NANOTECHNOLOGY, LAS 432 Course Project help
ent that details at least three technologies that came before the chosen technology and thus influenced its development. Content Points Provides a horizontal visual historic timeline detailing at least 3 predecessors to the emergent technology 15 (3 points per predecessor) Includes a detailed analysis of the role that the predecessors played in the emergence of the current technology 45 (15 points X 3 predecessors assessed) Use of introduction and conclusion paragraphs 10 (5 points for each) In-text references are used and a reference page (in APA format) is included 10 (5 points for each) Editing; spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence meaning is clear 10 Total 90 The assessment should be well-written and incorporate proper grammar and no spelling errors. It should incorporate an introduction, body, and a conclusion paragraph. In addition to the Historical Timeline and Predecessor Assessment you must also submit your Smarthinking Report for this section. (10 points) • Smarthinking is a free online tutor service available to you. • You may access the service by clicking on the Tutor tab and going to the Smarthinking site. • Once on Smarthinking you should follow the following instructions to submit your essay for review. o Click on Writing Center, and submit your paper to the “Essay Center.” o Fill out the essay submission form. All red fields are required. o To upload your essay, click on the Browse button and locate your essay on the hard drive or floppy drive. We recommend that you save your writings in standard word processing formats such as Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) before submitting them. Macintosh users should add an extension (.doc or .rtf) to the file name before uploading. o Click Submit. o Then review your submission and click “Confirm Submission” You will receive a pop-up confirmation message. You must return to the SMARTHINKING website to pick up your returned essays. • To retrieve your Smarthinking report please follow these directions o Log into your SMARTHINKING account. o At the top, right side of the page you will find “Personal Archive”, please click on that. o On left side you have filters, check the “writing” box under Type, “returned” under status. On right side of this you will have your essay. o Click on the title of your essay, scroll down the page and click on “Download Essay” for Tutor Response. o Choose a location to save the file (usually on the desktop). o You can keep the default name for the file. o You should have Microsoft Word Document or Rich Text Format in the “Save As” Type box. o Click Save. o Refer to the document from the location where you save it. • Please note that it takes 24 hours for Smarthinking to return your report to you, meaning that you must plan for this in your time frames of submitting the assignment on time. o This means to incorporate their comments before you submit the draft in the Dropbox by the Sunday deadline, you should have your report to Smarthinking no later than Friday. • Be sure to upload your saved Smarthinking report to the Dropbox by the end of the week. Week 4: Analysis of Impact draft. Roughly 4-5 pages long. (90 possible points) • An analysis detailing the impact of the selected technology in relation to the following five required topics of interest o Social How has this technology been received, accepted, rejected? Why? Is it feared or favored? What is the attitude toward change? How are the developers trying to “sell” the technology to the general public? Look at attitudes, feelings (emotions), behaviors, personality, and the ways humans change as a result of this technology. What is being thought and why? Is the human mind impacted? How? Are interactions between people changing as a result? Who is included or excluded and why? Use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Piaget or some other theorist. What psychological needs are met by the technology (e.g., cell phones once granted status and now promote a sense of belonging or connectedness) or created by the technology? Consumerism? Look at groups and organizations that have arisen and prospered because of this technology. Are these groups supportive or antagonist, and why? (An example is genetically modified foods [GMOs] and the backlash against the Monsanto Corporation. Another is cochlear implants which allow the deaf to hear, yet reduce the deaf population that calls itself a community.) How does the technology change society, or how does society change in response to the technology? What factors in society led to the development in the first place? What do class, gender roles, race, norms, etc. mean in this context? Who will benefit from the technology, and who might be harmed (this might also belong in ethics/morals section)? For example, prosthetics enable people to participate more fully and actively in society (some persons are competing in triatholons and marathons), and the “war” has brought about the need for advances in prosthetic technology as casualties with missing limbs return home to the United States. Look at the workplace, new companies and/or jobs created, jobs lost (or save this for economics?). Look at roles—subgroups, people’s interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Consider crime, healthcare, schools. Surveillance cameras, for example, have recently been installed in New York City, and the result has been a decrease in the amount of crime, purse-snatching, pickpocketing, etc. Yet some fear the “big brother” effect of always being watched and tracked and concerns over “Who will guard the guards?” o Cultural This is a really important section. Consider the elements that comprise the culture and subcultures. Compare the United States use of the technology with that of other nations around the world. What is about Americans that brings about innovation, or has America declined in terms of technical innovation, scientific research 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 the culture. What has priority and why? An example: IBM was spelled out in xenon atoms. Why were these letters chosen instead of something else? What new words have been added to our vocabulary from this technology? “Horseless carriage” was used long before the term “automobile.” “Wireless” preceded Wi-Fi, and webcasting preceded podcasting. “Broadcast” was a term adapted from agriculture long before it was used for radio and television. How do musicians and artists react to the technology or use the technology or incorporate the technology in their artistic productions? For example, fiber optic lighting has been used on the stage and in parades (Disney) for costuming. The drama term “In the limelight,” for example, was derived from a lens/lighting system used in lighthouses. Look at literature—perhaps science fiction or fantasy stories—that predate the technology (Jules Verne, for example, wrote about submarines before they were actually invented and used—though Leonardo da Vinci had sketched the idea centuries before Verne). Are there any songs, short stories, poems, plays, TV shows, or films that directly make reference to the technology? Are there any “related” literary works that apply? Is the artifact in a museum or will it be? Why? How does the technology relate to concepts of beauty and novelty and human creativity? How can people express their humanity through this technology? An example: scientists experimenting with nano made a “nano guitar” that actually played a tune, though it was subthreshold human hearing. o Political Look at government policy, government intervention, government involvement (support or lack of support, funding), both nationally and internationally. Consider Congress, the President, the Supreme Court (decisions), the rate of change, liberalism, conservatism, legislation, litigation, etc. What political factors are at work in the progression or regression of the technology (e.g. lobbyists, special interest groups, partisan views, vocal advocates or spokespersons)? For example: The Americans with Disabilities Act was designed to prevent discrimination and encourage accessibility to public facilities; it impacted architects, companies, organizations and persons with disabilities through the installation of ramps (wider doors, lower knobs/handles, larger restroom stalls), the use of assistive devices in schools and in the workplace, hiring practices and lawsuits against employers, etc. o Economic Consider production, consumption, costs, variables of supply-demand, corporations, private enterprise, impact on the nation’s economy (employment, displacement, outsourcing). Are certain industries impacted more than others? Look up financial projections—expectations for growth, startup companies, the stock exchange, etc.—anything related to business and the U.S. and global economy. Who are the chief players in the business environment, and what is their role? How much has been invested in research and development? How will the price fluctuate? What economic trends are to be observed? Who will make money from the technology? Who is funding the research and development? Who controls the purse strings, and why? Look at foundations and charitable organizations, the outcomes and the nature of consumers. Be sure to use charts and tables and quantitative data in this section. Tables, figures, and data and statistics must be current, valid and used appropriately. o And the Environmental Impact Consider such things as dangers to humans, the depletion of resources, air and water pollution, discovery before inventions, impact on wildlife and humans (health and safety), long-term and short-term effects, waste disposal, aesthetic considerations (how the technology changes the landscape). Look…
