Technological transformation

KN Simon

Technological transformation is essential in progression of human life. Technology has transformed lives in various parameters by improving the living standard, raise productivity, facilitate learning, and expand transport and communication networks. For many years, technology has been a frontier to eradicate poverty and empowering people in the society. Current technology transformations entangle with globalization to improve social and economic networks globally. Massive technology transformation superimposed a history of communities among and within countries. There has been technological transformation in that has enlightened scientist and scholars in the way they see the universe.

Technology transformation enhances knowledge, skills, and competence of scholars and scientist. For instance, the world has witnessed a transformation from a printing era to a digital age, which has had remarkable positive changes in education. In fact, the scholars can express their arguments concerning issues such as politics, social-economic, and science and technology through channels that are able to reach an immense number of people within a short time. Despite these changes in lives of scholars, some of them have a contrary viewpoint on technology advancement. The critics argue that technology advancement has led to disorganization of harmony in the universe. A good example is Edgerton reaction on the issue of the improvement of technology, innovation, and history.[1] In his reaction, he explains a scenario how technology and innovation interrupt the history of many countries in the world.[2] For example, United States and other developed countries concentrate much on innovation in all the sectors and most notably in academic.[3] As much as these countries focus on innovation, the history of such countries wipes out in mind the work of scholars at the same degree. Hence, innovation creates a gap in history that connects the past and present. Technology advancement noted in the 1980s is difference to that experienced in 2003. Edgerton referred technology as the dying horse.[4] This is because newer technologies suppress technologies invented in the past. This depletion of innovation enhances pollution of the universe thus endangering life in the world.   

The technology advancement has changed the lives of scientist in many ways. For instance, it has enables scientist to discover more and come up with most devastating and fascinating things that has improved the human life. Scientists have discovered new things due to the advancement of technology. The latest scientist discoveries on technology include the internet, nuclear power, organ transplants, digital media, genetic engineering, personal computers, space flights, mobile phones, wireless money transfer, and robots. These discoveries changed the way the scientist viewed the universe. They see the universe potential to sustain lives as non-exploitable if technology continues to advance. Technology has made the world be able to sustain more than fifteen billion people. In addition, technology advancement shapes the world and keeps on changing over time. In fact, the History of Scientific Cosmology explains how technology have changed over time; from viewing the universe with naked eyes to the development of telescope then to stereoscopes up to today gadgets that can view the whole universe including other planets and even the smallest of microorganisms.[5] John McCarthy, an American computer scientist, state that progress to human being results from technology advancement going on all over the world.[6] According to him, advancement in technology is the only thing that can sustain the lives without exploitation. Up to 17th century, the world was the same since there was no vibrant technology advancement before then but after that, there are changes in the world in all sectors. Technology improves the living standard and makes life sustainable for a long period. The invention of nuclear power is one of the sustainable project from technology since it can release energy for million years without exhaustion. McCarthy state that the world will not be the same two hundred years to come due to changes in technology, the descendant will appreciate the work of current scientist since they are the mastermind of progression in the world.[7] A good example is Archimedes’ principle on buoyant, and fluid discovered many years ago by Archimedes of Syracuse but still applicable in physics and mathematics many years after his demise. 

 The current perspectives of scholars and scientist on politics, culture, and economy are greatly influenced by technology advancement that has taken place over the world over a long period. The ancient people in the world were hunters and gatherer. With the invention of cultivation tool human began by domesticating animals and crops. Over time technology advancement led to the rise and fall of various empires in the world. Currently, capitalism gives scientist and scholar’s freedom to advance technology to sustain their lives and change the entire universe over time. Capitalism, which arose in the late 20th century, emphasizes on technological based production so that people and country can be self –sustainable. Capitalism was the political ideology of Westernization. Westernization controls the world in matters regarding culture, politics, economy, and technology. Westernization is thought to arise from advancing technology of Southernization ideas. According to Shaffer, Southernization is the civilization of the southern Asia particularly in India, China, and Arab countries that dominated between 3rd and 13th century.[8] Southernization led to various improvement in southern Asia in term of agriculture, cash crop farming, technology, trade, and mining.[9] Southernization started in India but later spread to other countries in the Asian continent. India was the first country to do exploration and trade with East Africa and Northern Asian using monsoon winds. China adopted Southernization and was able to develop gunpowder as early as the 6th century.[10] Westernization from West Europe jeopardized the idea of Southernization in the 14th century during European civilization. Most of the ideas used to form westernization came from Southernization.[11]  West Europe they were able to advance the technologies using most of the concepts from southern Asia. They developed more advanced ships instead of canoes that used by southern to do exploration. The textile industries in the Europe came from Indian empire idea of growing cotton and processing. Westernization from the 14th century continues advancing technologies hence able to control and change the perception of the whole world. Westernization from West Europe influence America civilization where scientist borrowed most of its technology ideas to develop industries in America. The technological advancement in term of infrastructure, education, communication, culture, and politics experienced in the world is as a result of westernization. 

Bibliography

Edgerton, David. “Innovation, Technology, or History: What is the Historiography of       Technology about?” Technology and Culture, vol. 51, no. 3, 2010, pp. 680-697.

Harrison, Edward. “Cosmology: the science of the universe,”2001, pp. 523-524.

McCarthy, John. The Sustainability of Human Progress. University of Oklahoma, 1996.

Shaffer, Lynda. “Southernization.” Journal of World History, 1994, pp. 1-21.

[1] David Edgerton, “Innovation, Technology, or History: What is the Historiography of Technology about?” Technology and Culture, vol. 51, no. 3, 2010, pp. 680-697.

[2] Ibid., 681.

[3] Ibid., 681.

[4] Ibid., 682.

[5] Edward Harrison, “Cosmology: the science of the universe,” 2001, 523.

[6] John McCarthy, The Sustainability of Human Progress, (University of Oklahoma, 1996). 7.

[7] Ibid., 7.

[8] Lynda Shaffer, “Southernization,” Journal of World History, 1994. 1.

[9]   Ibid., 1.

[10] Ibid., 4.

[11] Ibid., 6.

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