Session 12

Session 12

SESSION 12: REVIEW

This week (as well as last week – session 11) is presentation week for TWC. Last week, 3 groups of students made their presentations. This week, the number of presentations increased to a grand total of 5. In case you missed my previous post, groups of students are required to present their findings and research to the class as part of their group project. Presentations were assessed on 3 aspects:

·      Quality of Content

o   Was the information provided reliable?

o   How detailed was the information provided?

·      Innovativeness of Approach

o   How did the group decide to present their findings? Was it innovative?

·      Flow and Logical Consistency

o   How well was the group able to communicate their findings to the audience? Was there a logical flow in the presentation?

The 5 groups that presented during session 12 were:

1.     EBooks – how have they affected us?

a.     Members: Anzie Chong, Kuah Qing Yun, Timothy Foo, Kevyna Pang, Jolyn Teng, Michael Ha

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/ebooksftw/ebooksftw

This was my group presentation. In order to avoid a biased review, I shall not comment. J

2.     Nuclear Power to Drive Green Regime

a.     Members: Joseph Lee, Melissa Lim, Michelle Gwee, Brennan Neoh, Teng Ta-Wei, Yusuf Sufi bin Jaafar

b.     Website: http://bit.ly/nuclearenergy

Like last week, the presentations this week were of very high quality. This presentation was no different. The only thing that I feel could improve this presentation would be the  length of the presentation. It was too long – almost 30 minutes. More summarization and focus on the important points would definitely improve the presentation.

I really liked the website. Information was organized very well into neat tabs. The only thing that I did not like was the background of the website. It was a bit too “busy”. Everything else was very good though. (Note: the website link provided is an old one. They changed their link at the last minute. Will try to get the new link ASAP. All the content is there, though.)

3.     Technology and Weather Control

a.     Members: Rachel Foo, Khor Pek Yee, Sophia Lim, Olivia Loke, Alison Toh

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/twcgrp6/playing-with-weather

This group managed the attention of the audience well. Not too much time was spent on each section, maintaining the audience’s attention however sufficient time was allowed for the processing of ideas leading to a very nicely flowing presentation.

The website was very attention grabbing. Information was displayed in a virtual journal with simulated pages. (If you’re not sure of what I’m talking about, visit the website and you’ll know what I mean.)

4.     Technology and development in the film industry

a.     Members: Dora Tan, Wu Kuan Liang, Chen Jinghan, Stuart Ho, Chua Zi Hao, Leong Jing Hao

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/twc3drule/3dtechnology

Despite the initial technical issues, the presentation was still very good. The presenters were very confident of their knowledge on the subject and managed to present their points clearly. The transition between speakers was also very smooth. I question the use of the Japanese Horror Film in the start. I noticed some of my classmates (mostly the female ones) were quite squeamish when the intro was shown.

The website was of good quality. However, certain parts of the website were quite cluttered – Too much was fit into too little. The use of videos in the website illustrated their points perfectly!

5.     Genetic engineering and its problems in the world today

a.     Members: Aishwarya Singhal, Bronson Oh, Daizy Rustomjee, Imran Shahid Hamid, Debbie Low, Teo Yi Chun

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/acehart/geneticengineering

The presentation was very clear. Most of the presenters spoke clearly and were slow enough to allow for easy listening and processing of the ideas they were presenting save one. I did not notice any other flaws in the presentation.

The website, like the presentation was very clean. Sections were nicely labeled and it was very easy to find information within the website. I highly recommend reading the section on Synthetic Biology. The possibilities explored within are absolutely amazing!

Personal Ratings

(7.5/10) The presentations during this session were very informative. Presentations for session 11 and 12 were equally interesting. However, I gave this session a 0.5 rating increase over the previous session because there were more presentations. Other than that, session 11 was as good as session 12. 

