Science
•
comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning
'knowledge’.
•
It refers to a systematic and methodical activity of
building and
•
organizing knowledge about how the universe
behaves through observation, experimentation or
both.
Technology
•
Is the application of scientific knowledge, laws, and
principles to produce services, materials, tools, and
machines aimed at solving real world problems.
•
It comes from the Greek root word techne, meaning
'art, skill, or cunning of hand.
Society
•
Is the aggregate of people living together in a more
or less ordered community.
Nature of the Study of Science, Technology and Society
• Science, Technology and Society (STS) is a
relatively young field that combines previously
independent and older disciplines, such as the
history of science, philosophy of science, and
sociology of science.
• As an academic field, STS, according to Harvard
University's Kennedy School, traces its roots from
the interwar period and the start of the Cold War. It
was during the period when historians and
scientists found interest in the interconnections of
scientific knowledge, technological systems, and
society.
• In general STS applies methods drawn from history,
philosophy, and sociology to study the nature of
science and technology and ultimately judge their
value and place in society
• Thus, as the Kennedy School effectively
encapsulates, STS seeks to bridge the gap
between two traditionally exclusive cultures -
humanities (interpretive) and natural sciences
(rational) - so that humans will be able to better
confront the moral, ethical, and existential
dilemmas brought by the continued developments
in science and technology.
Dilemma
• It is a situation where a person is forced to choose
between two or more conflicting options neither of
which is acceptable.
Ethical/Moral Dilemmas
• Are situations where persons, who are called
"moral agents" in ethics, are forced to choose
between two or more conflicting options, neither of
which resolves the situation in a morally acceptable
manner.
Three Conditions that must be present in Moral Dilemmas
1. The person or agent of moral action is obliged
to make a decision about which course of
action is best.
2. There must be different courses of action to
choose from.
3. No matter what course of action is taken,
some moral principles are always
compromised.
Ten Emerging Ethical Dilemmas
1. Helix- a digital app store designed to read
genomes.
2. BlessU-2 Popper- first robot priest and monk
3. Emotion-Sensing Facial Recognition- a
software being developed to assess your
reactions to anything such as shopping and
playing games.
4. Ransomware- a way of holding data hostage
through the backing and requiring a ransom to
be paid.
5. Textalyzer- a device that analyzes whether a
driver was using his or her phone during an
accident.
6. Social Credit System- a system of scoring
citizens through their actions by placing them
under constant surveillance.
7. Google Clips- a hands-free camera that lets
the user capture every moment effortlessly.
8. Sentencing Software- a mysterious
algorithm designed to and courts in
sentencing decisions.
9. Friendbot- an app that stores the deceased's
digital footprint so one can still chat with them.
10. Citizen App- an app that notifies users of
ongoing crimes or major events in a specific
area.
Social Implication
-The social implications of an event or action are the results,
on society or part of society, of the event or the action. The
idea of social implications can also be extended to a law or a
policy, that is, a planned set of repeated actions.
Examples of dilemmas and their social implications.
1. Personalized genetic tests/personalized medicine
Within the last 10 years, the creation of fast, low-cost genetic sequencing has given the public direct
access to genome sequencing and analysis, with little or no guidance from physicians or genetic
counselors on how to process the information. What are the potential privacy issues, and how do
we protect this very personal and private information? Are we headed toward a new era of
therapeutic intervention to increase the quality of life or a new era of eugenics?
2. Hacking into medical devices
Implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers, are susceptible to hackers. Barnaby Jack, of
security vendor IOActive, recently demonstrated the vulnerability of a pacemaker by breaching the
security of the wireless device from his laptop and reprogramming it to deliver an 830-volt shock.
How do we make sure these devices are secure?
 spectrum, and to close the digital access divide for underserved (rural, low-income, developing
3. Driverless Zipcars
areas) populations.

