CHAPTER 19Kevin Barrett, Alex Ventola, Pat

Mooney

FUTURE SHOCK Technology is changing and advancing

very fast.We “cannot and must not turn off the switch

of the technology process” Some people want to stop the

advancement of technology.This would only hurt.

CONTINUED… He believes we need more technology

and talks about we apply technology selfishly. In turn we hurt the environment.Pollution, pesticides, etc.We don’t know where to dump our

radioactive waste. When technology power increases, the

side effects also increase.Example: Icecaps melting due to fossil fuels.

TECHNOLOGY BACKLASH Effects of irresponsibly applied

technology becomes more evident. People will try to stop technological

advancement, but it is too great to be stopped.Trying to prevent technology would be

stupid, it should be limited and controlled instead.

Responsible technology is very important

SELECTING CULTURAL STYLES Industrializing nations that are poor

usually allow for technological innovations.Usually irresponsible about it, but allows for

a quick economic boost.Known as the “anything goes” policy

because they will take any solution to boost their economy no matter what the future effects may be.

CONTINUED… OLIVER, is a futuristic computer.

Describes it as a device everyone is dependent on and that people turn to for decisions and question.

Very similar to the iPhone/iPod and the Cell Phone, because people are becoming dependent on it for everyday tasks.

CONTINUED... Divide in technology cultures

Culture One: Supports OLIVER, Nuclear Energy, Supersonic Technology, Etc.

Lots of technology.Culture Two: Wants to slow down the

process of technological advancement.Less technology.

TRANSISTORS AND SEX Newly developed technology needs to

be tested in several ways before being thrown into society.

Four questions must be asked before a new technology is released:How will it immediately effect society?Long term effects?How will it effect the value system?How will it accelerate the technological

advance?

A TECHNOLOGY OMBUDSMAN We need machinery for screening machines

Over control should be lightly ignored, but lack of control is far worse.

Cost of air pollution borne by tax payer Traceable to companies, industries and

government installations An Ombudsman is a person who is an

intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency.

A Technology Ombudsman would serve as a board for complaints about technology and its effects.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCREEN Review major technology before it is

launched to the public. Set up “Consequence Analysis Staffs”

Groups dedicated to analyzing the effects of future technologies, and whether they do more harm than good.

Large scale ecological interventions may be delayed.

CONTINUED… Considering specific technology and

relationships may give us control of pace and direction of technology.

Accelerative Thrust must be brought under control to prevent “Future Shock”Future Shock - Too much change in too

short a period of time.

SURVEY QUESTIONS Do you believe that in today’s time we are responsibly

using technology? Do you believe the world needs to slow down the

advancement of technology or speed it up? Do you think there is a single device that people can turn

to for answers? Do you think today’s technology is harmful to the

environment? Do you believe screening or testing products for there

long term effect is necessary? What is the most useful piece of technology that you use

today, that you didn't have as a kid? Was the government as concerned with pollution in your

youth as they are now? What do you think is the most harmful piece of

technology today towards the environment?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IN TODAY’S TIME WE ARE RESPONSIBLY USING TECHNOLOGY? Mom: We are trying but it needs to be greatly

improved, its kind of like trial and error. Dad: We are doing the best we can but it’s so

new and attractive that we don’t really know if it is responsible or not until the future.

Sister: No, we are relying on it too much. Aunt: Not necessarily, it’s so new we haven’t

had time to find out if we are using it the right way.

Ann Sandland: Yes, well I’m a nurse so I look at it through a medical point of view, and in the medical field there are less invasive surgeries due to technology.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORLD NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY OR SPEED IT UP?

Mom: I think we need to slow it down for safety reasons because its so fast we don’t know the implications of the new technology.

Dad: Certainly not speed it up but I’m not sure we can slow it down either.

Sister: Neither it’s fine the way it is but if I had to choose I would say slow it down.

Aunt: It depends, if were talking about medical technology then speed it up but slow it down if were talking about social interaction.

