The Nature of Science

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1 chapter 1 The Nature of Science section 4 Science and Technology What You ll Learn types of technology value of technology consumer effect on technology Before You Read You use different kinds of technology every day. What do you think of when you hear the word technology? D Classify Make a two-tab Foldable like the one below. Take notes on how different forces shape technology. Technology 1. Define What is technology? Society Read to Learn What is technology? The terms science and technology mean very different things. Science is a process of exploration. Scientific processes are used to gain knowledge of and predict events in the natural world. Scientists often search for answers to human needs and problems. Scientists also search for scientific knowledge for the sake of learning new information. Technology When scientific knowledge is used to solve a human need or problem, the result is called technology. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge of materials and processes to benefit people. An aspirin pill, a car, and a national highway system may not seem to have much in common. These things are all very different, but they are all examples of technology. Technology can be: any human-made object (such as a radio, computer or hammer), methods or techniques for making any object or tool (such as the method for making glass), skills needed to operate a human-made object (such as the skills needed to drive a car), or a system of people and objects used to do a task (such as the Internet, which is a system to share information). 20 CHAPTER 1 The Nature of Science

2 What are technological methods or techniques? Just as writing instruments have changed over time, so have methods or techniques for doing many tasks. The methods for printing books have changed over time. Long ago people had to copy each page of a book by hand. This took many hours. Books were expensive, and only the very rich could pay for them. Now, books are created in many ways. Modern printing presses create most of the books today. Printing press technology printed your textbook. Books can be written on computers and are sometimes printed on computer printers. The printing press and computer technology save countless hours in producing books. What are technological knowledge and skills? Technology is not just new machines and new techniques. It is also the knowledge and the skills needed to do a task. For example, you need knowledge and special skills to use most computers. Any skill used to operate a complex machine is a technological skill. What are technological systems? A network of people and objects working together to do a job also is technology. The network is technology, the objects are technology, and the skills of the people are technology. The Internet is a good example of this kind of technology. The Internet is a collection of computers and software that people with skills use to send and receive information. The airline industry is another example of a technological system. This industry is a collection of objects, methods, systems, and rules. An airport s planes, pilots, and computers create a technology system that moves people and goods. Global Technological Needs You just read how technology has changed over time. Today, not all parts of the world value the same technologies. The technology valued in the United States may not be valued in other parts of the world. Industrialized nations have different technology needs than developing nations. 2. Infer What is a technological system that you use each day? Picture This 3. Apply Name two technologies that people in developing nations could benefit from. Reading Essentials 21

3 4. Explain What are two technologies that are valued in industrialized nations? What are the needs of developing countries? In some parts of the world, people work hard for basic needs such as food, shelter, clean water, and basic health care. Consider a family living in rural Kenya. Most rural Kenyan families live without electricity or running water in their homes. Droughts or small amounts of rain can cause food shortages and famine. Rural Kenyans also have limited health care. Because of limited health care infections and diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are severe problems in many developing nations. The life expectancy of rural Kenyans is mid-forties. The most important technologies in developing countries help take care of basic needs. Technologies that provide enough clean water and food are very important. Basic health care technology such as clean bandages, the right medicine, and skilled doctors are also valued. Generally, rural people value different technologies than urban people because cities are more industrialized. What technology is used in industrialized countries? The United States is an industrialized country. Because of technology, industrialized countries have access to safe, clean water and food supplies. Most homes have running water and electricity. Good health care is available to treat people. The life expectancy of Americans is the late-seventies. People in industrialized nations often value technology that helps provide a higher quality of life. Most homes in the United States have computers, telephones, and televisions. The people of industrialized nations value technologies like faster computers, compact discs, and safer cars. Advances in medicine improve people s lives by curing illnesses and diseases. Some people spend money on medical procedures to improve their quality of life. Plastic surgery can remove wrinkles from a person s face. Eye surgery can improve a person s vision so he or she may not have to wear glasses. How do developing nations contrast? Both developing and industrialized nations value technology that helps supply basic human needs: clean water, enough food, and basic health care. However, the technology for basic needs may be very different in developing nations. For example, people in rural areas in some countries could get clean water if hand-pumps were installed in villages. 22 CHAPTER 1 The Nature of Science

