Assignment 3

3.) As a class or a small group, brainstorm a list of potential technological developments that could become reality in the next 15 years. By consensus, give each development a rating of 1 (low) to 10 (high) in order to indicate the group's feeling about the likelihood of it becoming reality withing this time period. Make a list of potential impacts of the development on the individual, society, and the environment. Some examples are: IQ-increasing drug; NY to LA Mag-Lev Train.

5 Technological Ideas:

(1) Hover Cars- Likelihood of becoming reality (3)
Impacts: Individual- Possibly more dangerous travel, may also be safer depending on how the technology is handled.

Society- Sense of futuristic enhancement. Travel could be faster and quieter, but probably less energy efficient.

Environment - Could cause less/more pollutants to the air depending on combustion system, if this is the system used..



(2) Cloning of Humans - Likelihood of becoming reality (8)

Impacts: Individual -Could result in "zombies" or brain dead humans being created.

Society: Different responses ,Lots of Contraversy, activist groups, pro & con clone, pro Environment - Operations used in cloning could result in harm to environment, or ozone layer. Also, new dangerous substances, If the population gets bigger due to cloning, there would be an increase in carbon, therefore causing more ozone completion.



(3) Computers which can "think" - Likelihood of becoming reality (9)

Impacts: Individual- Possible better quality of life.

Society: Possible unecmployment rate increasing because of computers controlling many parts of the economy.

Environment -Possible depletion of metals because of excess mining to create computers.



(4) Space Travel to and beyond mars by humans - Liklihood of happening (8)

Impacts: Individual- Greater opportunities in space travel, opportunity for humans to see the universe.

Society: Possible migration to other planets.

Environment- Combustion of excessive amounts of fossil fuels may harm ozone layer and posssible deplete fossil fuel supplies on earth.



(5) Underwater settlements - Likelihood of happening (3)

Impacts: Individual- Opportunity to live in an antlantic-like society.

Society: Place for humans to live if population of earth takes up all land space.

Environment - Could interfere with marine life.



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