Week 12: Presentations of web-based projects!

Presentations, presentations and more presentations! It was finally the day to showcase the web-based reports that we invested our blood and sweat in. Here’s how I feel about the presentations..

DESIGNER BABIES

The first group kicked start with an interesting presentation style on the topic of designer babies. It was an informative analogy on the pros and cons of in vitro-fertilization (IVF) where a parent could easily select the traits of a baby. Some might feel that this seems rather commoditised - as though a parent is performing an online shopping in a pushcart menu. Yet, it could be seen that it is important for a parent to give an opportunity for his/her child the best that he can have. Knowing that a child is predisposed of a certain genetic disease and not doing anything about it when a parent has the capacity to do so is unethical (assuming the parents have the finances to do so). I personally would want the best for my child so I will support the idea of designer babies.

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE

My group was up next and we awed the class with our (yet another biotechnology) topic, nanotechnology in medicine. We understand that technology is becoming inextricably tied with healthcare and technology has become a smaller scale. In our research, we believed that the cure for cancer is imminent and it is actually possible to cure the malignant cells without damaging neighbouring useful cells. Drug delivery would be greatly enhanced.

SPACE TOURISM

The third group presented on the thought-provoking topic of possibly having life in outer space. It provided me a keen insight of space technology and the possibility of living in a world other than earth. Given our dwindling resources, having space tourism could be a very interesting form of entertainment.

THE PLASTIC VORTEX

The final group presented the interesting topic of having the need to clear wastes, mainly plastics, in the ocean. Known as the plastic vortex, many aquatic animals are endangered with wastes disposed from sewers and poor waste management. It pricked my moral conscience as animals are suffering the brunt of our mistakes, or lack of effort to rectify the issues. This website was very informative and it has created awareness in all of us to have individual responsibility ie using less of plastics when we can be using paper bags. Alternatively, bioplastics, if created, could reduce the burden on the environment.

This lesson was overall an informative and a visual feast as all of us had the time to enjoy the efforts from the various groups and deserves a 9/10. I’m looking forward to see what the other groups have in stall for us!

Week 11

This week’s topic was on “Technology Assessment and Forecasting”. I personally felt it was an interesting topic because it was information we can use in our individual report, in which future consideration is an important section to focus on.

The video that took my breath away was “Top 3 inventions of the world!” Teleportation, nanotelephone, google earth and salt water fuel looks far-fetched but they show the possibilities the future holds for us. Teleportation may seem like a cool idea but it might be invasive. Why? This is because teleportation is a process of deconstruction of your body and reconstruction at another location. Some might feel that it is unethical as it is as though we might be playing the role of God. The most important thing is to be F.R.U.G.A.L  in whatever we do. We have to be “Fast, Urban, Tribal, Universal, Radical and Ethical” in our future decisions.

There is always a need to find out how much to allocate resources and where to allocate them. In the process, we have to take into account the risk assessment of doing so. Similar to what Yan Gen mentioned in his presentation – technological assessment in a social context – there is a need to evaluate the social impacts as well as the social and biophysical changes in any technology.

Tying in what Siew Lin mentioned about properly assessing risks, we should be all extrapolators (future can be extrapolated from past trends), patterns analysts (future is a cyclical pattern due to the needs and wants of humans), goal analysts (future is determined by a set of beliefs and values of trend setters), counter punchers (sequence of unpredictable events) and intuitors (complex mixtures of events and trends). Being solely one will just not do as every role is inextricably tied.

I will give this lesson an overall grade of 8/10 as it was rather dry. Can't wait to see the other web-based reports next week!

Week 10: Wild Card

This week’s class started with a discussion of the shift from silicon to plastic. Using plastic electronics or plastic technology, scientists are already showing signs of manufacturing an e-book that is made of plastic instead of the usual material, silicon. How amazing is that? Not only is it lighter and more flexible, it is less expensive than inorganic conductors!

Taking a step forward, if ipads can be made with this technology, one wouldn’t have to worry about damaging it accidentally plus it could be “rolled up” as shown in the picture above. Pretty nifty eh?

