Technology with a Human Face

by

Technology with a Human Face

Technology and the Human Race

  • The human race has indeed gone far with technology. From the age when he still used wooden and stone tools to a powerful era of silicon and steel, he ceased to be a helpless prey to a number of predators to become a god among beasts.
  • And now, technology and human way of life have somewhat become inseparable. Everywhere we look, we see its manifestations—from the largest aircraft to the smallest microcomputer chip.
  • Some even cannot do without their gadgets beside them. Technology has become a beast of burden of our time—doing things we usually do in the past, like an able servant at his master’s side, ready to help him whenever need arises. Man created technology to serve this purpose, so that he can then face the more challenging problems ahead.
  • But what if this technology, by all means, becomes uncontrollable by human hands? What if this beast of burden eventually becomes a monster? Could this same technology, which has brought us to a state of luxury and civilization, also lead us to our own ruin? From the evolution of military weapons, to the advent of the nuclear age, man is gradually realizing the fact that his little creation would someday take him to the very edges of his capacities.
  • But despite all this, this fact still holds true: that however powerful it could become, technology is still just one of man’s tools, and will remain as such. It’s still up to is possessor on how he will apply the power he possesses—whether as a tool of progress, or an element of destruction. It may have brought people closer together, but not necessarily on friendly terms.
  • It has brought us times of peace, as well as wars and struggles; it has brought us great prosperities, as well as dismal catastrophes. And now, the Environment is being trampled, and people blame technology for it. Countless wars have sprung, they say technology is the culprit; animals are being led to extinction, and they say technology is the one accountable of all.
  • Through technology, we have created and developed new beginnings, at the cost of many end. Yet, technology should never be blamed for all of this, but the wrong use of it. The effect of technology on our surroundings is the complete reflection of our values.
  • Therefore, we should develop the proper culture so as to effectively administer this technology that we have. We should prove to be worthy of its possession, for technology and Corruption is a bad combination.