In three states -- Nevada, Florida, and California -- it is now legal for Google to operate its driverless
cars. Google's goal is to create a fully automated vehicle that is safer and more effective than a
10. Data collection and privacy
human-operated vehicle, and the company plans to marry this idea with the concept of the Zipcar.
The ethics of automation and equality of access for people of different income levels are just a taste
How often do we consider the massive amounts of data we give to commercial entities when we
of the difficult ethical, legal, and policy questions that will need to be addressed.
use social media, store discount cards, or order goods via the Internet? Now that microprocessors
and permanent memory are inexpensive technology, we need to think about the kinds of
information that should be collected and retained. Should we create a diabetic insulin implant that
4. 3-D printing
could notify your doctor or insurance company when you make poor diet choices, and should that
decision make you ineligible for certain types of medical treatment? Should cars be equipped to
Scientists are attempting to use 3-D printing to create everything from architectural models to
monitor speed and other measures of good driving, and should this data be subpoenaed by
human organs, but we could be looking at a future in which we can print personalized
authorities following a crash? These issues require appropriate policy discussions in order to bridge
pharmaceuticals or home-printed guns and explosives. For now, 3-D printing is largely the realm of
the gap between data collection and meaningful outcomes.
artists and designers, but we can easily envision a future in which 3-D printers are affordable and
patterns abound for products both benign and malicious, and that cut out the manufacturing sector
completely.
11. Human enhancements

Pharmaceutical, surgical, mechanical, and neurological enhancements are already available for
5. Adaptation to climate change
therapeutic purposes. But these same enhancements can be used to magnify human biological
function beyond the societal norm. Where do we draw the line between therapy and enhancement?
The differential susceptibility of people around the world to climate change warrants an ethical
How do we justify enhancing human bodies when so many individuals still lack access to basic
discussion. We need to identify effective and safe ways to help people deal with the effects of
therapeutic medicine?
climate change, as well as learn to manage and manipulate wild species and nature in order to
preserve biodiversity. Some of these adaptation strategies might be highly technical (e.g. building
sea walls to stem off sea-level rise), but others are social and cultural (e.g., changing agricultural Antecedent
practices).
• It is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or
existence of something.
6. Low-quality and counterfeit pharmaceuticals
Historical Antecedent in the Course of Science and
Until recently, detecting low-quality and counterfeit pharmaceuticals required access to complex Technology
testing equipment, often unavailable in developing countries where these problems abound. The
enormous amount of trade in pharmaceutical intermediaries and active ingredients raise a number The developments in this field are not just products of people's
of issues, from the technical (improvement in manufacturing practices and analytical capabilities)
imagination or a one-time thought process; they are also
to the ethical and legal (for example, India ruled in favor of manufacturing life-saving drugs, even if
brought about by gradual improvements to earlier works from
it violates U.S. patent law).
different time periods. The driving force behind this continuous
progress is the desire to raise the quality of life of the people.
7. Autonomous systems
Ancient Times
Machines (both for peaceful purposes and for warfighting) are increasingly evolving from human- • People were concerned with transportation and
controlled to automated, to autonomous, with the ability to act on their own without human input. navigation, communication and record-keeping,
As these systems operate without human control and are designed to function and make decisions mass production, security and protection, as well as
on their own, the ethical, legal, social and policy implications have grown exponentially. Who is health, aesthetics, and architecture.
responsible for the actions undertaken by autonomous systems? If robotic technology can
potentially reduce the number of human fatalities, is it the responsibility of scientists to design these Transportation was significant during that time because
systems?
people were trying to go places and discover new
horizons. They travelled to trade their surplus goods in
8. Human-animal hybrids (chimeras) exchange for things that they lacked.
Communication was also essential in their endeavors
to discover and occupy new places. They needed a way
So far scientists have kept human-animal hybrids on the cellular level. According to some, even
more, modest experiments involving animal embryos and human stem cells violate human dignity
to communicate with the natives of the areas they visited
and blur the line between species. Is interspecies research the next frontier in understanding
so as to facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts.
humanity and curing disease, or a slippery slope, rife with ethical dilemmas, toward creating new Record keeping was also important since they needed
species? to remember the places they had been to and document
the trades they made with each other.

