Technological Fix Flashcards
Relating to Edexcel A Level Geography, Unit 3, The Technological Fix (113 cards)
1
Q
Describe the technological life cycle
A
Early market- early adopters of tech, visionaries, begins to become more mainstream as more people accept it and use it (and price decreases), decreases when new technology is introduced
2
Q
Why does the technological life cycle become shorter over time?
A
Due to an increased rate of advances, so the speed of change increases
3
Q
When do people generally accept technology?
A
When it will improve their quality of life
4
Q
What is the word used to describe those opposed to technology change?
A
Luddites
5
Q
How many CCTV cameras does the UK have?
A
Over 10 million
6
Q
What is the technological fix?
A
The expectation of people that continuing tech developments will help tackle new problems as they arise
7
Q
What is an attitudinal fix?
A
Changes in human behaviour
8
Q
Which areas have a high percentage of the population with electricity?
A
MEDCs e.g. USA, UK, Australia, Middle East (around 2/3 covered)
9
Q
What is the difference between Eastern Europe and Western Europe relating to electricity coverage?
A
Western Europe = almost 100%, Eastern Europe = around 2/3
10
Q
How is hyperconnected defined?
A
Having a Digital Access Index score of over 0.75
11
Q
Which key areas are technologically poor and rich?
A
Poor- central Africa, parts of Asia
Rich- USA, UK, Finland, Japan
12
Q
Is technology pervasive?
A
Worldwide, no- still a number of tech poor countries where the DAI is below 0.5
Often pervasive in MEDCs (majority of Europe and North America)
13
Q
Why does a lack of technology hamper development attempts?
A
Developing world often reliant on capturing energy directly through solar and wind power, need access to technology to exploit fossil fuels to begin development process
14
Q
Why do patents cause concern for poorer countries?
A
Cheaper copies of drugs and tech cannot be made, so access to possibly life-saving tech not possible, funds are returned to developed countries (e.g. USA accounts for 40% of all tech patents)
15
Q
What does the EASSy stand for?
A
East African Submarine Cable System
16
Q
When did construction on the EASSy begin?
A
2008
17
Q
Where will the EASSy run?
A
From South Africa to Sudan with landing points in 6 countries
18
Q
How will the EASSy affect the cost of Ugandan internet connection?
A
Will fall between $45 and $200 a month
19
Q
How much does internet access cost in Uganda compared to Kenya, who has had help from the World Bank?
A
Uganda- $2,300 a month to access 512 megabits a second
Kenya- $500 a month
20
Q
Which 3 countries will be initially eligible for the World Bank and IFC’s undersea fibre-optic cable?
A
Kenya, Burundi, Madagascar
21
Q
How much do Ugandans spend a year for internet access?
A
$18 million, the highest in East Africa
22
Q
How does the level of economic development create inequality of access to technology?
A
MEDCs and TNCs invest more into R&D, protect innovations, restrict access in LEDCs through patents, MEDCs have funds to invest into infrastructure to support technology e.g. HIV drugs limited in LEDCs due to patents, Brazil started to make cheaper but illegal copies of some technologies
23
Q
How do physical reasons cause inequality of access to technology?
A
Some technologies are only suited to particular physical locations and conditions e.g. HEP needs mountains and impermeable rocks, solar energy needs sun
24
Q
How do political reasons cause inequality of access to technology?
A
Some national Governments limit access to control info they receive e.g. China have control over Google, North Korea ban mobile phones and have censorship
25
How do historical reasons cause inequality of access to technology?
Influence on current wealth and political systems
26
How do environmental and social reasons cause inequality of access to technology?
Some people shun certain technologies due to their impacts e.g. environmental groups like Greenpeace reject nuclear energy and GM crops
27
How do religious reasons cause inequality of access to technologies?
Sometimes against belief e.g. Amish
28
Why is it worth protecting London from flood damage? (3)
6th largest city economy, population of over 7 million (12% of UK's total), generates 20% of total GDP
29
What is the main cause of flooding in London?
Located on floodplain along banks of tidal estuary of Thames
30
What technological solution has been implemented in London to combat flooding?
Thames Barrier
31
How much did the Thames Barrier cost to build and when is it expected to last until?
