment. This raises some health problems. People affected by nuclear
emissions, such as those witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are deemed to be
genetically impaired. Such effects can affect the next generations of affected
individuals.
The use of computers also raises health issues. Even though computer
makes our work easier, it is evident that prolonged use of computers results to
repetitive stress injuries.

In regard to job displacement, machines have enabled companies to cut

down their labor force. Many companies use technological tools and knowledge,
such as robots and computer to run their business operations. Some people are
forced to take different roles other than their qualification requirements and others
are faced with stress related to work difficulties.

The idea that the quest for strong AI would ultimately succeed was long
thought of as science fiction, centuries or more away. However, thanks to recent
breakthroughs, many AI milestones, which experts viewed as decades away
merely five years ago, have now been reached, making many experts take
seriously the possibility of super intelligence in our lifetime. Because AI has the
potential to become more intelligent than any human, we have no surefire way of
predicting how it will behave. People now control the planet, not because we’re the
strongest, fastest or biggest, but because we’re the smartest. If we’re no longer the
smartest, are we assured to remain in control?

But there are other examples of potential ethical dilemmas in scientific

research and technology. There are things like genetic engineering, where people
worry that we might one day create super-humans that will outcompete regular
humans. There is surveillance technology, making people wonder how human
rights could be violated. People ask questions about whether we're going where
only God should tread, and whether we should do something just because we can.
The implications of many of these technologies are complex and philosophical.
The biggest risk to our future is not that technology will take over but that we
will become too much like technology. Let’s think about where it’s going.
Let’s balance the EQ with the IQ. We should think of technology not as
what we seek but rather how we seek – it is a tool we should embrace, not one
we should become.