Course: EW503 Advanced Technologies

3 Credits – 3 Recitation Hours – 0 Laboratory Hours


Course Description:

This course provides students with background and insight into the implications of emerging technologies, focusing on the impact of these technologies from a global, societal perspective. Students use fundamental scientific and engineering skills to analyze state-of-the-art technologies and predict directions of future expansion and application of these systems. Sample topics include nanotechnology, cybernetics, genetic engineering, intelligent highway vehicle systems, etc. Credit cannot be received for both EW462 and EW503


Pre-requisites:

1/C ERCH major

Course Coordinator:

Prof. Bishop

Textbook:

None

Course Objectives:

1) Articulate the importance and impact of forward thinking in technology matters.

2) Follow the methodology for sound projection of emerging technologies.

3) Apply rigorous socio-technological analysis tools to novel technologies.

4) Understand the science, state-of-the-art, and long-term implications of a variety of important emerging technologies.

5) Understand the roles of money, society, politics, and other relevant factors in technological development.

6) Tie projection and prediction of advanced technologies to life at the USNA and the military service.


Topics:

  1. Projection, Prediction, and Valuation

  2. Sager's Technology Integration Coordinates

  3. MacKenzie's Uncertainty Trough

  4. Cognitive Biases and Consensus

  5. Technology Diffusion Models

i. Power of Tech

ii. Disruptive Technologies

iii. Change Function

  1. The Hype Cycle

  2. Specific technology analysis: Examples

i. Human Genetic Engineering

ii. Nootropics

iii. Fiction-driven analysis

iv. Passenger drones and personal flight tech

v. Deepfakes

vi. Blockchain

  1. Student presentations inspired by sci-fi fiction novels