9. Ensuring access to wireless and spectrum • Moreover, in order to integrate their needs - for
better transportation, establishment of structures
Mobile wireless connectivity is having a profound effect on society in both developed and for protection from human attacks and natural
developing countries. These technologies are completely transforming how we communicate,
disasters, and construction of bigger and stronger
conduct business, learn, form relationships, navigate, and entertain ourselves. At the same time,
infrastructures - people ventured into what is now
government agencies increasingly rely on the radio spectrum for their critical missions. This
known as the field of engineering.
confluence of wireless technology developments and societal needs presents numerous
challenges and opportunities for making the most effective use of the radio spectrum. We now need
• The development in engineering also ushered in the
to have a policy conversation about how to make the most effective use of the precious radio
introduction of architecture. During the ancient
times, elaborate architectural designs were signs of
technological advancement of particular civilization.
 • Thus, it can be concluded that developments in
science and technology were the results of prior
antecedents. Out of necessity, people in ancient
times were able to discover and invent things that
would impact the lives of the modern people.
Sumerian Civilization
• Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of
ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerians are known for
their high degree of cooperation with one another
and their desire for great things.
CUNEIFORM
• One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is
the development of the first writing system known
as cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word
pictures and triangular symbols which are carved
on clay using wedge instruments and then left to
dry. Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep
records of things with great historical value or their
everyday life.
Uruk City
• There were no building stones in the location of this
city and lumber was limited, making the
construction of a big challenge. The Sumerians
were able to build the city using only mud or clay
from the river, which they mixed with reeds,
producing sunbaked bricks - a true engineering
feat. They used the bricks to make houses that
protected them from the harsh weather and to build
a wall around the city that prevented wild animals
and to build a wall around the city that prevented
wild animals and neighboring raiders from entering.
The Great Ziggurat of Ur
• The ziggurat, also called the mountain of god, was
built in the same manner that they constructed the
City of Uruk. Without much building materials, the
structure was constructed using sunbaked bricks.
The ziggurat served as the sacred place of their
chief god, where only their priests were allowed to
enter.
Irrigation and Dikes
• The Sumerians were challenged to mass produce
food items but the elements in the environment
seemed uncooperative. It was difficult to get water
from the rivers, thus they could not maintain
farmlands. As a solution to this dilemma, the
Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to
bring water to farmlands and at the same time
control the flooding of the rivers. This method was
considered as on of the world's most beneficial
engineering works. Through the dikes and canals,
the Sumerians were able to enjoy year-long farming
and harvesting, which increased their food
production.
Sailboats
• Another challenge to the Sumerians was
transportation. At that time, the wheel was not yet
invented; the main mode of transportation was
through waterways such as rivers and seas. Boats
were used to carry large quantities of products and
were able to cover large distances. Sailboats were
essential in transportation and trading as well as in
fostering culture, information and technology.
Wheel
• In the latter part of their history, the Sumerians were
able to invent the wheel since the specialized tools
needed to create it were already available. The first
wheels were not made for transportation but for
farm work and food processes. With the use of the
wheel and axle, mass production was made easier.
Farmers were able to mill grains with less effort in
less time.
The Plow
• Another farm technology invented by the
Mesopotamians is the plow. Humans evolved from
being food gatherers to farm cultivators. However,
farmers needed to a technology which would
enable them to dig the ground where seeds would
be planted. As the plow breaks the ground, the
farmer would just drop the seeds and farm work
would already be done. With this tool, farmers could
cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them
to mass produce food without taking so much effort
and time.
Roads
• In order to facilitate faster and easier travel, the
Sumerians developed the first roads. With this
work, the flow of traffic became faster and more
organized. They made the roads with the same
technology they used in making the sun-baked
bricks that they laid down on the ground.
Babylonian Civilization
• Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great
builders, engineers, and architects. One of their
major contributions is the hanging gardens of
Babylon, one of the seven wonder of the ancient
world.
Hanging Gardens
• It is said to be a structure made up of layers upon