The possibilities of plastic are far-reaching. What if there are plastic clothing that can possibly monitor your health? How about a sofa with an in-built remote control that can change the channels with the press of the cushion seat? More importantly, we are on the holy grail of achieving the plastic microchip. Yet even if we achieve this, more plastics would mean more pollution since they are non-biodegradable unless bioplastics are used instead? Since we are currently already in the stage of making small-scale items such as cutlery, pots etc I believe that the day would eventually come where most of the silicon objects will be replaced by biodegradable plastics.

Moving on, there was the discussion of The Perfect Woman. Built in Japan to “fulfil the needs of men” and to “satisfy them” on an emotional and psychological level sounds outrageous. No doubt, robots are superior to humans in terms of getting the housework done since they don’t tire. However, it is laughable (I apologize for my harsh tone!) to classify them- at this stage- on the same level as actual human beings given the fact that they are void of emotions. What has happened to human connection and the human touch? Furthermore, commercializing it to meet the demands of the public seem a little too drastic at this point because it might possibly lead to a decrease in social contact. That said, it seems that online dating or match-making agencies will probably be going out of business soon…

I believe that using robotics to do menial work is perfectly acceptable. After all, it is dehumanising to let people do menial tasks when they actually have the capacity to do so. Menial tasks- basically anything that is labour-intensive-  would include jobs such as road sweeping, giving out fliers perhaps? Time can be spent on spending time with family or engaging in more productive tasks. Furthermore, now that we are in the Information Age, the spread of data is so rampant. We should not be living as how we are living in the past.

This brings a social challenge- we have to re-evaluate the way we see things. Can we actually create a fair society that allows people to enjoy the things without doing silly menial jobs? What sort of ramifications will it lead to? Political turmoil? Ultimately, the question scientists and political figures have to address is whether automation have a place in today’s world.

The next invention that intrigued me was the use of biometrics. Hallelujah! Gone are the days where we have to bring cumbersome credit cards! I foresee a smaller wallet and more convenience. However, given that it is rather invasive in nature, detractors might be a little apprehensive.

This brings me to my next point of surveillance technology. Nanobots e.g. spy drones which are used to captures scenes from all around the world may be a boon for military warfare but it leads to privacy issue. Indeed, big brother is watching. The iball, which is created by our very own Singaporean entrepreneur, Henn Tan (which is the leader I am currently researching for my other mod, LTB) is a camera that is the size of a 50 cent coin. Even though it is handy, some decry that it is a restriction to personal freedom. What do you think?

Next is the innovation by SIEMENS: a total electrification of its vehicles. Providing a constant supply of electricity in a sustainable way, it is possible of powering an output of 200 gigawatts. Using the smart grid, which can be defined as:

An electrical grid is not a single entity but an aggregate of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple operators employing varying levels of communication and coordination, most of which is manually controlled. Smart grids increase the connectivity, automation and coordination between these suppliers, consumers and networks that perform either long distance transmission or local distribution tasks.

§  Transmission networks move electricity in bulk over medium to long distances, are actively managed, and generally operate from 345kV to 800kV over AC and DC lines.

§  Local networks traditionally moved power in one direction, "distributing" the bulk power to consumers and businesses via lines operating at 132kV and lower. (Wikipedia, 2010)

They are able to maximise efficiency and enhance performance of their electric vehicles. The electrical infrastructure is getting more interconnected.

Next, I would like to briefly discuss 2 of the topics brought up through presentations done by my classmates. The first is by Eileen Ng and her topic of 3D printing. I found this disruptive simply fascinating as it makes manufacturing a whole lot easier. 3D printing, which is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a 3D object is created by laying down successive layers of material is a feasible and competitive alternative to traditional manufacturing processes- lower start-up and operating costs, more environmentally-friendly and enables customization.

The second topic I would like to discuss is the topic of singularity by Hazwan. Although his presentation felt more like a movie review, the issues he raised up- Artificial Intelligence and Intelligence Amplification through examples such as Asimo, Watson, opportunity AEGIS, SIRI and other unmanned vehicles show the possibility of mankind to be overrun by machines. The key conundrums are: will we become subservient to machines? Will consciousness come into play? To be the dominant specie, we must always ensure that machines are constantly in our control.

Week 9

In an opening video entitled Climate Change, Energy and Energy & Action from the World Wild Life Fund in Brazil, the tag line struck out the importance of energy conservation. It simply reads:

Conserve your planet. It’s the only one you’ve got.