Ann Sandland: I believe we should speed it up, it would be negligent not to because we have the basics we need to build on.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A SINGLE DEVICE THAT PEOPLE CAN TURN TO FOR ANSWERS?

Mom: The internet. Dad: No, because it seems like every

other day there is a new device. Sister: Yes, the iPhone it has everything Aunt: No, not really Ann Sandland: Yes, the blackberry!!

DO YOU THINK TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY IS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

Mom: some of the older technology is and still is but we are on the right track with green technology.

Dad: I think it is too early to tell, we’ll have to wait and see.

Sister: Yes, I believe it is but we are creating cleaner and cleaner technology.

Aunt: yes and no, because it all depends what area of technology you’re talking about, if it’s medical than no, but if were talking about transportation than yes.

Ann Sandland: Yes, unfortunately, and harmful to people too.

DO YOU BELIEVE SCREENING OR TESTING PRODUCTS FOR THERE LONG TERM EFFECT IS NECESSARY?

Mom: Yes, for safety reasons, safety for the environment and health safety.

Dad: Yes, because there is potential for health problems to develop in the future. For example cell phones- do they cause brain damage?

Sister: Yes because we need to know that they are safe to use.

Aunt: Yes because it could cause health problems like cell phones.

Ann Sandland: Obviously, but unfortunately we cannot do that because the effects wont show up for another 50 years or so.

WHAT IS THE MOST USEFUL PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU USE TODAY, THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE AS A KID?

#1: The most useful piece of technology that I use today is the Computer (PC).  Today, we pay our bills online, do our banking, do investing and also shop for food, clothes, and almost anything else.   

#2: The Computer. #3: Internet. #4: The internet or cell phone. #5: Computers.

WAS THE GOVERNMENT AS CONCERNED WITH POLLUTION IN YOUR YOUTH AS THEY ARE NOW? #1: I would say that the government was not as

concerned then as they are now. Cars were allowed to have exhaust systems that had a good deal of pollution and smoke. Fuel efficiency was not a big issue and as I recall it was not until the late 1960's that the government's got involved to mandate manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency.

#2: No it was not a severe problem then. #3: No, not really. I recall a few anti-littering

campaigns only. Also, when I was a kid in the 70s, the introduction of foreign cars (like Toyota) was to address the high cost of gas, not to drive a fuel-efficient car that may also be better for the environment. Today, there's more legislation (rules and regulations) around pollution.

CONTINUED… #4:  It started to… There was some

concern about littering and air pollution. There was also the push to begin to conserve energy due to oil shortage. We began to start thinking about turning lights off and turning thermostats down.

#5: Yes, but it was in the early of creating public awareness of the impact on pollution, littering…

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST HARMFUL PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY TODAY TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT? #1: I think that while most new technologies are

friendly to the environment, they do produce a certain amount of harm in the form of having to dispose of obsolete items. An example would be the disposal of television sets and computers as newer ones become available. Their disposal will contribute to global  warming.  They must be disposed of in a certain way as mandated by law.

#2: Coal Burning. #3: Growth and manufacturing in developing

countries (like China) -- We can't control what is going on in other countries - how they are using natural resources and what they are building, mining, manufacturing and then spitting back into the environment.

CONTINUED… #4: Plastic is a big one because it does

not break down in the landfills. Also, Air pollution from manufacturing plants although regulations have gotten tighter.

#5: Plastic containers, bottles… They do not degrade and therefore can harm wildlife and create land pollution.

WAS HE RIGHT? Toffler was correct in most of his

predictions about the future’s technology.He talked about a computer OLIVER. The

iPhone resembles the description almost exactly.

Also we have been hurting our environment with our use of fossil fuels and chemicals over the years, like he had warned about.

He also talked about backlash against technology, which many groups have tried to protest technology in multiple forms over the years.

Toffler was dead on with these predictions.

DYSTOPIAN Toffler depicts a Dystopia with these

values of harm to our environment and revolt against technology.

Pollution, unsatisfaction, and economic issues are not characteristics of a Utopia, but are certainly a part of today’s society, and the one shown in Future Shock.