layers of gardens that contained several species of
plants, trees, and vines.
Egyptian Civilization
• Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River
in large part because the river’s annual flooding
ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops.
Repeated struggles for political control of Egypt
showed the importance of the region in terms of its
agricultural production and the economic resources
that its highly complex social organization
produced.
• Egyptian rulers used the idea of divine kingship and
constructed monumental architecture to
demonstrate and maintain power.
Papyrus
• The papyrus plant is now often used as a pool
ornamental in warm areas or in conservatories. The
dwarf papyrus (C. isocladus, also given as C.
papyrus ‘Nanus’), up to 60 cm tall, is sometimes
potted and grown indoors.
• The ancient Egyptians used the stem of the papyrus
plant to make sails, cloth, mats, cords, and, above
all, paper. Paper made from papyrus was the chief
writing material in ancient Egypt was adopted by the
Greeks, and was used extensively in the Roman
 Empire. It was used not only for the production of
books (in roll or scroll form) but also for
correspondence and legal documents.
Ink
• When the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the
paper, engraving ceased to be used in writing. As a
result, the Egyptians invented ink by combining soot
with different chemicals to produce inks of different
colors. The ink must withstand the elements of
nature since it was used to record history, culture,
and codified laws. It must also be tamper-proof so
that people could not simply tinker with those
written down by authorities.
Hieroglyphics
• Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed
a system of writing using symbols, known as
hieroglyphics. Although some say that
hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing
system established in Mesopotamia believed that
this writing can still be seen today and remains to
be as famous as the pyramids where they were
found. Hieroglyphics was the language that tells the
modern world of the history and culture of the
ancient Egyptians. Their records were well-
preserved since they were carved at the walls of
pyramids and other important Egyptian structures.
Cosmetics
• The Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics.
Although cosmetics in the modern times are used
to improve and highlight the facial features of a
person, their function in ancient Egypt was for both
health and aesthetic reasons. Egyptians wore Kohl
around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye
diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or
malachite with mineral galena. Egyptians also
believed that a person wearing make-up was
protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of
holiness.
Wig
• Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptians is
the wig. It is used to enhance the appearance of
people who are balding or those who want to try
new hair trends. Wigs were worn for health and
wellness rather than for aesthetics purposes. The
wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the
wealthy Egyptians from the harmful rays of the sun.
Water Clock/Clepsydra
• Another important ancient Egyptian contribution is
the water clock. This device utilizes gravity that
affects the flow of water from one vessel to the
other. The amount of water (or its height, depending
on the method used) remaining in the device
determines how much time has elapsed since it is
full. In the process, time is measured. The water
clock was widely used as a timekeeping device
during the ancient times.
Greek Civilization
• Greece is an archipelago in the southern eastern
part of Europe. Known as the birthplace of western
philosophy, some of the major achievements of the
Greeks include in-depth works on philosophy and
mathematics. More than coliseums and the
Olympics, the Greek civilization has contributed
much to the world especially in the fields of science
and technology.
Alarm Clock
• One of the most utilized gadgets today that was
invented by the ancient Greeks is the alarm clock.
They made use of water (or sometimes small
stones or sand) that dropped into drums which
sounded the alarm. The upper vessel supplied the
water which dropped to the vessel supplied the
water which dropped to the vessel below it, which
was set to be filled in a given time. After it was full,
water was siphoned off at a faster rate into the third
vessel which would cause the expulsion of
contained air, creating a whistling noise.
Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards the
bottom vessel for storage and reuse.
Water Mill
• Watermills were also considered as one of the most
important contributions of the Greek civilization to
the world. They were commonly used in agricultural
processes like milling of grains which was a
necessary form of food processing during that time.
It was considered better than mills powered by farm
animals because they required less effort and time
to operate since the farmer did not have to raise
animals. They only required access to rivers or
flowing water where a mechanism of a large wheel
with small buckets of water attached to it could be
installed.
Roman Civilization
• The Roman Empire was perceived to be the
strongest political and social entity in the west. It
was considered to be the cradle of politics and
governance during that period. Because the Roman
Empire was so large, other civilizations looked up