We simply cannot afford to live our current living standards because our resources will definitely not last us indefinitely. The statistics are of shock value- 23 billion tonnes of CO₂ are produced annually from the 1 billion vehicles on the roads. In Singapore, almost every family owns a car. Some may say that with higher standards of living, it is vital to own a car. No doubt about that but let us consider the current problems we are facing: traffic congestion and carbon emissions. Do we really want to continue to sit still and allow the problems to deteriorate further? With new habits, we need to continually use new technologies and come up with new ideas to innovate and do our part in conserving the environment.

In an article which I came across a while ago, there was an issue of incandescent light bulbs vs fluorescent light bulbs. Our conventional incandescent light bulbs consume 9x more energy and lasts 10x lesser. However, this has invited some detractors stating that the new fluorescent light may contain certain elements that, when shone on the skin, lead to skin irritation or when exposed to prolong periods, lead to a strain on the eyes. As such, it has not been widely accepted yet. Personally, I’m a supporter of fluorescent light since the pros of using it clearly outweigh the cons. Furthermore, as a consumer, I have yet to experience a problem as grave as skin irritation. My verdict: use fluorescent, people!

“If everyone consumed as much energy as the average Singaporean and U.S. resident, the world’s oil reserves would be depleted in 9 years.”

Something as small as changing your house light bulbs can go a long way in helping the environment. We should be morally culpable and responsible in playing our part.

On a separate but not unrelated topic, there was the possibility of reaching the target of having a 100% renewable energy by 2050. A report from the European Union shows that it is on its way to surpass its goal of generating 20% of all energy from sustainable sources by 2020, with 15 member countries also going beyond national targets. In a video Desertec: Solar Power for Europe from Africa, large panels of metal sheets store solar energy after which the energy can then be converted to other forms of energy, namely electrical for our day-to-day usage. Singapore should learn definitely learn from this. Even though we do not have deserts, we can still use solar panels to capitalize on a source that is infinite- the sun. On a side note, there was the issue of energy loss during energy transfer from the solar panels to factories. This is definitely an area of improvement. If energy yield can be increased to almost full capacity, this will surely be a formidable and revolutionary change. I believe that the prospect of having Singapore reaching 50% renewable energy by the year 2050 isn’t too far-fetched at all. Given the advancement in technology- think of the methanol economy (imagine if CO₂ could be converted to CH₃OH)-  and the increased awareness and social responsibility, the target isn’t unattainable at all! 100% is a little unrealistic given the fact that there will always be laggards. As long as there are still resources available at their doorstep, it is very hard for them to change their mindset.

Some questions to consider would be:

1)      How should we use the resources?

2)      Why are we using it so wastefully?

3)      What do we really need it for?

As a reiteration of my previous stand, we cannot afford to continue living the current lifestyle.

Here’s a food for thought: Will mankind’s insatiable demands exhaust the planet’s finite resources, or will human ingenuity lead to more efficient use of existing raw materials and the discovery of new sources of supply?

I certainly hope that mankind will not face a burning platform scenario- where the negative impacts grow so grave that it smacks right at our face before we start to react. The damages then will probably be (to a certain extent) irreparable. I believe that the government can intervene to combat recalcitrant who are unwilling to act environmentally. Using the typical velvet glove and the iron fist analogy, rewards or incentives should be given to rewarding individuals who have played their part while strict penalties could be slammed on ignorant individuals.

An area of improvement would be an elaboration of disruptive technology (it was probably left out because this is a generic topic/concept). There was the issue of "technology mudslide hypothesis". “This is the simplistic idea that an established firm fails because it doesn't "keep up technologically" with other firms. In this hypothesis, firms are like climbers scrambling upward on crumbling footing, where it takes constant upward-climbing effort just to stay still, and any break from the effort (such as complacency born of profitability) causes a rapid downhill slide.” (quoted from Wikipedia)

Interesting jargon and graph!

I would give an overall rating of 9/10 as concepts were clearly discussed and videos are once again comprehensive. Daniel’s magic trick was pretty engaging too.

See ya next week!