This will be my last blogpost as a student taking Technology and World Change under the excellent guidance of Prof. Gurinder Shahi. Fear not dear reader, I hope to be able to continue posting my thoughts on this space. :D

Session 11

Session 11

SESSION 11: REVIEW

This week (and the next – session 12) is presentation week for TWC. Instead of the usual TWC class, 3 groups of students presented their findings and research as part of their group project. Presentations were assessed on 3 aspects:

·      Quality of Content

o   Was the information provided reliable?

o   How detailed was the information provided?

·      Innovativeness of Approach

o   How did the group decide to present their findings? Was it innovative?

·      Flow and Logical Consistency

o   How well was the group able to communicate their findings to the audience? Was there a logical flow in the presentation?

The 3 groups that presented during session 11 were:

1.     Technology and beauty

a.     Members: Charlotte Goh, Lee Guojun, Lee Li Xuan, Lee Pei Xi, Loo Zhu Yie, Phua Zhi Zhen

b.     Website: www.wix.com/techwcg8/twc-cosmeticsurgery

This presentation was fairly interesting. It was done in the style of a skit. Each character had a specific role to discuss the different aspects of cosmetic technology. However, I found certain animations within the website to be greatly distracting. Overall, this presentation earned a 7/10 from me. Good job! J

2.     Technology and Crime: Friend or Foe?

a.     Members: Chia Hanfeng, Clarice Heng, Heng Guan Lek, Hu Jiaming, Lu Siqi, Vince Tan.

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/twcsmu2010/cyberfelony

Yet another interesting presentation with a creative approach. The introduction simulated a hacking attempt by a hacker with a pseudo-russian accent. The rest of the presentation was pretty standard though. No theatrics here. One interesting thing I noticed on the website though – they used a picture of SHODAN from System Shock as the background for the website. Very fitting! This presentation earned a 7/10 from me too!

3.     Water and Water Technologies

a.     Members: Chua Ming Yin, Ng Jia Ming, Tay Wee Kiat, Wong Shi QI, Zhao Liwen

b.     Website: http://www.wix.com/twcwater/home

This presentation was very straightforward. No theatrics, or creative introductions were used. The presentation was clear cut, concise and altogether very well done. The website was very professional. Everything was clean and uncluttered and left me very impressed at the quality of work from this group. I give the website a 8/10 and the presentation a 7/10.

Personal Ratings

(7/10) The presentations during this session were very interesting and really exposed me to many new ideas. I look forward to the next presentation session next week.

Session 10

Session 10

SESSION 10: REVIEW

Topics covered:

·       Technology Assessment and Forecasting

Brief Overview/ Summary

·       Technology Assessment and Forecasting

As usual, the session began with an introduction by Professor Gurinder Shahi on technology assessment and forecasting. He started out by providing us with examples of drivers for technology assessment and forecasting. They are:

·      Exponential growth in the development of new technologies with the potential to alter the world

·      Realization of the importance of possessing an understanding of the changes that might result from a new technological innovation in terms of economic change, social change, ethical change, legal change, environmental change and many other aspects of society today.

·      Knowing which technological advancements to invest and pursue given the limited resources available.

After being presented with reasons why technological assessment and forecasting is so important, we were shown what exactly is encompassed by technology assessment and forecasting.

Technology assessment and forecasting involves the consideration of 2 different aspects of society - Economic/Business considerations and Technological considerations.

·      Economic/Business Considerations

o   Growth implications of a new technology. How might the new technology affect sales, earnings, and the market share of the business?

o   Competitive implications of the emerging technology. Will the new technology provide the business with performance advantages or cost savings?

o   Adoption implications. How much will it cost for the business to adopt the new technology? How long is needed to recover the initial adoption cost?

·      Technology Considerations

o   Compatibility considerations. Will the new technology be compatible with existing technologies currently implemented?

o   Potential applications. How might the new technology be applied to synergize with existing technology/processes?

o   Alternative competing technologies. Is there an alternative, cheaper technology available that provides the same benefits as the new technology in question?

Following that, Prof went on to describe a couple of ways that technology assessment and forecasting can be conducted.