to it as their model in terms of legislation and
codified laws.
Newspaper
• One of the major contributions of the Romans is the
newspaper. The first newspapers, known as
gazettes, contained announcements of the Roman
Empire to the people. Made before the invention of
paper, these gazettes were engraved in metal or
stone tablets and then publicly displayed. When
paper was invented, it became easier for the
Romans to publish matters that needed the
attention of the Roman citizens.
Bound Books or Codex
• With the invention of paper, it became easier for the
civilizations to write down everything that happened
in their time. Record-keeping was much easier
since paper did not easily break, was lightweight,
and did not occupy much space. As a result,
civilizations became fond of record-keeping,
especially documenting historical events and newly
legislated laws. Aside from Roman writing down
information about history and politics, literature also
 changed form from clay tablets to parchments of
paper. The earlier covers were made of wax but
were later on replaced by animal skin which proved
to be stronger and longer-lasting. With papyrus
pages bound together and covered by animal skin,
the ancient Roman Empire was able to produce the
first books or codex.
Roman Architecture
• Roman architecture was considered a continuation
of Greek architecture, hence, the resemblance.
However, Roman architecture was still regarded as
pioneering since the Romans were able to adapt
new building and engineering technology on
architectural designs established in the past. They
were able to preserve great and elaborate
architectural designs because they could produce
sturdier and stronger infrastructures. The Roman
were able to creatively redesign old architectural
patterns to adapt to the new trends at that time.
Roman Numerals
• Although other number systems had already been
established before the Romans numeral, these old
systems could not keep up with high calculation
requirements due to the increasing rate of
communication and trade among natons. Since the
Roman Empire was expanding, it had to deal with
many nations to maintain its power. For this reason,
the Romans devised their own number system
specifically to address the need for a standard
counting method that would meet their increasing
communication and trade concerns.
Chinese Civilization
• The Chinese civilization is considered to be the
oldest civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also
known as the middle kingdom, China is located on
the far east of Asia. It was famous among other
ancient civilizations because of its silk trade.
Silk
• One of the things that connected Far East China to
the world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced
by silk worms, the Chinese were the ones who
developed the technology to harvest the silk and
process it to produce paper and clothing. Silk
production resulted in the creation of a product for
trade. The silk trade opened China to the outside
world, making way for cultural, economic and
scientific exchanges.
Tea Production
• Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or
boiling water over crushed or shredded dried tea
leaves. It was believed that the first tea was drunk
by a Chinese emperor. Tea production was
developed when an unknown Chinese inventor
created a machine that was able to shred tea leaves
into strips. This machine was done using a wheel-
based mechanism with sharp edges attached to a
wooden or ceramic pot. Because of this invention,
the Chinese were able to increase their production
of tea exports aside from its silk products.
Great Wall of China
• It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and
control the borders of China. Made with stone,
brick, wood, earth, and other materials, it
showcased the extent of Chinese engineering
technology at that time. The wall's construction put
the nation among the powerful civilizations during
the ancient times. It was the pride of their land and
their crowning glory
Gunpowder
• It was developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed
to achieve immortality. They mixed charcoal, sulfur,
and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an
elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black
powder that could actually generate large amounts
of heat and gas in an instant. Ironically, instead of
prolonging life, gunpowder is widely used to propel
bullets from guns and cannons which cause
countless deaths.
Medieval
• The medieval Age occurred between the collapse
of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and the
colonial expansion of Western Europe in the late
15th century AD
• major advances in scientific and technological
developments took place.
• nThe Middle Age was not as stagnant as alternate
terms such as the Medieval Period of Dark Ages.
Some Inventions During the Medieval Times
1. Heavy Plow- This is one of the most important
technological innovations during the middle ages.
The heavy plow turned European agriculture and
economy on its head. Clay soil, despite its being
more fertile than the lighter types of soil, was not
cultivated because of its heavyweight. However,
through the invention of the plow, it became possible
to harness clay soil. Professor Thomas Bernebeck
Andersen of the University of Southern Denmark
succinctly describes the impact of the invention of the
heavy plow: "The heavy plow turned the European
agriculture and economy on its head. Suddenly, the
