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2901
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History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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5
Uploaded by BaronEmu3336
Take-Home Exam on The End of Technology
Due: October 17 by 9:00 a.m.
University of Winnipeg
HIST 2901 - History of Technology
Question #1:
Why does Denton say “technology is in our heads, not just in our hands,” and why
is that important?
Peter Denton says “technology is in our heads, not just in our hands” because we humans
create technology more with our heads than we do with our hands. We decided technology
existed since the ideas we get come from humankind advancing society, with all the different
ideas we get and new technologies coming to light. “Technology exists in our heads as a
particular idea or as a collection of assumptions, ideas and examples. It exists because we decide
it exists” (page 10). Since each and everyone of us have different ideas, the advancement of
technology could go in any direction depending on the person's beliefs, culture and the time,
which means technology comes from our heads and where we come from. “Thus, if technology
is what makes us human, then every culture since Grok and the rock has had its own set of
technological systems, chosen for reasons that were appropriate to its time and
circumstances."(page 23). Human choice determines what kind of technological system the rock
might fit into and for what purpose. The technological outcome of the rock lies in the mind of the
person who designs and develops that technology into something bigger. “Technology is not a
mere object by itself, it is knowledge that is used to do something to perhaps make into an
object” (page 12). And then whatever works, is passed along in knowledge to the next generation
which shows that it's in our heads and not just in our hands. “Technology is knowledge used to
do something in the future” (page 19)
Why is this crucial? So, what function does our technology serve, and why did someone choose
this technology or technical system specifically instead of something else? Similar to how
phones are not technology that magically materialize. We might wonder why a phone was used
to make the phone rather than something else. We need to take a deeper look at the community
and culture in which that phonemaker was born, raised, educated, trained, and compensated.
Unless digital communication was crucial at the time and the mechanical systems permitted for
its production, no one just becomes a phonemaker. Which is why we need to understand that
technology is in our heads and not just in our hands since every aspect in a person's mind makes
technology and everything we use and do is the advancement of technology. Whatever is
required now not only to meet our needs and wishes but also to ensure that future generations
can live as they like. “As far as our tools and our technologies are concerned, we choose the
future” (page 15)
Question #2:
Your friends have just purchased a new electric vehicle and it’s parked in the
driveway of their suburban home. Reverse engineer this purchase/situation to identify the
reasons behind your friends’ choice, and the values that those reasons imply.
Electric vehicles have been the talk of the future for about 4-5 years now. These vehicles are
fast, fun to drive, require little maintenance and produce no tailpipe emissions which is a major
contributor to climate change. They offer the convenience of charging your car at home and have
an overall lower fuel cost. I say affordability, availability, and familiarity appear to be amongst
the key factors influencing likelihood of electric vehicle purchases. And if you install a plug-in
outlet for the electric car in the garage, you are installing something unique which means there is
a cost associated with it, which is the only downside. If my friends purchased an electric vehicle
I don't think it would be for basic transportation. I think it would be a clear expression of
themselves and their personality. I think at that point they would have the value of
accomplishment and success. They would have this vehicle to show how successful and
materialistic they are and to show they have accomplished to buy the new ‘advanced’ vehicle
available. Since electric vehicles aren't cheap, usually when we see someone with one, we think
they are wealthy. And usually every wealthy person already has a car so these people/my friends
purposely went out to buy an electric car even when it wasn't necessarily needed.
When it comes to the T system, the metals and all of the vehicle's components must be sourced at
the T1 level and converted into suitable auto parts for these electric vehicles. The contents must
also serve as sources, identifying not only the proper elements but also the procedure to be
followed when assembling the electric vehicle. "At the first level are the choices relating to the
design and production of the first item, the prototype. The materials needed must be chosen, both
in terms of contents and packaging, so the item is designed using what is initially available to the
designer/maker." (page 50). The decisions and values pertaining to the subject of mass
production of electric vehicles are then discussed at the T2 level. “choices and values related to
the issue of mass production” (page 51). How can we produce more than one item
simultaneously or obtain parts for more than one? What kind of tools are required, along with a
dependable source for all of our auto parts that is open all year. Since T2 level influences
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additional product-design T1 level changes. The electric vehicle distribution decisions are made
at the T3 level. “The choices relating to the distribution of the product” (page 53). If electric
vehicles cannot be quickly delivered abroad, there is no purpose in producing thousands of them.
For instance, these cars must be transported with great care because they are valuable and
delicate. The distance between the production and the consumer is great and necessitates a vast,
safe distribution region because we reside in Canada, which is one of the toughest areas to
purchase an electric vehicle because we aren't as developed as China and America. Choices on
the T3 also touch on sales and marketing. “T3 relates to sales and marketing” (page 54).
How
much they may charge for it and how much it ultimately costs to make. At the T3 level, if the
product is not purchased by the consumer or is not purchased at a price that is necessary for
profitability, these circumstances by themselves can result in significant design adjustments at
the T1 and T2 levels. “consumer does not buy the product…these things by themselves drive
major design changes at T1 and T2 levels” (page 54)
Question #3:
Send yourself forward 20 years in time and then look back. What do you think
will be “the story of technology” in 2042? What technological choices will we have made by
then, as a society, and why? What technological choices will you have made by then, as an
individual, and why?
Every age is defined by its technology and the story in which the potential of technology
over the years has evolved. I believe the “story of technology” by 2042 will be artificial
intelligence. I believe that thanks to developments in machine learning and natural language
processing, artificial intelligence will have spread more widely over the coming years. The
capacity of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to do duties traditionally carried out
by people since they call for human intelligence and judgment. In almost every sector, artificial
intelligence will have influenced how people live in the future. It already serves as the primary
impetus for developing technologies like big data and robotics, and it will continue to do so for
the foreseeable future. As far as this technology is concerned, it will be the narrative, as it will be
able to comprehend us better and perform more difficult duties.
I believe that as a society, we will all have opted to drive electric cars. It is already a step forward
in demonstrating how it is the car of the future because Elon Musk and other electric vehicle
manufacturers have been claiming they are the cars of the future and that the price will drop to be
even cheaper than gasoline vehicles. Additionally, I believe that by 2042, technology will have
improved to the point where grocery shops and other traditional retailers won't need cashiers or
checkers at all, everything will have self-checkout.
I believe that as an individual, the technological decision I will have made is to continue driving
a gasoline-powered car regardless of the price of gas. I would probably only do it to establish a
point because I could then show everyone that I still have one and we never needed to go all
electric. I recently read on my phone that only electric vehicles will be available for purchase in
the future. I'm crossing my fingers that my old beater car will still be running at that time.
(Probably not, but it's nice to think so)