“Technology with a Human Face” by E.F. Schumacher

  • F. Schumacher was an economist of international repute and the author of the book titled “Small is Beautiful”: A study of economics as if people mattered. This essay “Technology with a Human Face” is taken from his book “Small is Beautiful”.
  • In this essay Schumacher expresses his fear and concern about the inhuman nature of modern technology which is taking the world from crisis to crisis and says that a new type of technology called self-help technology is needed so that everyone including old men and children can work with their clever brain and two skilful hands with great satisfaction.
  • Schumacher says that the laws and principles of technology are different from those of human nature. The system of nature is based on self-balancing, self-adjusting and self-cleansing. But technology does not have any self-limit principle.
  • As a result modern world faces three crises simultaneously. Modern technology destroys human life and Nature.
  • Secondly non-renewable Resources such as fossil fuels are running short and finally it creates pollution and Global Warming.
  • Schumacher says that industrialisation of twenty five years could only bring illusory success because the two big problems of Unemployment and POVERTY could not be solved and even in the developed countries unemployment problem is very serious. He says that the primary task of technology is to reduce the burden of man’s work so that he can enjoy life and relax. But modern technology is eliminating skilful, productive and creative work of human hands and brains.
  • Modern technology is gigantic, highly complicated and needed huge capital Investment. Only the rich can afford to run modern factories. These labour saving machines makes the rich richer and poor poorer and unemployment and poverty increases all over the world.
  • Thomas Aquinas, the great Italian philosopher and theologian defines man as a being who wants to enjoy doing work with his hands and brains. But in the modern world such work is being done by machines. Such work has become very rare and one has to be immensely rich enough to get such creative, productive and useful work. Instead people get fragmented work which is so boring that workers suffer from neurosis.
  • Schumacher says that only less than one sixth of the total Population of the world is engaged in actual production of goods. It means that the proportion of “total social time” spent on actual production is only 3.5 per cent. The other 96.5 per cent of ‘total social time’ is spent in other ways including sleeping, eating, watching television, doing jobs that are not directly productive, or just killing time.
  • Karl Max, the founder of Communism and author of Das Capital had foreseen this tragedy. He said that production of too many useful things, lead to too many useless people. All this confirms our suspicion that modern technology is showing an increasingly inhuman face.
  • We have so far, possessed a vast accumulation of new knowledge which include splendid scientific techniques to increase this knowledge further and immense practical experience in its application. This is called truthful knowledge. But so far, we have made an unwise and destructive use of our technology because we never get enjoyment in our work.
  • Therefore Schumacher suggests an idea that the productive time of 3.5% of total social time to be increased to 20% of total social time. If this wonderful idea is put into practice, even children and old people would be able to do creative, productive and useful work and they can enjoy doing it with their clever brain and two skilful hands.
  • The therapeutic and educational value of such enjoyable and useful work will be blessing for all people in the world. Then no one wants to raise the school leaving age or to lower the retirement age.
  • Everybody would welcome the opportunity of working usefully, creatively with his own hands and brains in his own time at his own pace and with excellent tools. People who work in this way do not know the difference between work and leisure because the work itself is full of pleasure and enjoyment!
  • Schumacher is a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and tries to follow his teaching in the scientific ideas about the new life-style he has visualised in this essay.
  • Gandhiji said that the poor of the world cannot be helped by mass production, only by production by the mass. According to Schumacher, a new technology with a human face should be introduced.
  • The present inhuman technology is based on mass production with highly capital investment and high energy input where workers are mere slaves of work and the rich owner makes huge profit.
  • This system should be changed and a new technology with a human face should be introduced. Instead of mass production, the new system is based on production by the masses.
  • All people, young and old can work with their skilful hands and clever brains with first class tools in their own time and speed and then work would be great pleasure for them.
  • In concluding his essay, Schumacher says that the technology of production by the masses is called “the intermediate technology” because this technology is far superior to the primitive technology of old days, but at the same time much simpler, cheaper and freer than the super technology of the rich.
  • The intermediate technology can also be called ‘self- help technology or democratic or people’s technology. This technology is making use of the best of modern knowledge and experience, suitable for the laws of ECOLOGY, gentle in its use of Natural Resources and designed to serve human being instead of making him the servant of machine.

 

“Society for Technology with a Human Face”

  • In 1933, Rabindranath Tagore, an internationally acclaimed poet, philosopher, social reformer, wrote a short essay entitled: “Can Science be Humanized?” In that essay, Tagore drove the point home that:

“Knowledge is not enough – be it scientific or philosophical – unless we have been able to transform it into the well being of those who need it most.”

  • With that motto as the guiding principle, “Society for Technology with a Human Face” was conceived and founded in 2006 to serve the impoverished communities in India and other neighboring countries.
  • Science and technology are the primary tools that we use to address and mitigate water, sanitation and Education problems in building strong, self-sufficient communities.
  • Society for Technology with a Human Face (STHF) focuses on water, sanitation, and education issues around the world.
  • Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and excellent education do not reach hundreds of millions of people each year.
  • STHF works on these issues by using a Human Rights lens and follows the philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, bolstering sustainable solutions derived and controlled by communities.
  • STHF helps improve the basic Quality Of Life around the world with the hope of generating new knowledge and new wealth.
  • The arsenic removal system designed by Dr. Arup SenGupta’s team at Lehigh University for rural communities in India is now being used in arsenic affected areas in the United States.
  • This flow of knowledge goes in the opposite direction than typical engineering innovations; most science and technology are developed in the West and transferred to the “Rest” without contextualizing the borrowed project. SenGupta’s system moved in the other direction.
  • Moreover, the engineering feat to solve a Health problem (high levels of arsenic) generated social, cultural, and economic wealth by providing the platform for community organization (e.g., the formation of water councils, pictured below right, to collect a small fee for the clean water) and Entrepreneurship (e.g., water councils using its profit to micro finance other community projects, and the creation of a water-bicycle to bring water from the central filtration system to homes, see picture at left).
  • STHF creates a platform to stimulate an intercultural dialogue around the world where human dignity and individuality are revered. STHF sees water, sanitation, and education as moral, human right issues, and hopes to encourage other foundations and individuals to do the same.
  • STHF instills the power of education in communities to attain self-sustenance among all people. Education is central in development; yet education must be specific to the community it serves.
  • STHF Shares in the belief of Education for All, but more so in contextualization as paramount for the success of educational practices worldwide.
  • Through education, communities around the world can begin to re-imagine their world, feel the power of Empathy and care, and become active and empowered citizens.
  • STHF serves as a springboard for the implementation of external projects that embody the spirit of the Rabindranath Tagore.
  • Therefore, STHF not only runs its own projects but also supports other non-profits who exemplify Tagore’s message of peace.
  • We recognize that the STHF is an organization of modest means while its goals are exceedingly ambitious.
  • Nevertheless, in agreement with the spirit of Tagore’s life-long endeavors, we reiterate his words, “it is always better to Light just one candle at a time than cursing the overwhelming darkness.”

