Exploring the Impact of Technology: 78 Essential Questions
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Technology's Questions
Recently, a Beauty Shot focusing on NFTs sparked my thoughts about a particularly intriguing section in The Book of Beautiful Business. Here, I present it in hopes it encourages engaging discussions. —Megan Hustad
The list of “78 Reasonable Questions to Ask About Any Technology” was developed, discussed, and refined by over forty participants during the Megatechnology conferences in 1993 and 1994. The core of this list originates from a contribution by Hazel Henderson during a 1980 conference titled “Technology: Over the Invisible Line?” As reported in Turning Away from Technology: A New Vision for the Twenty-first Century, edited by Stephanie Mills, these 78 inquiries are designed as tools to deconstruct the megamachine and restore a more organic existence. They are crafted to be accessible and to provide lasting insights when approached with optimism and creativity. —Stephanie Mills, editor
Section 1.1: Ecological Implications
- How does it impact the health of our planet and individuals?
- Does it help maintain or diminish biodiversity?
- Does it support or harm the integrity of ecosystems?
- What effects does it have on land?
- How does it affect wildlife?
- What types and amounts of waste does it produce?
- Does it follow principles of ecological design?
- Does it disrupt the renewal connection between humans and nature?
- Does it promote or hinder cultural diversity?
- What is its overall ecological impact?
Section 1.2: Social Considerations
- Does it foster community engagement?
- How does it empower community members?
- In what ways does it influence our understanding of needs?
- Is it aligned with building a communal, human-focused economy?
- How does it affect interpersonal relationships?
- Does it weaken social interactions?
- Does it undermine traditional community structures?
- How does it shape our perception of the world?
- Does it encourage a variety of knowledge forms?
- Does it support or detract from traditional knowledge renewal?
Chapter 2: Practical, Moral, and Ethical Dimensions
In the first video, Street Cop Podcast #78: How to Build RAS from Roadside Questions, the host discusses the importance of asking the right questions in various scenarios, particularly in law enforcement contexts.
- What does it produce?
- Who benefits from it?
- What is its intended purpose?
- Where was it manufactured?
- Where is it typically utilized?
- What happens to it when it becomes obsolete?
- What are the costs associated with it?
- Can an everyday person repair it?
- What is the full scope of its financial implications?
The second video, Street Cop Podcast #86: Permissible Questions During a Motor Vehicle Stop, explores the legal framework guiding interactions during traffic stops, highlighting the significance of appropriate questioning.
- What values does its usage promote?
- What benefits are derived from it?
- How does it impact individuals beyond its immediate utility?
- What potential drawbacks exist in its use?
- How does it affect marginalized groups?
Chapter 3: Vocational and Political Perspectives
- How does it influence craftsmanship?
- Does it stifle or enhance human creativity?
- Is it the least intrusive technology for its task?
- Does it replace or assist human effort?
- Can it adapt to organic situations?
- What is its effect on the quality of products?
- What implications does it have on the meaning of labor?
- What is its mystique or allure?
- Does it centralize or distribute power?
- Does it create a knowledge elite?
- Is it inherently totalitarian?
- What bureaucratic structures does it necessitate?
- What legal frameworks does it invoke?
- How does it affect moral authority?
- Does it require military support?
- What role does it play in warfare?
- How does it contribute to mass behavior or thought?
Chapter 4: Aesthetic and Metaphysical Reflections
- Is it visually appealing?
- Does it contribute to aesthetic degradation?
- What auditory impact does it have?
- What rhythm or pace does it establish?
- How does it shape quality of life distinct from economic status?
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