field with the heavy, fatty, and moist clay soil
became those that gave the greatest yields."
Because of this, Europe, particularly its northern
territories, saw rapid economic prosperity. the heavy
plow stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern
Europe marked by higher and healthier agricultural
yields.
2. Gunpowder- Around 850 A.D., Chinese civilization's
alchemists accidentally invented black powder or
gunpowder. Multiple accounts suggest that the
gunpowder might have been an unintended
byproduct of attempts made by the Chinese to invent
the exilir of life, which is why the Chinese called it
huoyao or translated as "fire potion." Prior to the
invention of gunpowder, swords and spears were
used in battles and wars. Towards the end of the 13th
century, explosive invention crept into most parts of
Europe and Asia. Since its invention, gunpowder
has allowed for more advanced warfare. from fiery
arrows to cannons and grenades, gunpowder has
prompted the foundation for the functionality of
almost every new weapon used in war since its
invention. It ushered in an unprecedented
advancement in warfare and combat throughout the
Middle Ages.
 3. Paper Money- Although it was not until the 17th
century that banknotes began to be used in Europe,
the first known versions of paper money could be
traced back to the Chinese in the 17th century AD as
an offshoot of the invention of block printing, which is
similar to stamping. Before the introduction of paper
money, precious metals, such as gold and silver were
used as currency. However, the idea of assigning
value to a marked piece of paper did not immediately
become popular. in fact, when the Mongols attempted
to introduce paper money into the Middle East market
in the 13th century, it did not gain immediate success.
Nonetheless, traders and merchants eventually
realized the huge advantage of using paper money
because it was easier to transport around compared
to the previous forms of currency.
4. Mechanical Clock- Although devices for
timekeeping and recording sprung from ancient
times, such as the Antikythera mechanism, it was not
until the middle ages that clockwork technology was
developed. The development of mechanical clocks
paved the way for accurately keeping track the time.
5. Spinning Wheel- A machine used for transforming
fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into
cloth on a loom. Please click the link to watch the
video about the Spinning Wheel of India. The
Spinning Wheel encouraged the development of the
industry of fabrics, clothes, and related products.
6. Printing Press- After the Chinese developed
woodblock printing, Johann Guttenberg was able to
invent the printing press, a more reliable way of
printing using a cast type. He utilized wooden
machines that extracted juices from fruits, attached to
them a metal impression of the letters, and pressed
firmly the cast metal into a piece of paper, which then
made an exact impression on paper. This general
invention soon evolved to be a mechanical printing
press which was eventually used all over the world.
Summary
In summary, the following inventions were significant during
the medieval period: gunpowder, the printing press, the heavy
plow, paper money, the mechanical clock, and the spinning
wheel. These inventions had a wide range of effects on
people's lives including economic, social, political, and
cultural.
Modern
• As the world population steadily increased, people
of the Modern Ages realized the utmost importance
of increasing the efficiency of transportation,
communication, and production. Industrialization
took place with greater risks in human health, food
safety, and the environment which had to be
addressed as scientific and technological progress
unfolded at an unimaginable speed.
Some Inventions During the Modern Age
1. Compound Microscope- A Dutch spectacle maker
named Zacharias Jansen is credited for the invention of
the first compound microscope in 1590. Together with
his father Hans, Zacharias began experimenting with
lenses by putting together several lenses on a tube. This
led to an amazing discovery that an object, when placed
near the end of the tube, can be magnified far larger than
what a simple magnifying lens can do. Jansen's
compound microscope was an important progression
from a single lens microscope. It was capable of
magnifying objects three times their size when fully
closed and up to ten times when extended to the
maximum. Today, the compound microscope is an
important instrument in many scientific studies, such as
in the areas of medicine, forensic studies, tissue
analysis, atomic studies, and genetics.
2. Telescope- Perhaps the single, most important
technological invention in the study of astronomy during
the Modern Ages was the practical telescope invented
by Galileo Galilei. This invention could magnify objects
20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses. It
was Galileo who first used the telescope skyward and
made important astronomical discoveries, and identified
the presence of craters and mountains in the moon.
Galileo's remarkable technological contribution
drastically changed the study of astronomy. For the first
time, it became clear that the universe is far larger than
previously imagined and the earth far smaller compared
to the entire universe.
3. Jacquard Loom- As the industrial Revolution reached
full speed, the Jacquard loom was considered as one of
the most critical drivers of the revolution. Built by French