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Technology has always been a part of human life. From the earliest tools to the latest smartphones, technology has helped us to accomplish tasks more easily and efficiently. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on using technology to improve the lives of humans. This has led to the development of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, automation, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, the Internet of things, machine Learning, Robotics, virtual reality, and wearables.

These technologies have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. For example, artificial intelligence can be used to diagnose diseases, provide personalized education, and even write creative content. Automation can be used to free up our time for more important things, such as spending time with loved ones or pursuing our passions. Big data can be used to better understand the world around us and make more informed decisions. Blockchain can be used to create secure and transparent systems for managing data and transactions. Cloud computing can be used to access information and applications from anywhere in the world. Cybersecurity can be used to protect our data and systems from attack. Data science can be used to extract meaning from large amounts of data. The Internet of things can connect devices and systems together, creating new opportunities for innovation. Machine learning can be used to make predictions and decisions without being explicitly programmed. Robotics can be used to automate tasks and perform dangerous or difficult jobs. Virtual reality can be used to create immersive experiences that can be used for education, training, and entertainment. Wearables can be used to track our health and fitness data.

These are just a few examples of how technology can be used to improve the lives of humans. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more ways in which it can be used to make our lives better.

One of the most important things to remember about technology is that it is a tool. It can be used for good or for bad. It is up to us to decide how we use it. We need to be careful not to let technology control us, but instead use it to control our own lives. We need to be aware of the potential risks and dangers of technology, and take steps to mitigate them. But we also need to be open to the possibilities that technology offers. Technology can be a powerful force for good in the world. It can help us to solve problems, improve our lives, and make the world a better place.

As we move forward into the future, it is important that we continue to develop and use technology in a way that benefits humanity. We need to be mindful of the potential risks and dangers, but we also need to be excited about the possibilities. Technology has the potential to make our lives better in many ways. It is up to us to make sure that it does.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • What is AI?
    AI is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously.

  • What are the different types of AI?
    There are many different types of AI, but some of the most common include:

    • Rule-based AI: This type of AI uses a set of rules to make decisions.
    • Statistical AI: This type of AI uses data to make predictions.
    • Machine learning AI: This type of AI can learn from data without being explicitly programmed.

  • What are some of the benefits of AI?
    AI has the potential to improve our lives in many ways, including:

    • Making our lives easier and more efficient.
    • Helping us to solve complex problems.
    • Making our world a safer place.

  • What are some of the risks of AI?
    AI also poses some risks, such as:

    • The potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes.
    • The potential for AI to lead to job losses.
    • The potential for AI to become uncontrollable.

Machine Learning

  • What is machine learning?
    Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that allows Software applications to become more accurate in predicting outcomes without being explicitly programmed to do so.

  • How does machine learning work?
    Machine learning algorithms use historical data as input to predict new output values. The more data that is available, the more accurate the predictions will be.