  

week 7

The lesson this week kicked start with the proverb of extracting the goose with the golden eggs. To ensure a sustainable future, one shouldn’t kill off the “goose” simply to derive short term needs. What we should be doing instead is to continue to feed it so that it can provide sustenance in the long run. This proverb is very apt in the world today given the fact that we have limited resources. This brings to mind the question: Are humans a pestilence/parasite to the earth? Are we doing enough to ensure that it’ll be usable for future generations? To some, we seem to be destroying the earth like a parasite and measures need to be in place.

http://www.aniboom.com/animation-video/1224/Humans!

This apocalyptic scenario might seem far-fetched but this dystopian nightmare is a preview of a possible future if we do not take action soon. Thus the question: ‘Are we enlightened enough to make a change before the negative impacts slam right at our faces?’ holds very true to our heart. This leads to the issue of waste management, which is an issue I feel is very important especially in a developed and fast-paced society such as Singapore.

In the topic of environmental bioremediation, the Love Canal is an example of our poor waste management. In the Niagara Falls, New York, located in the white collar LaSelle section of the city, the profuse dumping of toxic waste and refuse in the love canal led to a public health emergency and widespread contamination when a building was established on that very same spot. The accused, Hooker Chemical, was found to be negligent in their disposal of waste and they were prosecuted. On hindsight, this is a lesson to learn- national symbol of a failure to exercise a sense of concern for future generations. We simply cannot to rest on our laurels and allow history to repeat itself, less we want something of similar or larger magnitude to hit us in the face again. Especially given the context in Singapore where we have no natural resources other than labour, we cannot afford to be hit with such a huge blow. Why? The reason is that there will be heavy ramifications: plummeting of the economy and losing of trust in the government.

In the area of sustainable biotechnology and the environment, biocrops could be a healthier alternative. Not only does it leave a lighter environmental footprint in an economic way by using biotechnology, it also allows for a higher yield, the farmer’s resistance to crop diseases which can wipe out the entire harvest and able to withstand harsh weather conditions. With a better crop, it’ll feed more mouths too, thus combating the issue of famine. The global energy use through renewable resources like biofuels can produce ethanol which can continually provide for tomorrow’s needs. In fact, the use of ethanol is a good substitute and data supports it. Ethanol reduces 2.1m^3 of car emissions, which contributes to 85% or more of carbon emissions. Furthermore, 1billion of barren land is not utilised when we grow bioenergy crops allowing for its use to build infrastructures meant for other purposes. Overall, I feel that most, if not all the countries, should adopt this. This is further emphasized by the push factors: provides large socio-economic benefits; reduces environmental footprint and makes us better environment stewards. I say that if the pros outnumber the cons, go for it.

The presentation by Jessie on bioplastics was interesting. Green, sugar based plastics used by walmart etc biopolymer (PLA- polyactic acid or biopolymer) can be used instead of the conventional polyethene. This idea should be implemented with immediate effect as they are environmentally friendly ie because they are biodegradable, they do not emit harmful gases when they are incinerated.

On the issue of food security, GM foods was mentioned by a fellow classmate, Gao Miao, who walked us through the pros and cons. What struck out was the question: if given a choice, will you choose GM foods over traditional foods? Being a practical person, if GM foods contain a higher nutrition value, I don’t see why they should be condoned or avoided.

Branching from this is the issue of the Super Cow. A breed of cows that produce milk that are superior in terms of nutrition value; produce more milk per day; produces more fat per gallon of milk. However we have to bear in mind that the ends should justify the means. Looking at how the supercows are, they are so unnaturally enormous in stature, their knees are not suited to shoulder the weight. This may lead to joint problems. And also given its sheer size, it is not even fit for running. What will animal welfares think of this? Such methods are inhumane as the welfare of the animal is not considered.

Overall, this is an interesting lesson and it engaged my funny bones, especially when prof quipped about tenderizing meat when the issue of animal abuse and beating was brought up. I would therefore rate it a 9/10 as most aspects that I had set up to achieve have been addressed. There were quite a number of videos used throughout the course and it stimulated my interest a lot. I look forward to the next lesson!

Week 6:

This week’s lessons kicked start with a mind-blowing video on futuristic gadgets that were never thought to be possible. The future of humanity looks pretty darn good!

Moving on to the main bulk of the lesson, Prof introduced the quote which I find to be really pertinent and meaningful.

 A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in

What this actually means is to plan to meet the needs of future generations. We need not be selfish or else the world might not be able to sustain in the long run.

