SNHU Technology and Culture Discussion

So far in this course, we have explored technology through the lenses of history, the humanities, and the natural and applied sciences. In this module, the social science lens is the last piece of the puzzle. Revisit the article you selected and discussed in the Natural & Applied Sciences discussion and reexamine it now through social science.

Each discussion is meant to be a collaborative space for conversation in which to process the concepts within the course. To ensure an interesting and respectful discussion, you are encouraged to think creatively about your initial posts and build upon the points made by your peers. Discussing challenges that face our world often means investigating opinions and ideas different from your own. Remember to remain thoughtful and respectful towards your peers and instructor in your discussion post and replies. It is also important to review the module resources and read the prompts in their entirety before participating in the discussion.

Create one initial post and follow up with at least two response posts.

For your initial post, address the following:

1. Describe or summarize your previous the topic and technology in your previous discussion.
2. How has your understanding about the topic and technology been affected by the social science lens?
3. How does the social science lens provide different insights that improve your overall understanding about technology?

1
Technology in History Discussion
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Number and Name
Instructor’s Name
Date
2
Technology in History
Question 1
Looking through the history lens can offer a valuable perspective on how technology
impacts society. Technology is not only a tool to create, but also a reflection of how societies
operate, how they interact, and how they view the world. By looking at the history of
technology, we can gain insight into how societies have used it to shape their culture and
environment. For example, we can take a look at the development of the steam engine and
how it revolutionized industry and transportation in the early 19th century (Rosenberg &
Trajtenberg, 2004). We can also observe how the internet has developed as well as how it has
resulted in changes in the normal ways of communication and access to information. By
looking at the history of technology, we can identify the changes it has made to our societies
and how it has affected our lives.
Question 2
One current event in the news that involves technology is the development of
autonomous (self-driving) vehicles. Self-driving cars offer many advantages over traditional
cars as they are able to navigate without human input. This technology was made possible by
advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and computer vision (Education Ecosystem, n.d.).
The development of self-driving cars has parallels to the advent of the automobile in the early
20th century. The introduction of cars allowed people to travel further than ever before, and
the same is true for autonomous vehicles today. The development of self-driving cars could
have a significant effect on society, just as the automobile did more than a hundred years ago.
Link to news event: https://educationecosystem.com/guides/artificial-intelligence/selfdriving-cars/history
Question 3
3
Analyzing the “relationship between history, culture, and technology” can
influence my discipline of study and personal experiences in a number of ways. As a
student of history, I am constantly looking for patterns in the past to inform my
studies. This includes an analysis of how technology was used to shape and create
cultures and societies. Looking at the history of technology can provide valuable
insights into my chosen profession in science and how the use of technology has
shaped the industry. On a personal level, looking at historical events involving
technology can help to inform my decisions and my understanding of the world. It can
provide a better understanding of how technology has impacted our lives as well as
how it can cause a long-lasting impact.
4
References
Education Ecosystem. (n.d.). Self-Driving Car History. Retrieved from
https://educationecosystem.com/guides/artificial-intelligence/self-driving-cars/history
Rosenberg, N., & Trajtenberg, M. (2004). A general-purpose technology at work: The Corliss
steam engine in the late-nineteenth-century United States. The Journal of Economic
History, 64(1), 61-99. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050704002608
1
Technology in the Media
Student Name
University
Course
Instructor
Due Date
2
Technology in the Media
CSI: Cyber is a police procedural drama TV series that follows a formidable team of
police officers that investigate cyber crimes using computing technology. The agents that help in
tracking down criminals are former back hat hackers that were caught and later recruited by the
police. Dr. Avery Ryan, played by Patricia Arquette, looks for gifted hackers and recruits them
into her “hack-for-good” program to rid the world of cyber criminals.
The show portrays technology in two dimensions. The first one is that technology can be
used for evil. Most criminals in the show are individuals who are good at using computers to
commit crimes. Crimes include bank robberies, kidnappings, and infiltration as well as spying.
Cybercriminals use technology to spread fear and death across the world. Technology is also
portrayed as a tool for doing good in the world. The same cybercriminals who exploit the system
by using technology are caught by the very same technology they use.
Agents use computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to catch these criminals and
save countless lives. There was an episode where “the bad guy” was trying to sell little girls into
prostitution and human trafficking. The agents managed to save the girls, stranded in a shipping
container, minutes before they were shipped off to various locations and undesirable futures.
Therefore, technology is multidimensional. Its role depends on the individual that uses it.
1
Science and Technology
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Details
Instructor’s Name
Date
2
One of the latest articles on scientific is ‘Immortal jellyfish’ thwart aging by being born
again found at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/seven-scientific-discoveries-from2022-that-may-lead-to-new-inventions-180981358/ . The article discusses an investigation into
what makes this specific jellyfish defy death. Previous studies focused on identifying that the
jellyfish absorbs its tentacles and falls to the seafloor to release young jellies when stressed or
sustains damage (Kranking, 2022). However, the current biologists from the University of
Oviedo study discovered that the immortal jellyfish has twice as many genes that repair and
protect DNA. This trait gives the immortal jellyfish the feat of defying age.
Technology plays an essential role in making this discovery possible. The biologists
studied the jellyfish’s genome to determine its genes’ components. The presence of sophisticated
electronic microscopes made it possible for biologists to correctly the genome of the jellyfish.
This article contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between science and
technology. The biologists implemented the available technological advancement to identify the
reason behind the jellyfish’s characteristics accurately. Therefore, scientists make more
discoveries because of the presence of technology.
3
Reference
Kranking, C. (2022). Seven scientific discoveries from 2022 that may lead to new inventions.
Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/seven-scientificdiscoveries-from-2022-that-may-lead-to-new-inventions-180981358/