These are:

·      Brainstorming exercises

·      Trend Analysis and Extrapolation of current trends

·      Technology Roadmap-ing

·      Simulation Modeling

·     The Delphi Method

Interesting Observations and Ideas/Key Takeaways

On the topic of the importance of technology assessment and forecasting, I present to you this article - Brain Control

This article describes how a professor in MIT has managed to alter the behavior of mice by using light to turn neurons in the brain of the mouse on or off.

Ed Boyden has created an implant that is able to trigger neurons in the brain of mice through the use of flashing LEDs, effectively controlling the behavior of these mice.

“Mouse brains, or any other brains, wouldn't normally respond to embedded lights. But Boyden, ….has modified certain brain cells with genes that make light-sensitive proteins in plants, fungi, and bacteria. Because the proteins cause the brains cells to fire when exposed to light, they give Boyden a way to turn the genetically engineered neurons on and off.”

This is Mind-control technology in the making! What if this technology were developed to work on humans? This is one technology where I believe that technology assessment and forecasting is especially important! The possible implications of this technology are endless! The ethical considerations of this technology are enormous!

Issues for Further Discussion

·      How useful do you think technology assessment and forecasting is in the world today?

·      Might there be any way to shorten the time taken for a new technology to make its way down to consumers? Most of the time, “cutting-edge” technologies available to consumers are already “outdated” when the technology is introduced to the consumer market.

·      With regards to the Mind-control article above, are there certain technologies that should NOT be developed? Might it be better if mind-control were not developed? This would prevent the abuse of mind-control technology in the future. Mind-control is indeed a scary thing!

Personal Ratings

(8/10) This session was very interesting. Through the presentation of my peers, I was introduced to many new and emerging technologies that have the potential to change the world. I am very excited for the next few years when these emerging technologies complete the development phase.

Session 9

Session 9

SESSION 9: REVIEW

Topics covered:

·       Emerging and future technologies

Videos watched:

1.     Claytronics

2.     A1 perfect woman

3.     Augmented reality

Brief Overview/ Summary

·       Emerging and future technologies

Everyday, new discoveries are made and new technologies are created. Computers that are sold in the consumer market as “cutting edge” are usually outdated before they are even bought. Surely something must be driving the research and development of these emerging technologies?

During class, we discussed several drivers for the development of emerging and future technologies. They are:

1.     Unmet market opportunity and need (market-driven research and development)

a.      This type of driver operates on the principle of identifying a need in society and conducting R&D in order to create a product that meets that need.

2.     Growing body of scientific and technological know-how make new technologies that were inconceivable even 10 years ago increasingly possible.

a.      Computers 30 years ago used to take up entire rooms and were only able to perform the relatively simplest of tasks. Compare those computers to computers today that fit into a standard A4 sized envelope (Apple MacBook Air). Just yesterday, the new MacBook Air was released with an even slimmer form factor than its predecessor. All these innovations are made possible by new technologies like the 45nm transistors and CPUs.

3.     Supply can sometimes create demand

4.     Sometimes, consumers will not realize demand for a particular product until the product is already in the market. One very good example would be the mobile phone. Before the invention of the mobile phone, people scoffed at the idea of needing to carry a mobile phone. Look at how integral our mobile phones are to our lives nowadays!

5.     Mass media and advertising

a.      The mass media has a very big influence on consumers. It has the power to change perceptions and create demand for a particular product. All one has to do is to watch a “Did you know” video on YouTube to experience a change of perception.

Interesting Observations and Ideas/Key Takeaways

·       Emerging and future technologies

Many interesting observations during this week’s session came from the presentations by my classmates. However, I’ve decided to focus on the most interesting. My interesting observations are from a presentation by my friend, Qing Yun, titled: Love + Sex with Robots

The presentation was based upon a book by the same title that looks at the history of teledildonics, the psychological aspect of love and sex and how this relates to robots.

