Module 2:

STS and the Human Condition

Lesson 7:
When Technology and Humanity Cross

Prepared by: Mr. Joey Estorosos

Technology
• Technology – “techne” and “logos” which means a discourse on arts.
• Each member of society is impacted by technology in some manner,
whether consciously or unconsciously.
• The majority of individuals survive their daily lives with a high degree
of reliance on the many technology breakthroughs presently
available to the general public.
• Technology has already become an integral part of society.
• Benefits
➢ Pleasure – can listen to music anywhere, play games anywhere
➢ Happiness – communication with loved ones all over the world
Too Much Technology Becoming A Problem
• Technology is becoming a need in all aspects of daily life, from
education to navigating around a place.
• Instead of communicating with the outer world and asking for
directions, we turn to google or ask Siri.
• Even though we can live without these technologies, we nevertheless
regard them as necessities, because we want it so badly.
• We are now extremely dependent on technology, and if it were to be
taken away for whatever reason, we would be completely lost.
• There has been an increase in teen suicides, which has been
attributed in major part to cyberbullying.
The Necessity of Technology
• Although technology has become necessity, we must exercise caution
in allowing it to exert too much influence over our lives.
• However, like the arrival of smart watches has seen a rise in
consumers adopting technology to track their fitness.
• It also has made learning more dynamic and collaborative, allowing
people to better engage with the content they are studying and
having difficulty with.
• Technology can have both positive and negative consequences, but it
is up to us to minimize the negative and increase the positive.
 TV’s, Smartphones, The Internet,
Artificial Intelligence, and Humanity
Televisions
• According to a Kantar Media in 2021, 96 percent of the respondents in
the Philippines stated accessing media through television for the past 12
months.
• Filipinos also spend more time in front of their televisions, with 6.4 days
per week spent viewing their favorite shows. (Statista Research Department, 2022)
• Why people watched TV?
➢ It exists to illuminate and to entertain.
➢ It allows us to escape our existence by entering worlds different to our own.
• What would this imply?
➢ Ultimate medium for advertisement placements information dissemination.
➢ Television plays a great role in the lives of the people.
Smartphones
• As of 2019, there were approximately 74 million smartphone users in the
Philippines, about 70% of the population. It is forecasted that by 2025,
there would be around 90 million smartphone users in the country.
• Why people owned smartphones?
➢ It functions as a handheld mobile computer for accessing and browsing the Web.
➢ It is the perfect way to stay connected with others and provide user with a sense of
security.
➢ It allows you to store data like pictures, text, audio, and other documents that you
can carry around wherever you go.

• What would this imply?

➢ Improved communication, learning options, excellent exposure to the latest things,
personality development, easy access to applications, business ideas, and
platforms to expand their applications.
The Internet
• According to DataReportal, there were 85.16 million internet users in the
Philippines in January 2023. A penetration rate stood at 73.1 percent of
the total population at the start of 2023
• Why people uses the internet?
➢ It made access to information and communication far easier than using the library.
➢ It is a great way to connect with people all around the world and has eliminated all
communication boundaries.
➢ Banking and buying online have simplified life while also saving valuable time.

• What would this imply?

➢ Internet use increases emotions of security, personal freedom, and influence, all of
which contribute to happiness and personal well-being..
Artificial Intelligence
• Artificial intelligence, or AI, involves programming machines to simulate
human intelligence, enabling them to think and act in ways resembling
human thought and behavior.
• Why people uses AI?
➢ Automation: AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, reducing human
effort and error.
➢ Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI-powered NLP enables chatbots, virtual
assistants, and language translation, improving communication and accessibility.
➢ Cybersecurity: AI can identify and mitigate security threats in real time, protecting
sensitive data and systems from cyberattacks.
➢ Healthcare: AI assists in diagnosing diseases, drug discovery, and treatment
recommendations, ultimately saving lives and improving patient care.
➢ Autonomous Vehicles: AI powers self-driving cars and drones, making transportation
safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly.
• What would this imply?
➢ Positive implications of using AI include increased efficiency, innovation, cost reduction,
improved healthcare, enhanced customer experiences, and safety improvements.
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Technological Advancements
1. Make children lazy and unhealthy.
2. People are freely exposed to different things on televisions, mobile
phones, laptops or computers, either constructive or destructive.
3. Students may use gadgets like smartphones as a way of getting out of
studying and cheating test.
4. Cyber-bullying leads to depression and suicide.
5. Smartphones, holding personal information and having the potential
for exploitation or theft, could also be employed as tools, albeit not
literally, to assist in terrorist attacks.
6. Who should be held accountable for AI actions and errors.
7. Job loss, bias, privacy issues, and the danger of AI-driven
misinformation and manipulation involving the use pf AI.
Government Policies
• Addresses excessive TV watching through public awareness campaigns,
education programs, content guidelines for broadcasters, and potential
regulations on advertising to mitigate negative impacts, especially on
children.
• To combat cyberbullying resulting from technology and social media,
the government enacted the Cybercrime Prevention Act, allowing
victims to seek damages and potential jail sentences for offenders.
• Senate Bill No. 471 suggests minimum internet speeds of 10 Mbps for
mobile and 20 Mbps for fixed broadband, addressing the growing
demand for internet access in the Philippines.
• Governments worldwide are formulating policies, regulations, and
ethical guidelines to manage the use of AI, balancing innovation with
safeguards for privacy, security, fairness, and economic welfare..
Ways of Keeping Your Personal Information Secure Online
• Be Alert to Impersonators.
• Safely Dispose of Personal Information.
• Keep Passwords Private.
• Don't Overshare on Social Networking Sites.
• Avoid Phishing Emails.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Be Wise About Wi-Fi to avoid Man-in-the-middle attack.
Takeaway
Technology is here to stay, it is always developing and expanding. It is a
part of our lives. It can have some negative effects, but it can also offer
many positive benefits and play an important role in education, health,
and general welfare.
Knowing the possible negative effects can help you take steps to
identify and minimize them so that you can still enjoy the positive aspects
of technology.

------The End----

Prepared by: Mr. Joey Estorosos

References
https://www.cantechletter.com/2013/01/what-is-technology0103/
https://medium.com/digital-society/the-necessity-of-technology-85462f953910
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097671/philippines-average-time-spent-media-usage-by-channel/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/221179/internet-users-philippines/
https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/30/senate-to-pass-law-on-minimum-standard-for-internet-speed/

Prepared by: Mr. Joey Estorosos