Scholars 6 | - Freelance Writer
May 31, 2018 | #1
Technology consistently surrounds the everyday interactions between man and the outer world, be it people or information. In our course readings Wozniak (1985) highlights many ethical concerns that we will have to face in the future as technology continues to advance. Wozniak suggests that many elements will affect the way in which interactions, the economy, and corporations will face moral issues in regards to the increasing presence technology or humanoids in the workplace.
Wozniak has asserted in his work, that human relationships would be greatly benefited if partners were switched out to robots, as they are easily programmed to be consistent, patient, clear, concise, and ideally anything that the buyer wished them to be. The only thing that they wouldn't possess is human error. These robots that Wozniak paints a picture of are ideal candidates for the workplace, individuals that would be on-time, diligent workers, and easily placed into positions without requiring a person to train them. Wouldn't it be great to walk into a more efficient workplace where duties were performed in half the time that a human could conduct it on a good day if they were in the right mood, motivated, or feeling well? How about the days that corporations are understaffed, unsupported, or even unfunded to provide wages for a human worker? The aforementioned scenarios are cases in which humanoids would most likely benefit a workplace. Yet, one can imagine how replacing humans with robots could be potentially dangerous. What about complex situations and decisions that require more than an algorithmic computation? How will robots handle situations that involve human emotion, feelings, or abstract concepts that techies can't provide concrete definitions or evaluations for?
Dependence is often a topic that continues to arise when discussing the effects of technological advances. What is an individual learning, or what knowledge is being use when they are simply pressing the button of an instrument to automatically compute locations, evaluations, placements in position to the earth, virtually anything? The human brain is losing the ability to perform the functions "the old fashion way". Think of all the complaints a math teacher encounters when he or she urges students to show their work when solving mathematical equations? How many groans are heard when they announce that calculators aren't allowed for the exam? The more their students rely on a calculator to compute equations for them, the more they'll lose the independent algebraic skills that they learned. What happens for instance when their calculator dies, or suddenly stops working? Their test will still be due at the end of class, but one can be sure that they will blame the instrument and not themselves for either receiving low scores, or not finishing the exam at all. The same would be seen in worldwide economy. Take for instance the stock market, missile launches, cruise ships, or transportation vehicles that solely rely on computer computations and algorithms to conclude numbers that then influence the choices of the people who use it; the operators may know the basis of what the computer is computing, but what for any reason would happen if that sector of the country loss power, or any energy resources for that matter? What are individuals going to do when parts break or need to be replaced and overnight shipping is not an option? The amount of control and power that comes with access to information is mind blowing. What if a technology savvy computer hacker was able to alter files in NASA's database? There could easily be a potential for another World War as Wozniak predicts. Or what would be the consequences of falsely predicting a natural disaster, inaccurately providing a currency exchange rate, or reading a false temperature of a volcano that is on the verge of eruption? Even Wozniak agrees stating that "information is seen as the hub around which revolve the issues of societal value, power, security, comfort and affluence" which he further suggests that possession of such technology will create a societal divide.
Technology in its various forms has the ability to skyrocket our economy through precise prediction, evaluation, and projections of monetary values, incentives, and profits. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the power that technology can play in the development of our country. Yet in the back of my mind I can't help but to wonder what kind of accuracy such predictions can have. What if technological measurement systems aren't calibrated correctly? The belief that humanoids will completely terminate the fear of human error is highly unlikely. The parameters that allow technology to function correctly bring its own barriers.
Even though robots could potentially be better employees than their human counterparts, how much would these devices cost? Where would the funding come from for humanoids, what would be the rules, regulations, or constitutions for allowing a robot to replace the role of a human within a company. Can you imagine a robot teacher? Will it pick up on facial expression, sarcasm, or attitude? What if the robot was teaching young children (pre-school), potty training, or children with special needs? Will the builder's put in enough computations for robots to be able to pick up on all the subtleties that make us human?
What will the presence of robots contribute in regards to communication and human interaction? In the workplace there is constant communication with groups, colleagues, discussions, meetings, and trainings. If there were humanoids present, and perhaps replaced the majority of your colleagues, how would you interact for eight hours of your day? Who would you talk to? Would it drive you mad that they didn't understand your jokes? Or perhaps they interpreted your joke literally and it blew off the one moment you had to let off some steam... Yet the robots would not be able to understand that either, as they work efficiently under the pressure and stresses that humans feel. They simply would not be able to understand your feelings. Would it bother you? Furthermore, would it affect the way you interact with your family? Would you overgeneralize the fact that robots can't understand so no one can? The pride that a human takes in the completion of work, or in the gains of a client, or in the milestones that a student has reached can never truly be understood by a man-made object. What are our feelings worth, and how much are our feelings worth to others? Are ethical codes broken when concern, gut feelings, and intuition are ruled out?
