Technology: Implications &

Societal impact

S G Deshmukh

ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior

deshmukh.sg@gmail.com

Based on presentation given on

National Technology Day: 11 May 2017

ITM University, Gwalior

Opening thought..

Technology is affecting all of us.

We as a society are also impacting the

way technology is being developed and

harnessed.

Interesting symbiotic relationship between

technology and society

Observation..

Yesterday, we celebrated Buddha Jayanti

Lod Buddha- thinker, philosopher and path

breaker

“Thinking is technology of mind”

Without thinking , one can not develop

technology !!

Technology

Noun : the application of scientific knowledge for practical

purposes, especially in industry.

machinery and devices developed from scientific knowledge

Technology ("science of craft", from Greek techne, "art, skill, cunning of

hand"; and -logia[) is the collection

of techniques, skills, methods and processes used in the production

of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such

as scientific investigation.

Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes, and the like,

or it can be embedded in machines which can be operated without detailed

knowledge of their workings.

Source: Wikipedia/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology

Technological society !

Interesting trends..

Autonomous vehicles

Graphene material

3-D printing/additive manufacturing/Industry 4.0

Drones

Wearable technologies

Smart home technologies/IOT etc.

Virtual currencies (Bitcoin)

Technology trends in IT ..

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2016/10/24/understanding-the-top-

ten-technology-trends-for-2017/#2cd2352a55b9

AI and machine learning

Intelligent apps

Intelligent things

Virtual/ augmented reality

Adaptive security architecture

Remark..

We have just seen an interesting video in

Siddharth Tungareji’s (*) session

This video has enlightened us on how

technology is helping to overcome terrible

disease like ALS !

(* from Impetus Technology )

Impacts of Technological

contributions felt..

Adjective Example

Wider Social Networking

Deeper Understanding about

technology

Longer Life Expectancy

Lighter Hand Held devices

Safer Travel

Better Quality of Life

Remarks..

Technology has impacted our lives

We can not think to exist without

technology

Technology is also being commodified !

India 2035

India transforms itself from developing to developed,

Country of 1.5 billion population by 2035 would not only the

most populated but a leading economy as well (as evident

from nay surveys !)

Projected GDP would grow to 10.5 trillion- implying significant

increase in economic activity and access to modern amenities.

Technology would make a far greater impact on our lives in

2035 in particular and on society in general !

Technolgy vision 2035

Study by TIFACTechnology Information, Forecasting &

Assessment Council

http://www.tifac.org.in/

http://www.tifac.org.in/images/pdf/tv203

5/TV%202035%20Doc-Last%20final-

release.compressed.pdf

Acknowledgement

Next few slides are based on

“Technology vision:2035”by TIFAC

Personal discussions with Dr Prabhat Ranjan,

ED, TIFAC

VisionSource: Vision 2035/Document by TIFAC

Source: Vision 2035/Document by TIFAC

Relationship between basic

needs

Source:

Vision 2035/Document by TIFAC

Important Technologies

as highlighted in Vision 2035

1. Educational Technologies

2. Energy Technologies

3. Environment

4. Food and Agriculture

5. Global challenge issues

6. Habitat

7. Information & Communication Technologies

8. Infrastructure

9. Materials & Manufacturing Technologies

10. Medical science & Health Care

11. Transportation

12. Water Technologies

Implications..

Shift to A3 (anyone, anywhere, anytime) connected knowledge

based economy and society and development of appropriate

infrastructure.

Creating modern amenities, knowledge and value addition

opportunities with supporting infrastructure in rural areas would

need added thrust to at least minimize pressure on migration

to urban areas.

Manifold increase in the pressure on urban infrastructure,

demand for processed food and consumer goods and also

energy would necessitate paradigm technological shifts in

manufacturing, infrastructure, services and agriculture sectors.

Insights

Technology is a key driver to empower individuals, societies and countries, facilitate development and enhance capabilities, while taking advantage of the democratic dividend

Technology as an enabler for meeting the aspirations of individuals vis-à-vis society

Technology is NOT value neutral ! .