Cost £535 million, expected to last until 2030
32
By 2007, how many times had the Thames Barrier been put into operation?
103 times
33
What is environmental determinism?
Belief that physical environment has an often controlling affect on human beings
34
What are the 2 geographical causes of flooding in Dhaka, Bangladesh?
Located on floodplain of Buridanga on lower reaches of Ganges-Brahmaputra delta
City is flat, lying close to sea level
35
What organisation was established after the 1988 floods in Bangladesh?
Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project (DIFPP)
36
What structural measures were implemented after the 1988 floods in Dhaka (part of Flood Action Plan)
Building embankments and levees to hold back floodwaters
37
How much od Dhaka did they originally want to cover by flood protection, and which area did they end up protecting after funds were not raised?
Initially- 260 square km, started protecting more densely populated area
38
When did Dhaka flood again after 1988?
1998
39
In 1998, how much did repair costs reach after flooding in Dhaka?
Over $200 million
40
In 2007, how many people were HIV+?
Around 33 million
41
Which country had the largest number of HIV+ people in 2007?
South Africa- 5.5 million
42
What did a UN conference in 2006 agree to do relating to HIV?
Aim created to provide drugs to anyone needing them by 2010 at a cost of $24 billion
43
How effective is the current HIV vaccine?
30%
44
How many people worldwide are on treatment for HIV/ AIDS?
More than 5 million
45
What barriers have there been in combatting HIV/AIDS? (4)
Cultural resistance about talking about diease e.g. China and India, funding cuts in EU and USA, some countries cannot get funding e.g. Jamaica, broken communities- HIV+ excluded
46
What are generic drugs?
Cheaper copies of patented drugs
47
How is ICT being used to track HIV treatment in resource-poor countries? (October 2006) and what barriers are there with this?
Link between aid agencies in hard-hit African countries, using cost-effective information systems and involving locals, issues- only available in certain countries, locals may not want to be involved
48
How does HIV-free breast milk work and what barriers are there? (May 2007)
'Flash-heating' of infected milk inactivates virus, easy to do, issues- resources (thermometers and timers) needed, cultural changes needed, as it is not direct breastfeeding
49
How has oral vaccine technology developed to help combat HIV/ AIDS and what barriers are there? (June 2007)
Department of Trade and Industry granted £1.1 million for development, tech comes from research used to develop oral vaccines for anthrax and plague, issues- dependent on trials, could be costly
50
How does elimitating HIV from semen work to combat HIV/ AIDS and what barriers are there?
Japanese scientists successfully extracted HIV-free sperm and artificially inseminated female, issues- cost, still in testing phase
51
How are new HIV drug trials helping combat HIV/ AIDS and what issues are there? (January 2008)
Raltegravir made available to 73,000 patients in UK, block enzyme essential for reproduction of HIV, effective in those who had been on drugs for over 10 years, issues- dependent on individual, resistance
52
What is the main example of technological leapfrogging?
Skipping the use of landline telephones and using mobile phones
53
When were mobiles introduced in India?
1994
54
Since 2000, how have mobiles per 1000 people increased by in India?
3.5 mobiles to 230 per 1,000 people
55
What are the benefits of mobile phone use in India? (4)
Families separated by migration can stay in touch, farmers can check prices before going to market to buy/ sell, small businesses can keep in touch with customers and services, info e.g. weather and hazard warnings can be sent to remote areas
56
What fraction of the population in Afghanistan are covered by mobile signal?
3/4
57
At the end of 2006, what percentage of all mobile subscriptions were in developing countries?
68%
58
How does M-Pesa in Kenya work?
Mobile banking- can send money by text so there is no need to travel
59
How are mobiles used for medicine in Rwanda?
Mobiles used for data input about drug stores and patients, transferred to workers in capital so doctors do not have to leave patients
60
Why doesn't Afghanistan have fixed telephone lines?
Almost constant conflict since 1979, landlines and unexploded bombs make laying and maintaining lines dangerous, difficult terrain
61
How many houses does the Solar Homes Systems project, Pakistan, cover?
More than 1,000 houses
62
As part of the Solar Homes System, what are homeowners given?
