Technological revolution to a sustainable future
Q: Society’s values have changed with the technological revolution of the last half of the 21c
which is still continuing at a rapid pace. Some of those changes have led us to unsustainable
habits and production of goods and services that do not represent appropriate management or
equitable distribution of natural resources that are limited in availability. How do we continue
forward using the momentum of the technological revolution to return to a more sustainable
path?
Answer:
The word technology has essentially three meanings: tools and instruments to share nature and solve
problems, knowledge about how to create thing and solve problems and culture, which is our value
system and our understanding of the world.
Role of technology in future should be such that it should support and enhance a good life for all people
of the society, in both rich and poor countries alike, without compromising the earth’s ecosystem and
the prospects for later generations. Good life essentially means that basic physiological needs of people
are satisfied, and aspirations for freedom, self realization and belongingness are fulfilled.
Technology is so pervasive in our daily life that technology and culture are closely interlinked. One
aspect of technological advancement deals with modern technologies such as biotechnology and health
technologies, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, information and communication technologies. On
the other hand, there are intermediate or appropriate technologies. Presently they are found in rural
third world. These are small scale, energy efficient, environment friendly, labor intensive and controlled
by local community. These intermediate technologies would be more productive than indigenous
technology, as well as much cheaper than the sophisticated capital intensive technology of modern
industry. Appropriate technology is a direction for future sustainable technologies. Many features of