Modern Technology Essays - Economic Development, Development

Modern Technology In an era where human progress is soaring at a dizzying rate, society must adapt its technology to solve current world issues. In a world where the Internet, cell phones and notebook computers are becoming a necessity for everyday living, we often forget about those who still suffer attempting to meet their basic needs, including clean water, food and health care. It is time for the developed world to use their technology to help those who can not help themselves. By using these technologies there will be advances in medical services, a new economy based on the Internet, emerging information technologies and new methods for the farming and industrial sectors. More importantly, these technologies will provide the education and knowledge for these people to become prosperous nations that can fend for themselves and provide for their people. Transfers of technology from the developed world to the developing world will improve the standard of living, increase efficiency in production and become a base for economic growth, without this transfer these countries will fall further into poverty and economic ruin, with little hope for survival. For most people of the developed world, the developing world is not something they concern themselves with; they do not see it everyday and therefore it does not exist. This could not be farther from the truth. The developing world is in need of help but the developed world constantly turns a blind eye. Our current love affair with technology may provide the answer for underdeveloped nations problems. The standard of living is so low in these countries that our everyday conveniences are a struggle for the entire population to obtain. If the developed nations could meet these base needs, these countries may be able to overcome their current problems. The first issue that must be dealt with is the unsatisfactory health care and medical technology. If the developed world could send excess medical supplies along with the personnel to administer them, they might learn to take care of themselves. In time, the common diseases that kill thousands in these countries will be under control and people will start living longer, healthier lives. A second issue is the exchange of technology for agriculture and industry. As a result, new jobs will be created to provide income, while reducing child labor. As the people of these countries start to build income for themselves, the amount of crime will be reduced as people will be able to afford to meet their basic needs. As an example, instead of having to steal or beg for food or clothing, they would be able to purchase them; thus reducing crime and increase economic growth. The case study of China completed in class, showed that as people became educated and more career oriented, the size of families decreased thus reducing overpopulation. This occurs for two main reasons, people will not have time for a family and less children are required for the work force. With overpopulation and the rate of natural increase under control the standard of living in these countries will increase. With just a small jumpstart from the developing world, developing countries will experience a chain reaction that will increase their standard of living. This chain will start with improved medicine to increase life expectancy, followed by new jobs that will bring income and finally education that will reduce overpopulation and crime. All of these factors resulting from technological transfers will lead to an overall increase in living standard. In the corporate world of North America, it has never been easier to start a business or company. Using modern technology such and the Internet and a computer, an individual or group of individuals can become major players in today's ever increasing electronic economy. As the overall cost of doing business drops, it will make "the technology more rapidly available, at a decreased cost"(Freund, pg.2) and therefore level the economic playing field. As companies start cropping up, built around a new information based economy, there will be more and more demand for jobs. These jobs will give local workers a chance at making some money and providing a living for themselves and their families. With employment on the increase, people will start making decent wages, they will spend it locally, thus increasing the local economy and helping their own industry to grow. This economic growth will have multiple effects that include more health care and educational funding and allow the development of infrastructure. Once the countries have started to reach this level, they will be able to increase their initial technologies to

How to Identify a Pseudoscience

How to Identify a Pseudoscience A pseudoscience is a fake science that makes claims based on faulty or nonexistent scientific evidence. In most cases, these pseudosciences present claims in a way that makes them seem possible, but with little or no empirical support for these claims. Graphology, numerology, and astrology, are all examples of pseudosciences. In many cases, these pseudosciences rely on anecdotes and testimonials to back up their often outlandish claims. How to Identify Science vs. Pseudoscience If you are trying to determine if something is a pseudoscience, there are a few key things you can look for: Consider the purpose. Science is focused on helping people develop a deeper, richer and fuller understanding of the world. Pseudoscience often focuses on furthering some type of ideological agenda.Consider how challenges are dealt with. Science welcomes challenges and attempts to disprove or refute different ideas. Pseudoscience, on the other hand, tends to greet any challenges to its dogma with hostility.Look at the research. Science is supported by a deep and ever-growing body of knowledge and research. Ideas around the topic may have changed over time as new things are discovered and new research is performed. Pseudoscience tends to be fairly static. Little may have changed since the idea was first introduced and new research might not exist.Can it be proven false? Falsifiability is a key hallmark of science. This means that if something is false, researchers could prove that it was false. Many pseudoscientific claims are simply untestable, so there is no way for researchers to pr ove these claims false. Example Phrenology is a good example of how a pseudoscience can capture the public attention and become popular. According to the ideas behind phrenology, bumps on the head were thought to reveal aspects of an individuals personality and character. Physician Franz Gall first introduced the idea during the late 1700s and suggested that the bumps on a persons head corresponded to the physical features of the brains cortex. Gall studied the skulls of individuals in hospitals, prisons, and asylums and developed a system of diagnosing different characteristics based upon the bumps of a persons skull. His system included 27 faculties that he believed directly corresponded to certain parts of the head. Like other pseudosciences, Galls research methods lacked scientific rigor. Not only that, any contradictions to his claims were simply ignored. Galls ideas outlived him and grew wildly popular during the 1800s and 1900s, often as a form of popular entertainment. There were even phrenology machines that would be placed over a persons head. Spring-loaded probes would then provide a measurement of different parts of the skull and calculate the individuals characteristics. While phrenology was eventually dismissed as a pseudoscience, it did have an important influence on the development of modern neurology. Gall’s idea that certain capabilities were linked to certain parts of the brain led to a growing interest in the idea brain localization, or the notion that certain functions were linked to specific areas of the brain. Further research and observations helped researchers gain a greater understanding of how the brain is organized and the functions of different areas of the brain. Sources: Hothersall, D. (1995). History of Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Megendie, F. (1855). An elementary treatise on human physiology. Harper and Brothers. Sabbatini, R.M.E. (2002). Phrenology: The History of Brain Localization. Wixted, J. (2002). Methodology in experimental psychology. Capstone.