80-watt solar panel, charge controller, battery, lamps, 2 LED lights, 12-volt DC fan, TV socket, solar-concentrated cooking facilities, solar water disinfector
63
What has the Solar Micro-Grid Project done in India?
Greenpeace installed street lights in 3 villages
64
What are the main 3 benefits of the Solar Micro-Grid Project in India?
Children can study later at night
Women can cook later
Commercial establishments can run later (8-9pm)
People (esp women) can walk around at night with no fear
65
How many people die each year from outdoor air pollution?
Over 3.5 million
66
What 3 health problems are increasing due to a worsening air quality?
Asthma, heart disease, lung cancer
67
What is the main cause of pollution in rich countries and poorer countries?
Rich- pollution from cars and industry
Poor- primitive cooking stoves and factories
68
What is the difference between petrol and diesel concerning pollution and what is the main 2 issues with this?
Diesel fumes more harmful
Diesel has a lower tax and it is more fuel efficient
69
Which 3 OECD countries are exceptions to the rule that countries tax petrol higher than diesel?
UK, Switzerland, USA
70
What can be done in urban areas to decrease air pollution? (4)
Tighten emission standards, expand urban bicycle systems, electric cars, extend road charge schemes (e.g. congestion charge)
71
How much does the Tata Nano cost (rupees or pounds)?
100,000 rupees = around £1,250
72
How many Tata Nano cars were originally produced?
250,000
73
How much has the Indian middle class grown by/ will grow by (2008 to 2025)?
50 million in 2008 to 583 million in 2025
74
How many Tata Nano cars were sold in India in 2007?
Just over 1 million
75
How much is the number of Tata Nano cars sold in India projected to rise by 2013?
3.8 million
76
By when do India want to become the main global car producer?
2016
77
Why has the Tata Nano been banned in Europe? (2)
Safety concerns and emissions
78
What is the Green Revolution and which decade did it occur in?
R&D and tech transfer initiatives that increased agricultural production in the 1960s
79
What are the 4 main benefits of the Green Revolution?
Rapid growth allows 2 crops per year
Yields 10 times higher than that of traditional rice
Now bred to be disease- and pest-resistant
Increases self-sufficiency- India has been self-sufficient in rice since 1980s
80
What 8 unforeseen circumstances have there been due to the Green Revolution, especially in India (Punjab)?
Social polarisation- larger farmers could afford fertilisers and machinery, smaller farmers lost out
Monocultures- HYVs vulnerable to new strains of disease
Dependency- need fertiliser, water, machinery
Environmental issues- eutrophication, excessive irrigation (salinisation of soils and water shortages)
Amount of goof farmland finite
Pressing on photosynthetic limits of plants
Poorer Punjab villages fallen into debt (rising cost of inputs)
Health problems- babies born blue because of nitrogen in fertilisers, mental health problems, cancer
81
What is the main concept of the Gene Revolution and when did it take place?
GM crop development in the 1990s
82
What are the 4 main benefits of the Gene Revolution?
Crop varieties can be bred for nutrition (e.g. golden rice and vitamin A)
Herbicide resistance
Disease resistance
Higher yields
83
What 4 unforeseen circumstances have there been due to the Gene Revolution?
Long-term effects unknown
Unknown consequences of GM crops escaping and mixing in wild
Some say GM crops were not fully tested before production
Monopolies and GM crops can be created, limiting choice
84
What are the issues of golden rice development that is bred to produce vitamin A?
Could take 5 years before trial crops can be made to suit local climates
Doesn't contain enough vitamin A alone
Children need a balanced diet
Usually require herbicide to develop fully which can affect other crops
85
Why was DDT originally used in 1939?
To control malarial mosquitoes
86
When was Silent Spring by Rachel Carson published, and what did it say?
1962
Blamed DDT for growing toll of wildlife deaths through biomagnification
87
When was DDT banned in the USA and the UK (different years)?
USA- 1972
UK- 1984
88
What is 1 positive externality and 1 negative externality of the Glastonbury Festival for people nearby?
Positive- can hear music without paying to enter
Negative- noise pollution
89
What is the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)?
Quantifies cost of pollution and passes it back to producer/ user of tech
90
What kind of PPP exists in the UK relating to transport?
Variable Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)- pay more for more polluting cars
91
Why does capturing pollutants sound so attractive?