Is it worth more than human wages to keep a robot updated, fine-tuned, and programmed for its duties? Will having such technological advances place individuals in higher power and affluence just for their possession; and if so, the "haves" versus the "have-nots" will create a power struggle of the rich and poor. Should those in power simply be the individuals who can afford to obtain it, or will there still be room in society for brilliant minds?
Wozniak has asserted in his work, that human relationships would be greatly benefited if partners were switched out to robots, as they are easily programmed to be consistent, patient, clear, concise, and ideally anything that the buyer wished them to be. The only thing that they wouldn't possess is human error. These robots that Wozniak paints a picture of are ideal candidates for the workplace, individuals that would be on-time, diligent workers, and easily placed into positions without requiring a person to train them. Wouldn't it be great to walk into a more efficient workplace where duties were performed in half the time that a human could conduct it on a good day if they were in the right mood, motivated, or feeling well? How about the days that corporations are understaffed, unsupported, or even unfunded to provide wages for a human worker? The aforementioned scenarios are cases in which humanoids would most likely benefit a workplace. Yet, one can imagine how replacing humans with robots could be potentially dangerous. What about complex situations and decisions that require more than an algorithmic computation? How will robots handle situations that involve human emotion, feelings, or abstract concepts that techies can't provide concrete definitions or evaluations for?Dependence is often a topic that continues to arise when discussing the effects of technological advances. What is an individual learning, or what knowledge is being use when they are simply pressing the button of an instrument to automatically compute locations, evaluations, placements in position to the earth, virtually anything? The human brain is losing the ability to perform the functions "the old fashion way". Think of all the complaints a math teacher encounters when he or she urges students to show their work when solving mathematical equations? How many groans are heard when they announce that calculators aren't allowed for the exam? The more their students rely on a calculator to compute equations for them, the more they'll lose the independent algebraic skills that they learned. What happens for instance when their calculator dies, or suddenly stops working? Their test will still be due at the end of class, but one can be sure that they will blame the instrument and not themselves for either receiving low scores, or not finishing the exam at all. The same would be seen in worldwide economy. Take for instance the stock market, missile launches, cruise ships, or transportation vehicles that solely rely on computer computations and algorithms to conclude numbers that then influence the choices of the people who use it; the operators may know the basis of what the computer is computing, but what for any reason would happen if that sector of the country loss power, or any energy resources for that matter? What are individuals going to do when parts break or need to be replaced and overnight shipping is not an option? The amount of control and power that comes with access to information is mind blowing. What if a technology savvy computer hacker was able to alter files in NASA's database? There could easily be a potential for another World War as Wozniak predicts. Or what would be the consequences of falsely predicting a natural disaster, inaccurately providing a currency exchange rate, or reading a false temperature of a volcano that is on the verge of eruption? Even Wozniak agrees stating that "information is seen as the hub around which revolve the issues of societal value, power, security, comfort and affluence" which he further suggests that possession of such technology will create a societal divide.
Technology in its various forms has the ability to skyrocket our economy through precise prediction, evaluation, and projections of monetary values, incentives, and profits. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the power that technology can play in the development of our country. Yet in the back of my mind I can't help but to wonder what kind of accuracy such predictions can have. What if technological measurement systems aren't calibrated correctly? The belief that humanoids will completely terminate the fear of human error is highly unlikely. The parameters that allow technology to function correctly bring its own barriers.
Even though robots could potentially be better employees than their human counterparts, how much would these devices cost? Where would the funding come from for humanoids, what would be the rules, regulations, or constitutions for allowing a robot to replace the role of a human within a company. Can you imagine a robot teacher? Will it pick up on facial expression, sarcasm, or attitude? What if the robot was teaching young children (pre-school), potty training, or children with special needs? Will the builder's put in enough computations for robots to be able to pick up on all the subtleties that make us human?
What will the presence of robots contribute in regards to communication and human interaction? In the workplace there is constant communication with groups, colleagues, discussions, meetings, and trainings. If there were humanoids present, and perhaps replaced the majority of your colleagues, how would you interact for eight hours of your day? Who would you talk to? Would it drive you mad that they didn't understand your jokes? Or perhaps they interpreted your joke literally and it blew off the one moment you had to let off some steam... Yet the robots would not be able to understand that either, as they work efficiently under the pressure and stresses that humans feel. They simply would not be able to understand your feelings. Would it bother you? Furthermore, would it affect the way you interact with your family? Would you overgeneralize the fact that robots can't understand so no one can? The pride that a human takes in the completion of work, or in the gains of a client, or in the milestones that a student has reached can never truly be understood by a man-made object. What are our feelings worth, and how much are our feelings worth to others? Are ethical codes broken when concern, gut feelings, and intuition are ruled out?
Is it worth more than human wages to keep a robot updated, fine-tuned, and programmed for its duties? Will having such technological advances place individuals in higher power and affluence just for their possession; and if so, the "haves" versus the "have-nots" will create a power struggle of the rich and poor. Should those in power simply be the individuals who can afford to obtain it, or will there still be room in society for brilliant minds?