weaver Joseph Maxie Jacquard, the Jacquard loom
simplifies textile manufacturing. Built by French weaver
Joseph Maxie Jacquard, the Jacquard loom simplifies
textile manufacturing. Prior to the invention of the
Jacquard loom, a drawloom was used which required
two individuals to operate- the weaver and a "drawboy"-
if figured on textiles were needed. As such, intensified
manual labor and greater effort had to be exerted to
produce complex designs. In 1801, Jacquard
demonstrated the ingenuity of his version of a loom in
which a series of cards with punch holes automatically
created complex textile designs and made mass
production easier. The Jacquard loom is also an
important antecedent of modern computer technology as
it demonstrated the use of punched cards to instruct a
machine to carry out complex tasks. For further
information on a Jacquard loom, please click the link to
watch the video.
4. Engine- Powered Airplane- Orville Wright and Wilbur
Wright are credited for designing and successfully
operating the first engine-powered aircraft. The Wright
brothers approached the design of powered aircraft and
flight scientifically. Orville and Wilbur proved the air crafts
could fly without airfoil-shaped wings. Their pioneering
success marked an age of powered flights. Sans modern
knowledge on aerodynamics and a comprehensive
understanding of the working of the aircraft wings, the
Wright brothers were brilliant scientists who paved the
way for modern aircraft technology.
5. Television- The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is
largely credited for the invention of modern television.
Baird successfully televised objects in outline in 1924,
recognizable human faces in 1925, and moving objects
in 1926, and projected colored images in 1928. Baird's
television technology caught on really swiftly. In fact, the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used this for its
earliest television programming in 1929. Despite being
the first television invented. Baird's television was later
on criticized for its fuzzy and flickering images, primarily
because it was mechanical compared to electronic
versions that were developed much later.
Summary
In summary, several inventions were made during modern
times such as the compound microscope, telescope,
Jacquard loom, engine-powered airplane, and televisions.
These inventions had contributed much to the development of
more sophisticated inventions today.
Philippine Technologies and Inventions
1. Gregoria Zara
• He invented the first videophone. A native of Lipa,
Batangas and enrolled at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States,
and graduated with a degree in BS in Mechanical
Engineering in 1926. The two-way televisions or
videophones 1955 were patented as a
"photophone signal separator network."
2. Agapito Flores
• He invented the fluorescent lamp, which is the
most widely used source of lighting in the world
today. The fluorescent lamp reportedly got its name
from Flores. The fluorescent lamp, however, was
not invented in a particular year. it was the product
of 79 years of the development of the lighting
method that began with the invention of the electric
bulb by Thomas Edison.
3. Daniel Dingel
• He invented the water-powered car. Daniel Dingel
started working on a water-powered car and
prototype in 1969. His hydrogen reactor uses
electricity from a 12-volt car battery to transform
ordinary tap water with salt into deuterium oxide or
heavy water. However, Dingel's car has never been
patented and commercialized because of what he
suspects is an anti-Dngel car conspiracy by
multinational companies.
4. Eduardo San Juan
• He invented Lunar Rover. Eduardo San Juan's
invention is known as the Moon Buggy. The Moon
Buggy was the car used by Neil Armstrong and
other astronauts when they first explored the moon
in 1969. He worked for Lockheed Corporation and
conceptualized the design of the Moon
Buggy that the Apollo astronauts used while on the
moon. As a NASA engineer, San Juan reportedly
used his Filipino ingenuity to build a vehicle that
would run outside the Earth's atmosphere. he
constructed its model using homemade materials.
However, San Juan was not listed as the inventor
of the Moon Buggy in American Scientific journals,
instead, it was attributed to a Polish inventor.
5. Diosdado Banatao
• He invented the GUI (Graphical User Interface).
Banatao is known for introducing the first single-
chip graphical user interface accelerator that made
computers work a lot faster and for helping develop
the Ethernet controller chip that made the
internet possible. In 1989, he pioneered the local
bus concept for personal computers and in the
following year developed the first Windows
accelerator chip. Intel is now using the chips and
technologies developed by Banatao.
6. Angel Alcala
• He invented the artificial coral reefs. This was
used for fisheries in Southeast Asia.
7. Roberto del Rosario
• He invented karaoke in 1975. Roberto del Rosario
developed a sing-along system in 1975 and was
patented in the 1980s called his sing-along
system "Minus-One," now holds the patent for the
device now commonly known as the" karaoke
machine."
8. Juan Salcedo Jr.
• He developed the" Enriched Rice," a variety of rice
fortified with vitamins B1, which helps prevent
beriberi. His discovery helped in the prevention
and reduction of beriberi in the Philippines and
in other countries.
Other Inventions by Filipino Scientists

