The Beginning of Techno-life

AUTHORS NAME: Frank Propper TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: TECHNOLOGY DATE POSTED: 10 February 2011 LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or serve some purpose. The word technology comes from the Greek technologa an "art", "skill" or "craft" and loga , the study of something, or the branch of knowledge of a discipline. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include construction technology, medical technology, and information technology. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species' ability to control and adapt to their natural environments. The human species' use of technology began with the conversion of natural resources into simple tools. The prehistorical discovery of the ability to control fire increased the available sources of food and the invention of the wheel helped humans in travelling in and controlling their environment. Recent technological developments, including the printing press, the telephone, and the Internet, have lessened physical barriers tocommunication and allowed humans to interact freely on a global scale. However, not all technology has been used for peaceful purposes; the development of weapons of ever-increasing destructive power has progressed throughout history, from clubs to nuclear weapons.

The High Technology and its Effect

AUTHORS NAME: Juan Antonio Arcilla TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Weighing the Benefits and Adverse Effects of Technology In Environment DATE POSTED: September 29, 2010 LINK: http://lawandict.blogspot.com/2010/09/weighing-benefits-and-adverseeffects.html One of the advantages of technology is that it allows communication without (or at east with minimal reliance on) paper to carry our ideas. A 'paperless world' is often advocated by the use of computers and the Internet to relay information, on the premise that instead of using paper on which to write something and facilitate the exchange, a computer may be used at more efficient and speedy results. Yahoo for the trees saved! However, while the exchange occurs on some intangible plane, we still utilize objects such as computers, microchips, monitors, and of course, energy. These things STILL affect the environment adversely in two ways. First, we need resources and minerals to manufacture these objects. Second, waste is produced during the manufacturing process AND as soon as the technology becomes obsolete. It's not really surprising that at the rate technology is growing, more and more waste is being produced. Pakistan has been the dumping ground of 'e-waste' for quite some time now, with electronics from the US, Europe, Japan and Singapore making their way to the said country. It may be receiving compensation for accommodating the waste, but it's possible and very likely that it's being shortchanged in the deal. Just like any other form of trash, e-waste contains toxic and hazardous materials, which if not handled properly, would deal damage to the surrounding areas. Think about how we're instructed to dispose of batteries properly; multiply that by a factor of continents, and you'll see the grave danger Pakistan is right now.

The Disposal of Low Tech after the Appearance of Hi-tech

AUTHORS NAME: Judd Handler TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Technology Recycling: More Laws Needed? DATE POSTED: January 06, 2011 LINK: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/stories/technology-recycling-more-lawsneeded As the industry grows, experts say the government will want recyclers to be certified to handle electronic gadgets. Just a few years ago, the frontiers of technology recycling and e-waste collection resembled the Wild West. There were no rules, regulations or strict guidelines for recycling companies to follow. It was every man and woman for themselves. This led to some unhealthy practices among certain recycling companies that didnt care if the de-manufacturing process meant dumping toxic computer components into the environment. But, these days, more and more states are passing legislation aimed at regulating technology recycling and cleaning up the industry. In fact, several states have already begun requiring e-waste recycling. According to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, 24 states have passed laws mandating statewide e-waste recycling. Another six states (Arizona, Utah, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and Massachusetts) introduced technology recycling legislation in 2010. Dylan De Thomas, managing editor of Resource Recycling Magazine, predicts that more regulation will be aimed at requiring recycling processors to be certified to handle tech gadgets. Although numerous attempts at federal regulation have failed, more government agencies will require processors of electronic materials to be certified, De Thomas said. De Thomas adds that theres still a Wild West duel of sorts to see which of two main technology recycling certifications will emerge on top. Theres a lot of debate about which certification better protects the environment, he said. The two main certifications are known as R2 and E-Stewards. The formers protocol, according to De Thomas, was facilitated by the EPA (which estimates that only 15-20 percent of e-waste is recycled and 70 percent of heavy metals in landfills come from discarded electronics). Critics of R2, however, protest that non-governmental organizations (NGO) were not involved in the certification process. A more contemptuous argument against R2 certification is that the regulations are a puny 15 pages, compared to E-Stewards 116 pages. E-Stewards content was created under the auspices of the so-called Basil Action Network, a nonprofit organization that seeks to mitigate the global toxic waste trade (including tech gadgets). The tenuous principles of R2, critics say, leave plenty of room for loopholes, which unscrupulous recyclers will jump through to continue profiting from their polluting practices.Getting manufacturers involved Ken Ehresman, director of Operations for Advanced Technology Recycling, says his technology recycling program at his Illinois-based business has grown 200-300 percent annually over the last few years. Ehresman predicts that as manufacturers become more engaged in the technology recycling process, they will continue to make increasingly environmentally friendly products. These products will be easier to recycle. The cost of recycling will continue to go down as the cost of removing mercury on the backend will increasingly be removed, said Ehresman, referring to the elimination of toxic mercury in most tech gadgets.

