The Technological Fix? 6

Question 1

Give an example of where the attitude towards the use of technology is negative.

Answer 1

There are 200,000 Amish Christians who in general reject modern technology such as telephones as these are seen as providing connection with the wider world of non-Amish people.

Furthermore, in the UK there is a growing concern over the use of CCTV and privacy.

Question 2

Which country is affected by environmental determinism due to the lack of access to technology?

Answer 2

Haiti

Question 3

What percentage of the Haitian population live in poverty?

Answer 3

80%

Question 4

What percentage of the Haitian population are subsistence farmers?

Answer 4

67%

Question 5

Describe the political history of Haiti.

Answer 5

Prior to 1990, there was 3 years of dictatorship.

In 1994, Clinton backed Aristide’s return to power, in return for a programme of economic restructuring. As a result, Haiti received debt reliefs, loads and military support in return for deregulation through the removal of import tariffs.

Consequently, Haiti’s domestic markets could not compete with cheap subsidised rice dumped by the US.

Question 6

What was the impact of Clinton’s economic restructuring programme on Haiti?

Answer 6

The economic restructuring led to rapid rural-urban migration.

80% of the population live in slums in Port au Prince.

Question 7

What happened to Haiti in 2008?

Answer 7

800 people died.

$1 billion in damage.

Question 8

What is the GDP per Capita of Haiti?

Answer 8

$820.

Question 9

Give examples of how religion affects the inequality of access to technology.

Answer 9

Catholicism bans the use of contraception on a religious basis.

Italy, where 90% of the population are Catholic, have a fertility rate of 1.3.

Some 200,000 members of the Amish community oppose the use of modern technology such as telephones as this is seen as connecting with the non-Amish community.

Question 10

Give examples of how politics affects the inequality of access to technology.

Answer 10

North Korea is run by a communist dictatorship and is among one of the poorest 10 countries.

1 million people have access to cell phones which are not capable of internet usage, and therefore there is a deliberate control on information and technology.

Following the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962, the US have opposed Cuba and made trade restrictions due to their allegiance with the Soviet Union.

As a result, 38% of Cuban children have iron deficiency, as there is a ban on Cuba buying US patented medicines - which in turn has led to an increase in people with AIDs.

Question 11

Give an example of how cost affects the inequality of access to technology.

Answer 11

Eritrea is a war torn, isolationist, pre industrial economy who are reliant on subsistence farming. Eritrean government are involved in heavy censorship.

The Eritrean telecommunications Services are state owned and charge 200 Nafka($13) to have the telephone. A further, 500 Nafka($33) is used to get the phone ‘up and running’ which is totally unaffordable.

As a result of the political and cost barriers to accessing this technology, no Eritrean was aware of a migrant ship sinking of the coast of Libya which is evidence of government control.

Question 12

Give an example of how the Patent System affects the inequality of access to technology.

Answer 12

GlaxoSmithKline have invested millions of dollars($350 million) in the development of anti-retroviral drugs and are reluctant to sell them cheap due to the high costs of R&D.

2/3s of all those infected with HIV live in Sub Saharan Africa and they cannot afford the $1200 annual treatment cost of ARV Therapy.

Question 13

What was the global response to GlaxoSmithKline’s Patent systems?

Answer 13

The G8 Summit in 2005 began the process of making access universal by 2010 .

The World Health organization(WHO) is working towards this goal, at a cost of $20 billion a year.

Question 14

Give example of how Public Opposition affects the inequality of access to technology.

Answer 14

GM Crops are not grown in the UK because of Public opposition. In consumer surveys, 90% of the population are against them because of their impact on biodiversity.

Question 15

How has a lack of technology in Haiti exacerbated the impacts of natural disasters?

Answer 15

As a result of a lack of technology, Haiti relies on wood as the main source of fuel.

This has led to deforestation, which increases the risk of landslides and is a dirty fuel.

Just 1% of Haiti’s forests remain due to deforestation, which increases the risk of impact of storms.

Question 16

Give evidence for the link between education, innovation and development.

Answer 16

91% of South Korean age group involved in tertiary education - 67% of population are connected to the internet - 350,000+ patents in force

Question 17

What percentage of new technology patents does the US account for?

Answer 17

40%

Question 18

How much money is spent on R&D in the US and how does this compare with Africa?

Answer 18

The US spend $228 billion on research and development (as of 2004) which is equivalent to about half the total GDP for Sub Saharan Africa.

Question 19

What monopolies have been created as a result of the Patent System?

Answer 19

The TNC Microsoft, based in Seattle, has often been accused of creating a monopoly. Around 90% of the world’s computers use Microsoft Software.

In 2000, the US Department of Justice brought an anti trust legal action against Microsoft, accusing it of preventing fair competition.

In addition, Microsoft has been fined $1.6 billion in the EU over similar anti-competition charges.

Question 20

What evidence is there to suggest India could benefit from leapfrogging technology?

Answer 20

In 1998, India had 22 telephone landlines per 1000 people, compared with 550 in the UK.

Question 21

What leapfrogging technology has been introduced in India?

Answer 21

Mobile phones.

By 2007, some 7 million Indians were signing up for mobile phones each month and the number of users doubled from 100 to 200 million in a year.

Question 22

What caused the growth of mobile phone usage in India?

Answer 22

Cheap handsets costing around $40.

Low price calls and top ups costing as little as 10 rupees.

Major expansion of networks into the rural market (70% of the population) by Reliance Communications.

Question 23

What are the benefits of mobile phones in India?

Answer 23

Farmers, who used to be isolated, can check prices before going to market to sell their fertilisers.

Information such as weather warnings and hazard warnings can be sent to farmers and businesses via SMS.

Question 24

What leapfrogging technology is being used in Karnataka (South West India)?

Answer 24

SELCO Solar Energy

Question 25

What are the benefits of SELCO Solar Energy?

Answer 25

This technology employs local workers and has benefited over 40,000 families.

Children get better education as they can use the energy for lighting to complete their homework.

Question 26

What percentage of the Karnataka population were not connected to the grid?

Answer 26

40%

Question 27

What are the potential downsides of SELCO?

Answer 27

It costs £400 a unit.

Question 28

What are the economic and environmental benefits of mobile phones in India?

Answer 28

Local farmers have increased revenue.

Leapfrogging technology means the installation of landlines is ignored so there is less environmental degradation.

Question 29

What is unique about South Korea’s government?

Answer 29

Techno-centric.

The government merged smaller businesses to create Chaebols - a family owned business conglomerate which could gain huge profits and boost the economy.

Question 30

Why was the South Korean government largely pushed by technological innovation?

Answer 30

After receiving aid from the USA to keep it ahead of North Korea during the Korean War, technology was produced as a result which drove South Korea’s economy forward.