Brief Overview/Summary of the
themes/topics addressed during the session
This session wrapped up the TWC module.
The groups covered quite a number of things
including Internet of Things, Satellites, Biotechnology and Green Architecture.
Some of which were discussed in class previously and I thought the recap of
these topics were a good way to put a full stop to the module.
Interesting
Observations and Ideas (ideas and
concepts that captured your attention)
INTERNET OF THINGS
What is the Internet of Things? (I)
The group presented about the various benefits and
implications of the Internet of Things, including smart homes; smart office;
journey time prediction; sustainability; improved health care, etc. Professor
Shahi and other students have touched on this theme quite frequently in the
past few sessions. This shows how prevalent this technology has become in this
modern world.
It was quite interesting to explore in depth about
this technology through the group’s website. Basically, the Internet of things
is a fascinating technology, in which our physical objects communicate with
each other and is able to work in a way that complement our needs.
What is the Internet of Things? (II)
In particular, I am very much looking forward to
smart home technology. With devices being able to familiarise with our
preferences and our daily needs, life would definitely simplified and easier.
Comfort and ease would truly be within the reach of our fingertips.
Smart Home
I think it is quite exciting that technology has
progressed to the extent that we can modify it to meet our wants and request.
These technologies are something so familiar to us because we often ask for the
existence for such technologies in the past and even, today.
It all starts with simply asking questions like
“Can my home prepare meals for me?” or “Can my home tell me who’s at home?” or
even “Can my home clean itself when I am out?” – and there will be a market for
this technology.
Based on the website, the “Internet of
everything” could be something of the future. It is in my opinion that when
everything becomes interconnect, our lives will become more open. And when that
time comes, technology like Facebook or Twitter will not be seen as a big deal
in the context of exposing our privacy. Though there may be many controversial
issues that come with this, the benefits will be immeasurable.
I think Mark Zukerberg said it right - Facebook was not originally created to be a company. I taw built to accomplish a social mission - to make the world more open and connect.
CONTROVERSY IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
The group covered issues regarding GM food,
designer babies and cloning. What caught my attention was that despite people entirely
informed of GMO technology, they did not believe in it. I suppose this is the
“resistance” of the late adopters of technology (given GMO has been around for
a long while already).
Like what I raised in the Q & A section, I do
believe that GM food will become a necessity in future. This is because of the
rapid population growth and the various measures to increase this rate. GM food
would help to resolve the nutrition problem and food supply problem in many
developing countries, which are plagued with starvation due to natural
disasters.
I think that designer babies and cloning do have
their social implications. These technologies have been a common topic of
discussion for a while now, and even though I have my reservations about them,
I do think that there is a practical perspective to these controversial
technologies. From a practical perspective, I think these technologies can
indeed help to extend human lives and improve human beings. And this is
something that many have been searching for, since the past.
However, it is a question of how we want to live
our lives and whether we are ready to live with the changes and implications
that this technology may bring.
GREEN ARCHITECTURE
I enjoyed this presentation thoroughly. I learnt
plenty of new things.
Before this presentation, I was unaware that
Singapore had buildings that were using solar energy to power the electricity
supply in the shopping mall. Innovative technology such as collecting rainwater
to water the plants and flushing toilets are also built in these
buildings. Some example include 313 @
Somerset, City Square Mall, PARKROYAL, etc.
I think that the sustainable efforts are truly
commendable. This shows that the path towards sustainability has in fact,
started. It is not just talks, but real action has taken place.
I loved the group’s proposal. It was
really creative, especially the way they presented it in class.
Green architecture has become very important to Singapore because of
the scarcity of land. If we want to create a sustainable city, there is a need
to infuse this sustainable technology into our buildings. This is mainly
because we are unable to sacrifice these buildings to make space for forests/
greenery due to our limited land.
Key Take Away
Points (the 2 or 3 key messages from the
session that you intend to keep in mind going forward)
1) There are many things discussed in class that are happening
concurrently on a day-to-day basis.
2) We may not be aware of what is happening in the
labs, institutions or organisations (where research is conducted), but we have
to keep up to date about the latest technology and the success/ implications,
so that we can be prepared for the changes.
For example, on 12 Nov 2014 ET, there was a breakthrough in space technology. A
spacecraft from Earth landed on the face of a
speeding comet in space and it is able to communicate with scientists on Earth.
Such technology can help us learn about our universe, the space, and more about
Earth, and even about how everything came about. Mysteries about comets can be
revealed
But what is interesting
about this issue is that our communication technology has become so advanced
such that we are able to communicate with a spacecraft that is moving through
space at a fast rate.
Furthermore, the spacecraft
had travelled 10 years and had been harnessing energy from the sun to sustain
itself in its space travels. This shows how advance our space technology is
today.
(The following are interesting articles that talk in details about the spacecraft landing on the comet)
Personal Ratings
for Session (how you would rate the session on a
scale of 0 to 10. Feel free to be as subjective as you like in your assessment)
I enjoyed this last
session. I would rate it a 7/10. It might not have been the most fruitful one,
but I thought it ended with a good note.
