CategoryOpinion

In the 1980s, K. Eric Drexler popularized the term “nanotechnology,” proposing machines the size of molecules and computers smaller than cells. Today, nanotechnology is used in a variety of fields and has new physical properties related to quantum mechanics. While nanotechnology has revolutionized materials science, it has also been studied for its potential harms.   When K. Eric Drexler...

  Companies want workers to put in more effort, and workers want to be rewarded more. Two types of incentive contracts are used to address this: explicit and implicit contracts. Explicit contracts reward based on performance, while implicit contracts reward based on subjective evaluations. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages and should be used in combination to best fit the...

This article analyzes the essential differences between science and technology, discusses how societal values influence the purpose of technology, and highlights the responsibilities and roles of engineers.   When we say that something is “value-neutral,” we usually mean that it is free from external, subjective value judgments and has no particular ethical or social value in and of itself...

Steve Jobs’ philosophy emphasizes the importance of incorporating human emotion into technological advancements. This is the secret to Apple’s success and explains why “emotional engineering,” the fusion of technology and human emotion, is essential for future innovation.   On October 5, 2012, the front pages of the world’s media all told the same story. Apple CEO Steve...

Technological advances are transforming human life. Machines are taking over human roles, making us more efficient, but they are also creating technological unemployment and social inequality. We need to think about how we can overcome these changes.   The symbiosis between humans and machines has begun. From being passive tools that help us do our jobs, machines have evolved to become...

Technology brings convenience and efficiency to our lives, but it also brings negative impacts, such as inequality and invasion of privacy. Technology impact assessment is the process of evaluating and moderating the social impacts of these technologies, with the goal of maximizing positive impacts and minimizing negative ones.   Technology, which has existed alongside human society for a...

This article discusses the relationship between technology and society and compares technological determinism and social determinism. Using historical and contemporary examples, it emphasizes that technological progress is driven by societal needs, explains the difference between science and technology, and the value-neutrality of technology.   We often say things like, “If you can’t...

At a time of technological advancement and environmental challenges, we examine the limitations of fossil fuels and the promise of clean, renewable energy, and question why we still rely on them.   Starting with the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century in England, coal, one of the fossil fuels, became an important source of energy for humanity. Subsequently, the discovery of other...