To illustrate this, I would think that the area of donation to the sperm bank to maintain a large gene pool for infertile couples for example is a possible prospect we can develop. Even in the biobusiness arena, if we are able to culture micro-organisms and grow insulin for diabetes patients lives would be more fulfilling.

The idea that prof mentioned (which amazed me) was the spider web protein. Although I currently do not have the name of this technology/innovation, the spider web protein has the capabilities of providing tensile and durability on military equipment. This would be a great boon (in Singapore) to the Singapore Armed Forces. This led me to think: How could something that is seemingly thought as insignificant could serve as a revolutionary innovation? Thus the takeaway point would be to not dismiss anything in its entirety. You never know if it will be an entrepreneurial stroke of genius.

There was also the issue of metabolic syndrome, a medical disorder that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Sadly, this affects one in five people in the United States and prevalence increases with age. Could there be a time where the genes could be modified so that the body is immune or more resistant to such a disease? I believe it is plausibly and possibly so. Given the fact that portable dialysis pack already exists in the world today (and it has empowered diabetes patients a new lease of life and to be mobile whilst undergoing treatment), tweaking the gene is not so far-fetched after all.

This substantiates Reading  1, which is about the making of healthcare more accessible ie not just the private but also the public sector. More investment is funded for Research and Development purposes to stem out ailments ranging from diseases of access such as gout and obesity which are very possible to prevent to diseases of bandaid- a global burden of diseases like lower respiratory infections such as diarrhoea and major depression. It is also explains the vicious cycle the poor are trapped in. Without money to spend on medicine, they fall prey to diseases. Perhaps the route of the poverty cycle would be education but then again, it is always easier said than done.

We ended the day with a number of presentations. It was my turn to present this week and I showed the class my topic entitled the ViRob. In a nutshell, it is a micro-robot that serves as a mode of drug delivery (yes, in travels through your veins/bloodstreams). Although it has currently a few kinks, I’m actually looking forward to the day of its manufacture. I was initially a little reserved in using this technology given how invasive in nature it is but let’s face it. In a scenario where you’re diagnosed with say a terminal illness like cancer, would you still be bothered by how invasive a process is? I believe in this case, health comes first; the process is merely secondary.

Rating: 9/10

To conclude with a quote:

 In the sick room, ten cents' worth of human understanding equals ten dollars' worth of medical science.  ~Martin H. Fischer

Week 5- Big Brother is Watching

TWC week 5 kicked start with a video of Milo, a virtual being from Project Natal who was interacting with Claire (human being). I was fascinated at how he was able to exhibit very human-like characteristics. Although there were some problems with the logic of flow in his response to Claire’s questions, it seemed so surreal as though I was staring right at a virtual presence of a future me. The prospect of being able to communicate to a virtual interface is simply amazing.

This also led to a discussion on kinect, a gaming technology that has been linked with windows interface. With such interactive features in place, it is very easy for us to kill 2 birds with 1 stone ie playing games while keeping fit (to a certain extent by having to jump about or swing your arms madly). Or on a more global and useful scale, military training such as range practice (simulation of the actual live firing) which I partook not too long ago, flight simulation exercises for airforce pilots and architectural 3D practice can be derived from such a technology. Incredible? Definitely.

What left a lasting impression on me was the concept of wireless technology where data could be transmitted from one device to another via wifi, mifi (wireless wifi) or 3G technology. Paula’s article, which was on transmission of data from 1 Ford vehicle to the next could really help commuters take a more informed decision of which route to take in case of a jam or even an accident.

This actually led to the issue of privacy. Yes, Big Brother is watching but I believe privacy is overrated. I mean, is letting someone know of your whereabouts or even cookies (not biscuits, data packets) from a website such a concern to you? Definitely not. In fact, many people are already using 4square on their iphones to “check in”, an idea which I find quite nonsensical (pardon me, apple fans). I seriously don’t see a purpose in letting others know what a social animal you are. No doubt a line has to be a drawn. But insofar as our national security is upheld, I’m willing to give up part of my privacy. As in the case of equivalent trade, one always have to give up something for the other. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as free food in the world. How true.

To end off with a quote:

As a social good, I think privacy is greatly overrated because privacy basically means concealment. People conceal things in order to fool other people about them. They want to appear healthier than they are, smarter, more honest and so forth.

Richard Posner