  • What are some of the benefits of machine learning?
    Machine learning can be used to solve a wide variety of problems, including:

    • Spam filtering
    • Fraud detection
    • Product recommendations

  • What are some of the risks of machine learning?
    Machine learning algorithms can be biased, which means that they may make unfair or inaccurate predictions. It is important to carefully consider the potential for bias when using machine learning algorithms.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

  • What is NLP?
    NLP is a field of computer science that focuses on the interaction between computers and human (natural) languages.

  • What are some of the tasks that NLP can be used for?
    NLP can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

    • Text Classification
    • Named entity recognition
    • Part-of-speech tagging
    • Machine translation

  • What are some of the challenges of NLP?
    One of the biggest challenges in NLP is the lack of labeled data. In order to train NLP models, we need large amounts of data that has been labeled with the correct output. This data can be expensive and time-consuming to collect.

Robotics

  • What is robotics?
    Robotics is the field of computer science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots.

  • What are some of the different types of robots?
    There are many different types of robots, but some of the most common include:

    • Industrial robots: These robots are used in factories to perform repetitive tasks.
    • Service robots: These robots are used to provide Services to humans, such as cleaning and cooking.
    • Military robots: These robots are used in warfare to perform dangerous or difficult tasks.

  • What are some of the benefits of robots?
    Robots can be used to perform a variety of tasks that are dangerous, difficult, or tedious for humans. They can also be used to improve efficiency and productivity.

  • What are some of the risks of robots?
    One of the biggest risks of robots is that they could become too intelligent and pose a threat to humanity. Another risk is that robots could be used to replace human workers, leading to unemployment.

Blockchain

  • What is blockchain?
    Blockchain is a distributed Database that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions.

  • How does blockchain work?
    Blockchain is a Network of computers that work together to maintain a ledger of transactions. Each transaction is verified by the network before it is added to the ledger. This makes it very difficult to tamper with or counterfeit transactions.

  • What are some of the benefits of blockchain?
    Blockchain can be used to create secure and transparent systems for a variety of applications, including:

  • What are some of the risks of blockchain?
    One of the biggest risks of blockchain is that it is a new technology and there is still a lot of uncertainty about how it will be used. Another risk is that blockchain could be used to facilitate illegal activities, such as Money laundering.

Sure, here are some MCQs on the following topics:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • AI is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously.
  • AI is used in a variety of applications, including natural language processing, machine learning, and robotics.

  • AI is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

  • Machine Learning (ML)

  • ML is a subfield of AI that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed.
  • ML algorithms are used to train computers to perform tasks such as image recognition, natural language processing, and fraud detection.

  • ML is a powerful tool that can be used to solve a variety of problems.

  • Robotics

  • Robotics is the field of engineering that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots.
  • Robots are machines that can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks.

  • Robots are used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and defense.

  • Blockchain

  • Blockchain is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions.
  • Blockchain is the underlying technology behind Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

  • Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries, including finance, supply chain management, and healthcare.

  • Virtual Reality (VR)

  • VR is a computer-generated simulation that can be similar to or completely different from the real world.
  • VR is often used for gaming, entertainment, and training.

  • VR is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

  • Augmented Reality (AR)

  • AR is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.
  • AR is often used for gaming, entertainment, and education.

  • AR is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

  • Internet of Things (IoT)

  • The IoT is a network of physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.
  • The IoT is growing rapidly, with an estimated 75 billion devices connected to the internet by 2025.

  • The IoT has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, including the way we work, live, and play.

  • Big Data

  • Big data is a term used to describe the large and complex datasets that are generated by modern technology.
  • Big data can be analyzed to reveal insights that can be used to improve decision-making.

  • Big data is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

  • Cloud Computing

  • Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.
  • Cloud computing services include computing power, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence.

  • Cloud computing is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives.

  • Cybersecurity

  • Cybersecurity is the protection of computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
  • Cybersecurity is a critical issue in today’s world, as computer systems and networks are increasingly being targeted by malicious actors.
  • Cybersecurity is a complex and challenging field, but it is essential to protect our critical Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE and our personal information.

I hope these MCQs are helpful!

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