4 Social Forces that Shape Technology Science and society are closely connected. Society is a group of people that shares similar values and beliefs. Discoveries in science and technology change society, and likewise society affects how new technologies develop. The politics, values, and economics of a society affect what new technologies develop. How did attitudes toward cars change? An example of the connection between a society s values and its technology is the development of the car in the United States. Over the last 100 years, the people of the United States have changed their attitudes toward cars. When they were first invented, cars were expensive. Then technology was developed to mass-produce affordable cars. Many people were able to own cars because of the changes in technology and manufacturing. This increased the demand for fossil fuels like gasoline. Technology developed that made gas and oil more accessible and affordable. As more cars were sold, the demand for gas and oil increased. Now gas prices are high and oil is becoming scarce, so people are beginning to buy more fuel-efficient cars. The automobile industry is responding with new technology, such as hybrid cars that use both electricity and gasoline. Do consumers affect technology? If people do not want a technology, they will not buy it. Companies are not likely to spend additional money to develop technology that consumers will not buy. On the other hand, if consumers buy a technology, companies will spend additional money to improve the technology. For example, if consumers continue to buy fuel-efficient cars, more money will be spent on improving that technology. Do personal values affect technology? People support new technologies that agree with their personal needs and values, directly and indirectly. For example, people support the development of technology indirectly when they choose to vote for a political candidate. Support for a candidate translates into support for the projects, technological and otherwise, that that candidate favors. People support the development of technology directly when they give money to organizations committed to a specific project, such as cancer research. 5. Explain How does buying a certain brand of CD player affect the development of CD players in general? Reading Essentials 23

5 6. Identify three things the federal government pays to develop. 7. Conclude Why is it important for humans to think about the positive and negative effects when they create technology? 24 CHAPTER 1 The Nature of Science Economic Forces that Shape Technology Many factors influence whether money is spent on a technology, and many questions must be answered before the money is spent. The questions include who will buy the product, what the benefits of the technology are, and how much it will cost to make. What is the influence of the federal government? One way technology research and development is funded is through the federal government. Every year, Congress and the president place large amounts of money in the federal budget for scientific research and development. For example, Congress and the president decide how much money will be spent on new technologies in agriculture, defense, energy, and transportation. The money is given to companies and institutions in the forms of contracts and grants. What is the influence of private foundations? Some scientific and technological research is supported with money from private foundations. Foundations raise money for many types of research, such as cancer and muscular dystrophy. Foundations raise money in many ways, including charity races, telethons, and benefit concerts. Many private foundations focus on research for specific scientific issues, such as treatment for Alzheimer s disease. What is the influence of private industries? Private industries also fund research and development of new technology. Like the federal government, private industries use a portion of their budget on research and development. Investing in new technology can make money for the company. Selling the new products or technologies they develop to consumers is one way companies make profits. Responsible Technology Humans can invent technology that may have an impact on other living things. Humans are part of many ecosystems on Earth, and it is important that new technology does not destroy the environment. Humans must think of both the positive and negative effects of their inventions. How can technology affect the environment? When the effects of technology are known, the benefits of the technology often are more important than the negative effects. For example, gasoline-powered cars give people safe, reliable transportation. The negative effects are the environmental problems created by the use of cars.

6 After You Read Mini Glossary society: a group of people that share similar values and beliefs technology: application of scientific knowledge to benefit people 1. Write a sentence describing one value or belief of your society. 2. Complete the outline to help you organize what you learned about technology. I. Technology A. objects B. Technological or techniques C. Technological knowledge or D. systems II. Global Technological Needs A. Needs of developing B. Industrialized countries C. Differences in nations D. Bioengineering and supply 3. Complete the table below to help you organize the information you learned about forces that shape technology. Government Private Foundations Private Companies Consumers Citizens Force How It Shapes Technology End of Section Reading Essentials 25

Chapter: Science, Technology, and Society

Table of Contents Chapter: Science, Technology, and Society Section 1: Science and Technology Section 2: Forces that Shape Technology Section 3: Developing Technology 1 Science and Technology Scientific