Technology

:See also: Innovation

Side Effects

There are two types of effects from the use of technology, main effects and side effects. Main effects are those intended by the technology, usually to fulfill some desire or need. Side effects are (usually) unintended, and often unknown prior to technology's implementation. This portion of the article deals with those side effects.

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Sociological

The most subtle side effects from technological uses are sociological in nature. Subtle because those side effects can go unnoticed without careful observation and contemplation of individual, institutional, and group behaviors.

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Values

The implementation of technology influence the values of society by changing expectations and realities. There are (at least) three major values that are the result of technological innovations:

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• Mechanistic World View. (McGinn)
• Efficiency. (McGinn)
• Progressivism

Ethics

Winston provides an excellent summary of the ethical implications of technological development and deployment. He states there are four major ethical implications:

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• Challenges traditional ethical norms.
• Creates an aggregation of effects.
• Changes the distribution of justice.
• Provides great power.

Lifestyle

In many ways, technology simplifies life.

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• The rise of leisure
• more informed
• others

In other ways, technology complicates life.

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• too much information
• Consumerism
• Pace
• Technistic
• New forms of danger

Institutions and Groups

• The rise of health institutions
• The commericalization of leisure: sports events, products, etc. (McGinn)
• Large organizations
• Others

International

• Globalization of values
• Embeddedness of values
• Population
• Others

Environmental

• Use of natural resources
• Pollution
• Debates over economics
• Others