This week was our last week of TWC, and the final week for group presentations. Some very interesting topics were discussed this session.
The first group did their project on transportation technologies. They started off their presentation with a video. It really caught my attention, and I thought it was very well made. The group went into great detail with regard to the past, present, and future of various transportation technologies. I found the concept of vacuum trains very interesting. I think the development of such trains would revolutionize transportation to a great extent. The thought of being able to travel not only between countries, but also across continents, in a drastically shorter time than possible now, is very exciting. They also talked about teleportation, which I have undeniably wished for on several occasions. With the pace of developments in today’s world, teleportation may not just be a fantasy in the future, but could become a reality. However, on the downside, this technology could give rise to various ethical issues in terms of immigration policies, misuse by fugitives and others, and so on. The more you think about it, the less viable it seems without some sort of regulation to control its use. Overall, I found the group’s website interesting and well-designed.
The next group presented on 3D printing. It seems like a very convenient technology to own and use, and has environmental benefits as well, in terms of reducing wastage. 3D printing uses an additive process rather than a subtractive process (like similar technology that is currently in use), as discussed in one of our earlier sessions, and this will help reduce wastage of materials. Moreover, it is convenient because it enables you to print anything you want in the comfort of your home, also enabling you to customize things to your liking, and save on transportation costs. It could also increase trade and efficiency as it would enable various products to be produced at the site where they are utilized, thereby saving on transportation costs, promoting fuel efficiency and sustainability. 3D printers could also solve the problem of inequality; once designs are created, they can be downloaded and printed anywhere in the world. This technology could be put to some rather interesting applications.
The third group based their website on ‘seasteading’ as a solution to the problem of a lack of space in Singapore. Seasteading is basically the creation of human settlements on the sea or ocean. The group talked about the construction features, convenience, other benefits and feasibility of the technology that would make this possible. However, they also highlighted the fact that there may be certain challenges to overcome. These seasteads would generate a lot of pollutants which would be released into the atmosphere or dumped into the ocean, as there is no other means of disposal. Quite obviously, this would have adverse effects on marine life and ecosystems. There may also be several legal implications, but seasteading is definitely a possibility in the future. On the whole, I found their presentation very informative; and the video that they concluded with was hilarious.
The last group presented on Powered Exoskeletons. Such technology is of great use to the military, and for medical and industrial purposes. I think design is very crucial for this technology. The exoskeletons would need to be light, yet powerful, and flexible so as not to restrict movement. As beneficial as they could be, there are still certain concerns that must be dealt with. This technology could involve a high maintenance cost, and it’s very important to consider safety issues. Moreover, ethical issues may arise when such technology falls into the wrong hands and is abused. This brings us back to the fact that technology is a “double-edged-sword”, and its effects depend on how and by whom it is used.
I found the presentations this week not only informative and interesting, but also very entertaining.
I rate the session an 8 out of 10.
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