REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BULACAN

BULACAN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
MALOLOS CAMPUS

Instructor: Mariella R. Mallari

School Year/Terms 2019-2020/ 2nd Semester
Subject code/Title : STS 123 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Date covered: March 16-31 2020
Topic: WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS READING ACTIVITY
References: SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
BY: JANICE PATRIA JAVIER SERAFICA

WHEN TECHNOLOGY HUMANITY CROSS

Learning Objectives: After the discussions the students should be able to:
1. Know the different technological advancement in Society.
2. Discuss the effects of the interplay between technology and humanity through the dilemma(s) they
face.

INTRODUCTION;

The ever-growing society has made people see technology as some form of necessity. Tracing back its origin, the word
technology came from the greek word techne and logos, which means art and word respectively,
The roles played by technology these days are very crucial not only to a few but also to everyone. It is with a great
effort that people were able to achieve such great inventions.
In general, Technology keeps on progressing due to not only the changing times and environment but also to the ever –
progressing mind of mankind. It would not be possible for all these technological advancement to exist if it were not for
brilliance, creativeness, and power of the mind.

In this lesson, several technological devices will be properly introduced , the roles the play in society and their effects,
particularly to the lives of the people will be identified , and the problem the face will also be examined thoroughly.

TELEVISION SETS, MOBILE PHONES, COMPUTERS AND HUMANITY.

A number of technological devices can be easily found inside the home, the most accessible place to anyone. Having said that it
can be easily inferred that these technological devices across all the age groups , almost all the household, if not all, own these
types of devices. To be more specific these, celebrities in the field of technology are televisions sets, mobile phones, and
computers. People all over the world use these technologies everyday to accomplish different purposes.

First, according to KANTAR MEDIA, one of the most trusted television audience measurements providers, in the Philippines,
92% of urban homes and 70% of rural homes own at least one television set. In fact, Filipinos are believed to have this big
fascination for television during free time or any time of the day when they have nothing important to do.

Second, Filipinos love to use their mobile phones anywhere, anytime. They use it for different purposes other than for
Communication, more than half the of the Filipino population own at least one mobile phone regardless of type.

Lastly, computers and laptops have also become part of many the Filipino household, There are some Filipino families who own
more than one computer or laptop while some own at least one computer or laptop. Laptops have been available to the public
for even less time than personal computers, before, the first design of computer was so big that it could occupy whole floors of
buildings.

ROLES PLAYED BY THESE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Television sets, mobile phones, and computers or laptops all have different functions and role played in the lives of the people,
although some may be little similar, those roles have become so essential that people more specifically Filipinos, developed a
strong inclination toward technology and its product. For instance, television is mainly used as platform for advertisements and
information dissemination. Mobile phones on the other hand, also have their own roles in the lives of the people, they are
primarily used for communication. Mobile phones of offer services like texting and calling. Personal laptops have useful set of
functions and roles, they offer their own unique features that make them attractive. For example personal computers and
laptops can be used to surf the Internet and communicate. and so many more.

ETHICAL DILEM MA FACED BY THESE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

First, most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy. This is because the fact that people
who are fixated on these technological advancement start and end their day by using such devices. They have the tendency to
sit and chill all day long without doing anything productive in their homes, thus making them unhealthy because they do not
just skip meals sometime but also lack of exercise or any bodily movements. Another dilemma faced by these technological
devices is the moral dilemma, People , especially the children who are not capable yet of rationally deciding for themselves
what is wrong or what is right, are freely exposed to different things on television, mobiles phone, laptops, or computers
because of the availability and easy access to the internet. It is really concerning to know that there are people who developed
different kinds of sickness because of too much use of technological devices.

ROBOTICS AND HUMANITY

Another great product of the innovative minds of the people is the robot. Robots are now widely used, for example they are so-
called service robots. These particular robots do specific tasks but focus mainly in assisting their masters in their everyday tasks.

ROLES PLAYED BY ROBOTICS

Robots play different roles not only in the lives of the people but also in the society as a whole. They are primarily used to ease
the workload of mankind. They were invented to make life more efficient and less stressful, On one hand, they perform
complicated activities which humans being are incapable of doing. There are also robots which are made for pleasure. To be
more specific, these types of robots perform activities to entertain people. Just tike people living in the society, robots also
have their own set of rules and characteristics that define what a good robot is, these law are formulated by Isaac Asimov back
in the 1940’s, when he was thinking of the ethical consequences of robots these are the following..

LAW ONE: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm

LAW TWO: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First law.

LAW THREE: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second law.

ETHICAL DILEMMA/S FACED BY ROBOTICS

Just like any other technological advancement, robotics also faces different problems and dilemmas. One of the dilemmas
faced by robot is safety. Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot? Who should be
blamed, the robot, the agent using the robot? It is important to know who should be blamed and who should be held
responsible if such things happen,.
ACTIVITY 1: THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Do people really need technology in their lives? Is it really a necessity?

2. How do you reconcile the “ need “ for technology and the dilemma/s it faces?

3. Should there be an ethics of technology?

ACTIVITY 2:

1. Philosophical Discussion. Discuss the different ethical dilemmas faced technological advancements in the society through a
philosophical discussion. Do this by forming three groups. The first group will serve as the facilitators of the discussions. The
second group will be the supporting side and the third group will be the opposing side. A topic shall be chosen before the
planned date of discussion. The facilitators should present a paper detailing the topic without choosing any side, The discussion
will start after reading of the paper presented by the facilitator. Each side will lay their arguments and questions, and then in an
orderly manner, each group will take turns answering the questions or rebutting the other sides arguments.

Suggested topics;

1. Do technological devices bring more good than bad to people?

2. Should there are be more budget for technological researches despite the dilemmas currently they are facing.

3. Should there be limit to technological advancement.

2. Group Skit. Form groups with equal number of members depending on the class size. Each group should choose a unique
topic and its perceived effects and the dilemma it entails. Show your stand on a technological dilemma through a skit. Do not
forget to show the role or roles played by the technological advancement in the lives of the people.

Suggested topics:

a. Robots that are capable of having emotions.

b. Google and stupidity

c. Filipinos’ addiction to different technologies

d. Waze application