Comprehensive Examination

Subject: Trends and Innovation in Technology

1. The use of technology as an empowering tool. Being technologically competent can provide an
avenue to academic and career success. Computer technology is one of the most powerful tools
available to individuals with disabilities. Technology, including computers, adaptive technology and
the Internet, can help maximize independence, productivity, and participation. It can lead to the
highest levels of success—personal, social, academic, and professional. On the other hand, our
intimate use of technology makes us more vulnerable to its misuse. Criminals can discover our
location or other personal information from our devices or subvert our digital identities. The loss of
such identifies as social media, email, or gaming personas can harm us even more because of our
reliance upon them. Furthermore, our digital identities form a large part of our reputation. Our
personal lives, methods of staying connected with one another, and reputations have never been so
fragile as they are today. This is why cybersecurity is of paramount importance.

2. Technology, as society knows it today, is revolutionising almost every aspect of day-to-day lives and
business operations, from driverless cars to data analytics in pursuit of unparalleled insights. Modern
technology is simply an advancement or innovation of old technology. An easy example is the move
from VHS to DVD, to downloads. With increased efficiency and cost savings – to a name a couple,
modern technology is positively transforming business and social circles. There are some
advantages of innovation of technologies. To name some, these are education, healthcare,
productivity and finance. The education sector is beginning to benefit from the growing list of
technologies that are emerging from behind the scenes in other industries: continually improving
connectivity, for example. As businesses transition into a state of increased connectivity, it makes
sense that the education sector should embrace this digital frontier – perhaps more so than other
industries. As modern technologies like the Internet of Things have taken off, its impact on the
healthcare sector is particularly strong. The IoT provides healthcare organisations with a variety of
patient data from an equally mixed bag of internet-connected devices in real-time. 3D printing, the
IoT, AI or analytics. All these technologies, or a combination of them, are transforming the idea of
productivity. The ability to 3D print a house, or have access to real-time machine data provides
businesses across sectors with the ability to enhance productivity levels to new frontiers – smashing
the glass ceiling above them. Artificial intelligence, for example, will begin to take over the more
menial tasks within an organisation, and allow employees to focus on more innovative and dynamic
approaches to improve operations. Financial services are being improved by one technology in
particular – blockchain. The implications of modern technology are ultimately vast for how humans
interact with each other and how businesses do business.

Innovation is an essential driver of economic progress that benefits consumers, businesses and the
economy as a whole. In economic terms, innovation describes the development and application of
ideas and technologies that improve goods and services or make their production more efficient.

3. There are many ways to protect an intellectual property. To wit:

 Copyright: It is a legal right. It gives exclusive right to the creators over their works. Such
work encompasses movies, songs, drawing, programs, software etc. However, names, short
phrases or listings are not included in US copyright.
 Patent: If you invent something, you can have exclusive right over it in the form of patent. It
also gives authority to the owner as to who will use the invention and in what way it shall be
used.

 Trademark: The most convenient way to judge how a product of one company is different
from the same product of other company is through the sign of trademark.

 Industrial design: Industrial design is another important intellectual property right. If you are
the owner of an industrial design, you have sole right over such design and you can prevent
anyone from copying your design. Hence, no third party can create or build article with similar
design.

 Geographical indication: Some products or goods have certain qualities or characteristics

which can be attributed to the place from which those products or goods have originated. In
such scenarios, the goods or products will bear the name of the place from which they have
originated. Such signs are called geographical indications.

 Trade secrets: The process or formula by which a certain product or dish is made is
commonly known as trade secret. However, this right is not formally protected by law; hence
the concerned company which prepares the product must keep it a secret. If the company
can maintain the trade secret, it will have edge over the others.