More realistic than preventing emissions e.g. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
92
How much carbon dioxide has been geosequestered into the Sleipner gas field by Statoil, a Norwegian company?
Around 1 million tonnes per year
93
What is the main issue of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?
Needs huge upscaling to have a significant impact
94
What was the main problem caused by drought in Ethiopia?
Power rationing- only available for 5 days a week at best, HEP plants and dams could not operate fully (reduction in water and power)
95
How does low-tech rainwater harvesting work (e.g. Ethiopia)?
Small pits dug and then lined with plastic sheet, regional Governments advisors said it would hold 60 cubic metres of water
96
What are the 4 costs and 2 benefits of rainwater harvesting?
Costs- mosquito breeding ground, debts which people cannot repay, evaporation works quickly to dimish water supply, cannot be filled without rainfall
Benefits- able to save crops if rain failed, community participation
97
Where is the Tekeze Dam located?
Tekeze River, flowing through Tigray region of northern Ethiopia
98
Who helped with the construction of the Tekeze Dam?
Built by Chinese Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Company (had 500 Chinese expat workers with 2,000 Ethiopians)
99
What are the 5 costs of the Tekeze Dam?
Risk of debt, as it cost $224 million
Neocolonisation- China involved
Erosion behind the dam
Siltation- lowers reservoir capacity
Can affect biodiversity
100
What are the 5 benefits of the Tekeze Dam?
Used to irrigate 60,000 ha
Electric pylons connects dam with regional capital to supply energy to national grid
Electricity can be sold to neighbouring countries
Aids coffee production that employs over 15 million
2,000 Ethiopians involved in construction
101
Where have intermediate tech small dams been built?
Near Adis Nifas, Tigray, Ethiopia
102
What were each family given as part of the small dam project?
1/4 hectare of irrigated land, fruit tree seedlings and elephant grass to plant into earth walls (reduces erosion)
103
What is the main cost and the 7 benefits of small scale dams?
Cost- small-scale so limited impact
Benefits- built by locals, Relief Society for Tigray provided machinery and money, made from local materials, retains water for most of year, plants stop erosion, irrigated areas lush with crops (provides security), low cost
104
What is the difference between Thomas Malthus and Esther Boserup in their relative theories?
Malthus- population would overtake available food resources and there would be a crisis
Boserup- food resources increase as population increase (necessity is the mother of all invention)
105
What does the Virgin Earth Challenge prize involve?
$25 million reward for the best idea to remove at least 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year
106
How would iron fertilisation of the oceans work in reducing carbon dioxide levels?
Would cause large blooms of plankton which consume and remove excess carbon dioxide, fall to ocean floor when they die taking carbon dioxide with them
107
What is the main benefit and 3 costs to iron fertilisation of the oceans?
Benefit- could remove enough carbon dioxide to reduce impact of global warming
Costs- risk of algal blooms, cost of $100 billion, unknown cost to oceans
108
How would an artificial volcano reduce climate change?
Artificially release sulphur particles into atmosphere using jet engines, balloons or large cannon
109
What is the main benefit and 6 costs to an artificial volcano?
Benefit- could take as little as 5 years to reduce temperatures to pre-1900 levels
Costs- $100 million a year, need to release sulphur monthly, could never stop without immediate and sustained global temp. rises, risk of acid rain, reduce global rainfall, regional climate change
110
How would the idea of mirrors in space work to reduce climate change?
16 trillion metre-wide flat fisks launched into space by 20 million rockets to reflect solar energy away
111
What are the 2 benefits and 4 costs to mirrors in space?
Benefits- received NASA funding, would reflect solar energy effectively
Costs- would reflect solar energy (possibly too much), $4 trillion over 30 years, not a quick solution, questions of power for rockets and materials
112
How could artificial trees with the new carbon dioxide scrubber prototype work to reduce climate change?
Ion-exchange membrane on trees extracts carbon dioxide from air, then used to intensify plant growth in greenhouses
113
What are the 3 costs and 3 benefits to the artificial tree idea?
Costs- prototype cost $100,000 and takes 2 years, question over appearance, NIMBYism
Benefits- single tree could remove 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, benefits plant growth, easier than capturing vehicle emissions directly