In addition, Ehresman noted, technology recyclers are still a long way off from figuring out how to recycle plastic completely and effectively. Considering there are 10-12 different types of plastic used in the average laptop, this is still a big problem OEMs [original electronics manufacturers] will have to figure out, he said. Although official statistics are hard to come by, e-waste is commonly described as the largestgrowing solid-waste category. For this reason, Ehresman and others involved in the technology recycling business are thrilled to see the Wild West days of this industry fading away. Hopefully, within the next few years, well see some standardized federal regulations and mandates on technology recycling and e-waste collecting, says Ehresman.

Proper and Improper Use of Technology

AUTHORS NAME: Jin Sun Kim TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Advantages and Disadvantages of Advanced Technology DATE POSTED: July 13, 2008

LINK: http://scienceray.com/technology/information/advantages-and-disadvantages-ofadvanced-technology/ About the advantages and disadvantages of technology. I mention in the piece that even though there are both advantages and disadvantages of advanced technology, I wish a more developed world, with great technologies. Today, we cant imagine ourselves without technological advances such as cars, microwaves, cell phones, computers, and televisions. However, technology wont stop here, but develop further. As technology develops, there are not only advantages, but disadvantages from them. A few advantages of upgraded technology are that one can save time and money and life will be made easier as a result of not having to do all the hard labor. In contrast, the disadvantages of upgraded technology are that people will loose their jobs to machines that will do the work for them. In addition, machines and robots are too complex for most people to use. personally would want a developed world with advanced technologies. The following are the reasons why I do want a more advanced world with advanced technologies. My major reason is because when you have advanced technologies, life is much easier as robots and machines would take over your daily life chores. For example, daily life chores might be serving your breakfast, cutting your lawn, or cleaning your room. With robots and machines doing ones chores one has time to relax. Another reason is because unlike humans, robots and machines do not make mistakes when programmed correctly. They always accomplish tasks perfectly so you wont have to worry about making a mistake and getting trouble. Other reasons why I want advanced technologies are because they save a great deal of time and money. For example, if you are a wealthy man who always had trouble employing talented maids, you can buy a cleaning robot and use it for the rest of your life. Therefore, you wont have to use all your time employing talented maids. Also, you will save a lot of money from not having to pay servants. Another example of benefits from advanced technology is that if there are new, developed vehicles that will transport people to anywhere rapidly, so that one would not need to spend all those boring, long hours in an airplane to try to get to another country, which will save much time not only on long travels but also on daily commutes. As there are so many advantages from highly developed technology, there also is a great deal of disadvantages from them. One disadvantage is that as technology develops, robots and machines will take over many jobs and people will loose their jobs by contrast. As people loose their jobs, they will have hard time getting money which would make it hard for them to continue to meet living expenses. Moreover, as people use less money the economy would be difficult to control and especially if it is a country as large as the United States, the problem will influence the world greatly. Another disadvantage of highly developed technology is that machines and robots are complex. It is hard to activate all the machines you have unless you can multitask. Think

about it, if most people have trouble on computers and almost all of us dont know the actual limit of computers abilities, how will us, normal people, work with all the robots and machines? Moreover, just like computers, robots and machines will easily break and most time you wont know how to fix them and one will have to call someone to fix them. People will loose their temper over this and it will create a large expense to repair them. Even as there are as many advantages ad disadvantages of technology, I personally wish a more advanced world with great technologies. It would be so cool to work out all the complicated machines and robots. Dont you think it will be awesome to press just a few complicated buttons than do the labor yourself? In the future it would be more about using your brain and being intelligent than doing the hard labor yourself. I hope these days come within my lifetime.

Restoring Earth and Life

AUTHORS NAME: Kaci Elise TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Restore Planet Earth through Biosphere Technology

DATE POSTED: December 15, 2010 LINK: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/restore-planet-earth-throughbiosphere-technology-3849961.html Planet earth really needs saving and environmental restoration using green technologies will play an essential part in it. An effective remedy to environmental issues such as green technologies can greatly help in saving our environment. Elimination of pollutants or contaminants and proper waste management are some of the ways we can do for a start. Our natural environment is so degraded and contaminated already. If we are not going to make the initiatives in saving it, who else is going to? We are all caretakers of this planet, whatever social status we belong to, whatever our ethnicity is, or wherever place we live in. It does not matter, we are all accountable for its wreckage and it's our responsibility to take action with its restoration. If perhaps each and every nation gets serious in conserving the environment, the dream of making the world a better place to live will not continue to be a dream anymore. And we can all make this possible through our own simple ways. We can as well rely on green technologies like biosphere technology, a waste to energy system. Biosphere technology treats waste materials in environment-friendly manner by converting and recycling all wastes into marketable end products like green energy or electricity. This technology is developed to help save mankind from health risks and conserve the ecological system from total degradation. The technology uses gasification process wherein wastes materials undergo thermal conversion at elevated temperature and oxygen starved environment. Its process has passed all U.S and European atmospheric emission standards thus it is safe for human health and our environment. Undoubtedly, Biosphere Technology is a great tool for environment restoration and so far the best alternative for fossil fuels.

SLOWLY DESTROYING EARTH AND LIFE

ESTEBAN, ARNEL C. ENGLISH 121X-1X

FEBRUARY 21, 2011 MS. KAREN M. MILLANO