Week 10

Brief Overview/Summary
The lesson explores technology which would be incoming, or are still in development, where many of the technologies would change the way our world works.
Interesting Observations and Ideas

• Many technologies are viable, but are not implemented or commercialized due to their high costs
• The idea of smart investments, like Warren Buffett who attempt to recognize a product's value when it is still in the development stages
• The idea of technologies improving our ability to process information or communicate in a more efficient way, when technology effectively resulted in a processes which are way too fast, is there a need for more technologies to do so.

Key Take Away Points

• Technology is largely focused on areas where commercialization is more possible, where the products would be better received
• The influence of technology on our lives is large, sometimes scary. Issues such as accidents due to hand phones, social recluses who prefer to form relationships with A.I., cyber bullying and loss of privacy.
• New technologies aim to make our lives more interactive, but we lose interaction in the process.

Issues for Further Discussion

• Technology progress should be determined by what we need to survive, or what would make our lives better?
• Technologies which have been proven to be impractical such as A.I., should funds still go into the area, or is it better to use resources on other areas with greater potential?

Personal Ratings for Session
7/10, there are many technologies which are showcased, but most of the technologies are most towards improving our lifestyles, and have little impact to our survival, which will not affect our lives as much.

Week 9

Brief Overview/Summary

The lesson reviews the global energy trends, past, present and future, by looking at our energy expenditure from the former, where there is general inefficiency in production due to pollution and other effects, to an increasing expenditure, causing a overuse of resources, to the movement to a sustainable model.

Interesting Observations and Ideas

• Most renewable resources take up space, where many have argued to be able to fit into many of the small unused pockets of space within architecture, to attain more space efficiency.
• Space is a resource which is vital to use properly, especially in smaller countries like Singapore, so to save space in their own country, desertec is thought up
• Need to speed up the process of sustainable energy, so fossil fuels can be used at a lower rate, for more useful products
• Singapore needs to step up, since it would be easier to adopt the infrastructure in a small country, so we have a chance of becoming the first completely energy sustainable country

Key Take Away Points

• BRIC countries such as China are actually the greatest proponents of Green Technology
• The movement for sustainability is gaining momentum, such that everything including trash is being reused and utilized fully.

Issues for Further Discussion

• Reason for investing in green technology for developing countries might go beyond the practical benefits of energy sustainability in the future, it might also help change the way they design and do their infrastructure, so that there will be lower costs as most of the technology has been incorprated during development
• Pollution and environmental problems have shifted to developing countries, is this due to the development of the countries, or is it due to corporates shifting to this countries instead?

Personal Ratings for Session

8/10, the lesson takes a critical look at our energy consumption, and shows the improvements we have to make, if not we will perish.

Week 7

Brief Overview/Summary

The lesson is about biotechnology in our used in our environment, agriculture, and other industrial purposes. The lesson covered topics such as food supplies around the world, with multiple ways we could remedy hunger, and also the ways food is used around the world.

Interesting Observations and Ideas

• The efficiency of farming processes, so yield is way higher despite less land used for it.
• Food production outpacing required food consumption, yet many people still die of hunger
• The different colours of biotechnology, blue for marine, red for medical, white for industrial, green for environment and agriculture.
• The inefficiency of biofuels, yet the popularity of the technology.

Key Take Away Points

• The way we distribute food around the world needs to be changed, if there is really a want to end world hunger
• The interesting concept by Cedric, that agriculture is one of the largest mistakes. It is an interesting thought after i gave myself sometime to think about the topic itself, it might be true. Without agriculture, there is little need for settlements, without settlements, there will not be widespread war, deforestation, or even pollution.
• The possibility of turning our own waste into food again, makes many cringe, but animals such as rabbits re ingest their own waste due to nutrients still left in it makes it look very viable, the only issue would be our mental barriers.

Issues for Further Discussion

• The issues which GM food might bring into the market.
• The urban displacement with the advancement of many third world country might slowly reduce food production, as less people are willing to undertake such a job.

Personal Ratings for Session

9/10, many interesting thoughts, the presentations are interesting, some are funny, especially the one for waste as food.