• The Philippines boasts of its own history and

tradition of scientific and technological innovations.
Filipinos have long been known for their ingenuity.
• As with all inventions, necessity has always
been the mother of Philippine inventions. Most
of the inventions appealed to the unique social
and cultural context of the archipelagic nation.

1. Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney)

• The jeepney is perhaps one of the most

recognizable national symbols of the Philipines and
the most popular mode of transportation in the
country. It is also perhaps one of the most enduring
symbols of Filipino ingenuity. Jeepneys were
designed and improvised from scratch out of
military jeeps that the Americans left in the country
after WW II.

2. Erythromycin

• One of the most important medical inventions is

Erythromycin. The Ilonggo scientist Abelardo
Aguilar invented the antibiotic out of the strain of
bacterium called Streptomyces erythreus, from
which this drug derived its name.

3. Medical Incubator

• World-renowned Filipino pediatrician and national

scientist, Fe del Mundo, is called for the invention
of the incubator and jaundice relieving device. Del
Mundo was the first woman pediatrician to be
admitted to the prestigious Harvard University
School of Medicine. Del Mundo's incubator was
particularly outstanding as it addressed the state of
Philippine rural communities that had no electricity
to aid the regulation of body temperatures of
newborn babies.

4. Mole Remover

• In 2000, a local invention that had the ability to

easily remove moles and warts on the skin without
the need for any surgical procedure shot to
fame. Rolando Dela Cruz is credited for the
invention of a local mole remover that made use of
extracts of cashew nuts, which are very common in
the Philippines.

5. Banana Ketchup

• Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa, is credited

for the invention of banana ketchup, a variety of
ketchup different from the commonly known
tomato.