We have to consciously choose which

technology, for whom and How?

Projected non-exclusive segments of

India: 2035source : Vision 2035 document of TIFAC

Role of technology

For those who are ‘Left out & left behind”

As an instrument of change

As a catalyst for improving our quality of life

Challenge : To bring Left out/Left behind in

main stream as a part of the development

process

21

Technological Challenges

Information: Proliferation

Technology development: Multidisciplinary

Markets: Globalized

Environment: Endangered

Social responsibility: Everyone

Corporate structure: Participatory

Change: Rapid!

22

Engineering Social

Responsibility ?

Why think about the interaction of technology and society?

One reason: Because engineers are the ones who create all of the technology

Responsible persons are supposed to think about the effects of their own actions and creations especially if they impact others and society in a big way !

23

Impacts of Technology on Society

All technologies trigger side effects; many being harmful to some groups of people (set of stakeholders)

All technologies pose risks from accidents triggered by technical, human factors, organizational systems, or socio-cultural factors. Some of these risks are of an unprecedented scale and geographical distribution

Some technologies trigger unintended consequences, many being harmful to some groups of people (set of stakeholders)

Look at the public protest for nuclear plants !

24

Views on Technology- Society

Relationship

Technological Optimism – All technology is good

Technological Pessimism – All technology is bad/harmful

Technological Democratism – Value-Laden Technology must be controlled democratically and with aview to benefit large populace !

25

Technological Optimism

Technology gives rise to powerful enabling

factors which greatly enhance human powers

and helps maximize human freedom,

decreases human disease, and creates

abundant material wealth and well-being which

enhances social standards

Examples: developments in Biotech, nanotech

, IT in general !

26

Technological Pessimism

It exhibits momentum of development that makes it autonomous and beyond human control

Technological development takes place without a plan and without regard to values and to the final “ends” and purposes of technology (example: Nuclear power ambitions of a few countries !)

The influence of technology is all-pervasive

The comforts and advantages of technology are like addictions that “hook” us (look at some school of thought which looks down upon the social media and its “ill effects”)

It is better to live “without’ technology and recall & “cherish” our days without technology !!

27

Technological Democratism

Technology is interesting , both acting on and acted upon by society. Technology is so powerful that philosophical thought about its development and use is seriously needed

Responsibility of being accountable for the effects of technology ,especially for engineers, corporations, and society to deliberate together about how technology can best be developed and used to promote the social and human good, especially in a democratic set up like India !

Technology as an instrument for social change !

DRDO Technology for masses – Bio-toilet BACTERIA

(INOCULUM) Anaerobic microbial consortium

developed by acclimatization /

enrichment of microbes at low

temperature and bio-augmentation with

critical group of bacteria

BIO-DIGESTER

We should be proud; DRDE Gwalior has developed this

technology

Look at the huge impact : Villages, Railways, part of

Swachh Bharat

Source: An Eco-friendly Solution for Human Waste Management,

Bio Digester - A DRDO Presentation, by S Radhakrishnan, OS &

Director, Industry Interface & Technology Management

http://drdoficciatac.com/Biodigester/index.asp#17

Remarks..

Technology may not always be “glamorous”

as evident from Bio-toilet !

BUT: It could have huge impact on society

Technology for masses – one way of realising

the process of democratization !!

Look at the huge impact of “Mooc” –again an

educational technology democratizing the

“education “

Interesting development..

UoPeople: University of People

http://www.uopeople.edu/

World’s first Tuition free , accredited online

university

Started in 2009

UC Berkeley partnered with UoPeople in

2016

Closing thought..

Why National Technology Day ?

Because : In a diverse country like India, we

need to celebrate contributions of technology.

Despite challenges, we have established our

supremacy in : Nuclear, Space and Missile

technology- we need to celebrate

In India, there is a huge impact of technology

affecting masses

Happy Technology Day

https://www.slideshare.net/SanjeevDeshmukh/

Thanks a lot…