My choice is hybrid or smart cars

This week, you will submit your Analysis of Impact draft(roughly four pages, using APA format).

This portion of the Course Project provides an analysis of thechosen technology’s influence on society considering all of thefollowing components:

Social

How has this technology been received, accepted, or rejected?Why? Is it feared or favored? What is the attitude toward change?How are the developers trying to sell the technology to the generalpublic? Look at attitudes, feelings (emotions), behaviors,personality, and the ways humans change as a result of thistechnology. What is being thought, and why? Is the human mindimpacted? How? Are interactions between people changing as aresult? Who is included or excluded, and why? Use Maslow’shierarchy of needs, Piaget, or some other theorist. Whatpsychological needs are met by the technology (e.g., cell phonesonce granted status and now promote a sense of belonging orconnectedness) or created by the technology? Consumerism?

Look at groups and organizations that have arisen and prosperedbecause of this technology. Are these groups supportive orantagonistic, and why? (An example is genetically modified foods[GMOs] and the backlash against the Monsanto corporation. Anotheris cochlear implants that allow the deaf to hear yet reduce thedeaf population that calls itself a community.) How does thetechnology change society, or how does society change in responseto the technology? What factors in society led to the developmentin the first place? What do class, gender roles, race, norms, andthe like mean in this context? Who will benefit from thetechnology, and who might be harmed (this might also belong in theethics and morals section)? For example, prosthetics enable peopleto participate more fully and actively in society (some peoplecompete in triathlons and marathons), and war has brought about theneed for advances in prosthetic technology as casualties withmissing limbs return home to the United States. Look at theworkplace, new companies, and/or jobs created, jobs lost (or savethis for the economics section, perhaps). Look at roles—subgroups,people’s interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Considercrime, healthcare, and schools. Surveillance cameras, for example,have recently been installed in New York City, and the result hasbeen a decrease in the amount of crime, purse-snatching,pickpocketing, and so forth. Yet some fear the big-brother effectof always being watched and tracked, as well as concerns over “whowill guard the guards.”

Cultural

This is a really important section. Consider the elements thatcomprise the culture and subcultures. Compare the United States'use of the technology with that of other nations around the world.What is it about Americans that brings about innovation, or hasAmerica declined in terms of technical innovation, scientificresearch, and development? Look at advertising for the technology,the use of celebrities or stars or heroes, the applications (e.g.,sports and nanotechnology), and the values represented by theculture. What has priority, and why? An example: IBM was spelledout in xenon atoms. Why were these letters chosen instead ofsomething else? What new words have been added to our vocabularyfrom this technology? Horseless carriagewas used longbefore the term automobile. WirelessprecededWi-Fi, and webcastingprecededpodcasting. Broadcastwas a term adapted fromagriculture long before it was used for radio and television.

How do musicians and artists react to, use, or incorporate thetechnology in their artistic productions? For example, fiber opticlighting has been used on the stage and in parades (Disney) forcostuming. The drama term in the limelight, for example,was derived from a lens and lighting system used in lighthouses.Look at literature—perhaps science fiction or fantasy stories—thatpredate the technology (Jules Verne, for example, wrote aboutsubmarines before they were actually invented and used—thoughLeonardo da Vinci had sketched the idea centuries before Verne).Are there any songs, short stories, poems, plays, TV shows, orfilms that directly make reference to the technology? Are there anyrelated literary works that apply? Is the artifact in a museum orwill it be? Why? How does the technology relate to concepts ofbeauty and novelty and human creativity? How can people expresstheir humanity through this technology? An example: Scientistsexperimenting with nano made a nano guitar that actually played atune, though it was subthreshold to human hearing.

Political

Look at government policy, government intervention, governmentinvolvement (support or lack of support, funding), both nationallyand internationally. Consider Congress, the president, the SupremeCourt (decisions), the rate of change, liberalism, conservatism,legislation, litigation, and so forth. What political factors areat work in the progression or regression of the technology (e.g.lobbyists, special interest groups, partisan views, vocaladvocates, or spokespersons)? For example: The Americans withDisabilities Act was designed to prevent discrimination andencourage accessibility to public facilities; it impactedarchitects, companies, organizations, and persons with disabilitiesthrough the installation of ramps (wider doors, lower knobs andhandles, larger restroom stalls), the use of assistive devices inschools and in the workplace, hiring practices, and lawsuitsagainst employers, among other things.

Economic

Consider production, consumption, costs, variables ofsupply-demand, corporations, private enterprise, and impact on thenation’s economy (employment, displacement, outsourcing). Arecertain industries impacted more than others? Look up financialprojections—expectations for growth, startup companies, the stockexchange, and so forth—anything related to business and the UnitedStates and global economy. Who are the chief players in thebusiness environment, and what is their role? How much has beeninvested in research and development? How will the price fluctuate?What economic trends are to be observed? Who will make money fromthe technology? Who is funding the research and development? Whocontrols the purse strings, and why? Look at foundations andcharitable organizations, the outcomes and the nature of consumers.Be sure to use charts and tables and quantitative data in thissection. Tables, figures, and data and statistics must be current,valid, and used appropriately.

And the Environmental Impact

Consider such things as dangers to humans, the depletion ofresources, air and water pollution, discovery before inventions,impact on wildlife and humans (health and safety), long-term andshort-term effects, waste disposal, and aesthetic considerations(how the technology changes the landscape). Look also at thepositive effects (savings of raw materials or fossil fuels, lowenvironmental impact, enhancement to the environment). For example,some thought the Alaskan Pipeline would impact the cariboupopulation and its ability to migrate; the scientists discoveredthat the population actually increased and was healthier becausethey had “shade” from the above-the-ground pipe, fewer bitingflies, and less physically stressed females.
Other negative examples: The spotted owl and deforestation inWashington State; the snail darter and the dam, endangered speciesand loss of habitats, extinction, over-mining, overproduction,pollution of ground water, landfills, toxic wastes, stripping thesoil of nutrients, over fishing, over hunting, and overharvesting.