Impacts of Technlogy

It is important for engineers to look at the impacts of the development and use of technology. This can be done for historical or modern technology and (as much as possible) for new technologies being developed now.

The use of technology has an enormous effect on our health and safety, our societies, the economy, and the environment. Technology has both positive and negative effects. Some of these effects were expected when the technology was first invented and used, but others were not. Items and systems of technology(tools) can be well designed or of low quality but they are not "good" or "bad" in of themselves. It is how we choose to use technology that results in good or bad effects. The same medicines that can cure disease can also kill if not used correctly. Tools that allow us to build amazing skyscrapers can also be used to destroy our creations. The ability to drive fast can help get an injured person to the hospital in time to save their life, but driving fast might have also caused the accident that wounded them in the first place. Individuals, families, communities, cities, nations and all of us collectively need to make good choices about how we use technology in order for us all to benefit from the positive effects of technology. Engineers and inventors should take the time to think about the possible impacts of their inventions so that they can do everything they can to maximize the positive and minimize the negative effects of their creations.

4 Types of Impacts of Technology

Type 1 - Good Expected

Type 2 - Bad Expected

Type 3 - Good Unexpected

Type 4 - Bad Unexpected