Technology in Society

M4 Computing – Lesson 2

Introduction

Today we are going to look at the difference technology has made to all of our lives.

Consider the difference technology has made to the fields of medicine, travel, military, education, communication and entertainment.

What is Technology?

Being able to use tools and crafts to improve how we control and adapt with our natural or man-made environment.

In human society today, technology is a result of science and engineering.

History Technology has been around as long as the

human race. From early spears used for hunting to the use of fire as a source of energy.

The wheel was an early technological breakthrough, allowing human kind to travel and transport goods.

Within the last few thousand years humans discovered they could use metal and wood to improve their standard of life.

Modern History

In more modern times we have created more usable and complex technology such as the clock, the engine, the electric motor, the radio and the computer.

Consider the difference in today's society, due to massive advances in technology, as recent as 50 years ago.

We will now look in detail at some of those advances.

Medicine Scientific research has been greatly

improved by the use of the technology. Data can be analysed more accurately and

faster, allowing for improved medical care. Patients can be treated quickly and expertly. Important technology in the medical field:

Keyhole surgery Brain scanning Online education about health and safety for

people in poorer countries.

Keyhole Surgery

Travel

Technology has enabled people to be able to visit places in the World they had never previously been able to visit.

To travel across the world 200 years ago would have taken months rather than hours, as it does today.

Cars and motorbikes are now affordable thanks to advances in technology.

Bus, train and air travel is getting cheaper and cheaper.

Military Weapons and technology used for

monitoring or spying on people has changed the face of war.

Nuclear technology and satellites are 2 of the major differences.

We can monitor (spy on) the whole world from a few satellites in space.

Not all technology has benefited human kind. Modern weapons are now capable of killing millions of people in one go.

Education Computers have helped make

education more interesting and easier for students.

Research can be carried out in minutes thanks to computers and the internet.

Students can learn about different cultures, share experiences and take virtual tours of places far away.

Students can now study at home, using email, web pages and online education courses. Vital for countries with poor educational services.

Entertainment 50 years ago there was no Nintendo, no Play

Station, no X Box and no internet. What did students do after school?

Think of the time we spend today on our mobile phones, text messaging or chatting on the internet.

DVD players, Satellite and Cable TV and mp3 music players are all very recent technological innovations.

Karaoke, cinemas and even sporting activities are all more accessible to people in recent years.

Communication We can now communicate with people all

over the world in a matter of seconds, just by switching on our PCs and logging onto the internet.

Mobile phones have made it easier to keep in touch with friends, family and people we work with.

With the latest mobile phones we can log onto the internet, send emails and even have video chat!

Even as little ago as 30 years communication to overseas countries was limited to writing letters. Today this is known as snail mail!

Today's Task Your task today is to work in pairs and

create PowerPoint slideshow about 1 example of modern technology that in your opinion has changed the way we live today.

Please tell the rest of the class: Why your chose your subject. Some information about this technology. How this technology has helped changed

the world. What life was like before this technology. The future?

Today's Task

Examples of technology that have helped shape modern society:

Internet Mobile Communications Computers Television Aircraft Motor Vehicles

Today’s Task You will not be presenting your work. This presentation will be uploaded to

the school website. http://www.english-study.ning.com/ You must join this website, then join

the group – 2010 – M4 Computing

Finally – click on Lesson 2 – Technology and reply to this with your presentation.

Today’s Task Before you do this you will need to

upload your PowerPoint presentation to the Internet.

I use: http://www.slideshare.net/ but there are many other websites to use.

You’ll need to sign up, then upload your work. When this is complete (it takes a few minutes) use the embed code to add your presentation to the school website.