Potential of Technology!

The Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), was something that struck me as of large scale. The video that was showed to us was touching and after reading a few more related articles, the dependence on technology to get a step closer to reaching the goals was surprising. From the environmental fact sheet, an EU perspective, industrialization uses cutting edge technology to run the economy. However, the pollution and side-effects of industrialization is also solved using another set of cutting-edge technology. It is amazing how technological advancements will shape our ‘better’ future.

Data of development of countries and their progress, was put together in such a way that was not mundane, in just few minutes. This development in countries, is very intrinsically linked with the technological innovations within each country. It is shocking how even within each country the pace of progress varies. The USA and a few western countries, progressed rapidly, leaving far behind its African and Asian counterparts. However, from another demographics, it showed that in the future, Asia and Africa will see great progression. I think this is due to the great potential that has gone untapped in the these areas. Once we see the application of technology in these areas, the MDGs would be reached faster than we know.

The individual presentations by our peers was very intriguing, especially one on ‘Designer Babies’. This concept and leap in technology has raised several ethical debates and controversies. From one of the episodes of ‘The Doctors’, it spotted designing our own babies, as one of the hottest trends! A couple, after conceiving four girls one after another, decided to modify their fertilized egg, that could determine the gender and that the baby is without any deformities or diseases. But this would be severely abused, and that’s where debate sparks off. It was an article that had ponder more on this topic.

The key take away points from session 2 class, was that we still might be far from achieving the MDGs, as we see a very scattered efforts, such as the EU. A more united effort could better the world. Another take away, is how technology is able to modify and create life. Technology mixing with religion or creation of life is disturbing.

I would rate the first two sessions a 9, as I gradually realize the potential of technology!