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The Dark Side of Technology Video Clip Review The Dark Side of Technology Video Clip Review Michio Kaku is a futurist who specializes on theoretical physics and in his video ‘The Dark Side of Technology’, he looks at the pitfalls that come with the development of technology. He looks at the possibility of viruses such as Ebola or HIV/AIDS being made into weapons and the impact such viruses can have, especially, if they are airborne (Kaku, 2011). The manipulation of lifeforms is something that also has its own threats as the technology for carrying out this procedure develops.
This is another area where Michio Kaku cites as a pitfall of technology development. He also looks at nuclear bomb development and how this technology has developed over the past years as well as the problems arising from it. He finally highlights the effects of global warming, which are mainly caused by development of technology and the impact it can have on the future of the human race. I agree with his position mainly because of the possibilities that he cites according to various categories of technological tribulations.
According to the video clip, the speaker talks about the possibility of deadly viruses being converted into weapons and this is becoming an ever-increasing threat with development of technology. The fact that the genomes of these viruses are easily available on the internet is a threat in itself because it takes a simple download button and one has the core component of creating this virus. The sequences of deadly virus genomes such as anthrax are readily available on the internet and this itself makes the internet an open source of unlimited threat.
Technology also has seen the improvement of research methods and the possibility of the creation of a super virus that has the potential of wiping out the human race. It should be noted that this problem cannot be overlooked. Nuclear energy has also seen a major improvement in technology in recent times especially in the area of nuclear weapons production. The latest technology, whereby, laser beams are used to enrich uranium has the potential to be developed in the coming years such that it will be inexpensive thus making it accessible to many countries.
One can only wonder what would happen if a majority of countries had nuclear weapons and a world war happens to break out. That thought is enough to provoke the thought of the possibility of human extinction. The other negative effect of technology development in the form of global warming has seen the rise of sea levels and in the near future, there will be a possibility of dry land being immersed in water and displacement of people will be inevitable. The coastal areas of most continents are below sea level and with rising sea levels; dry lands will be submerged underwater.
Already, there have been reported cases of islands being submerged as a result of rising sea levels (Vamosi, 2011). Development of technology has undoubtedly done more good than harm for the human race. However, the overriding fact is that technology also comes with a dark side that presents threats. In addition, technological advancements have astronomical threats that cannot be overlooked (Bocij, 2006). I concur with Kaku’s position primarily because of the prospects that he cites in line with various categories of technological harms.
Kaku concludes by stating that the manipulation of lifeforms is a phenomenon that also has its own threats.ReferencesBocij, P. (2006). The dark side of the Internet: Protecting yourself and your family from online criminals. Westport, CT: Praeger.Kaku, M. (May 2011). The Dark Side of Technology [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTi4v3HveqEVamosi, R. (2011). When gadgets betray us: The dark side of our infatuation with new technologies. New York: Basic Books.
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