A very interesting point of discussion that came up during the presentation was the possibility of human-robot marriages. Might we see human-robot marriages in the future? What would be the social implications of such a thing? For most of the world, gay marriages will hardly warrant a raised eyebrow. I remember reading a newspaper article some time ago of this man marrying his TV. If people can marry inanimate objects, would it not be much easier to marry an object with some form of intelligence? If robot marriages become commonplace in the future, robots will be the first man-made objects to be raised to a level of equal standing as that of man.

Another interesting observation that resulted from the discussion of this presentation was that the Pornographic industry seems to be the industry that most readily embraces new advances in technology. Although slightly off topic, it was pointed out that even before Avatar, the poster boy for 3D films was released, plans were already underway to film a pornographic movie in 3D. One might infer that the level of acceptance towards new technology is so high in the pornographic industry because it seeks to satisfy a very basic human need.

Issues for Further Discussion

·       Emerging and future technologies

1.     Artificial Intelligence is one of the many new and emerging technologies that and is frequently discussed. So far, man has been able to create autonomous beings, but has been unable to replicate any form or semblance of intelligence. Given the enormous effort currently devoted to A.I., do you think there is a possibility of Artificial Intelligence exceeding the capabilities of Human Intelligence in the future?

Personal Ratings

(8/10) This was a very interesting session. The topics were interesting, the viewpoints and insights shared by my classmates were very intriguing and many different sides of the proverbial coin were seen. This session was thoroughly enjoyable.

Session 8

SESSION 8

Unfortunately, i couldn't make it for TWC class this week. I wasn't feeling very well. In lieu of my usual post about the week's session, i've decided to review an article which ties in with this week's topic - Energy and World Change (Past, Present,and Future)

The article that i've chosen is Tiny Generators Produce Electricity from Ambient Vibrations

Brief Overview/Summary

In a study funded by the National Science Foundation, Sandia National Laboratories, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, scientists at the University of Michigan have developed mini-generators that have the ability to produce enough electricity to power small electrical devices such as wristwatches, pacemakers or wireless sensors. According to the article, these mini-generators are "highly efficient at providing renewable electrical power from arbitrary, non-periodic vibrations." What exactly are "arbitrary, non-periodic vibrations"? These vibrations include vibrations caused by human movement, vibrations from cars travelling along a road, vibrations from machinery like washing machines, industrial machines, etc....

The researchers at the University of Michigan have managed to build 3 protoypes and are currently working on a fourth generator. 2 of these generators perform energy conversion through Electromagnetic Induction, which is how large scale electricity generation is performed in many power plants today.

The team's 4th prototype, currently still under development, measures only 1 cubic centimeter. It's construction is based on Piezoelectric Material that generates electricity when stress is applied. Possible applications for this prototype are infrastructure health monitoring. The researchers hope that one day, these PFIGs will be able to power bridge monitoring sensors that detect cracks and other structural problems long before it becomes a major problem.

The 3 existing generators have been been able to produce up to 500 microwatts of electricity from typical vibrations found on the human body. To provide perspective, a wristwatch only requires between 1-10 microwatts, or a pacemaker, which requires 10-50 microwatts. Clearly, the energy produced by the PFIG is more than enough to power many low-energy devices available today.
(Can you imagine a wristwatch with a battery that never needs to be replaced?)

Key Takeaways

According to Professor Najafi, these PFIGs are different from existing generators that rely on vibrations from the surrounding environment because these existing devices rely on regular and predictable energy sources. "The vast majority of environmental kinetic energy surrounding us everyday does not occur in periodic, repeatable patterns. Energy from traffic on a busy street or bridge.....for example, cause vibrations that are non-periodic and occur at low frequencies," says Najafi. He continues on to elaborate that "our parametric generators are more efficient in these environments."

Galchev, one of the other researchers, explains that the ultimate goal of this research project is to "enable various applications like remote wireless sensors and surgically implanted medical devices. These are long lifetime applications where it is very costly to replace depleted batteries or, worse, to have to wire the sensors to a power source." In other words, the researchers hope to be able to use these PFIGs in devices such as pacemakers and various monitoring sensors like temperature sensors, and stress sensors. Applying PFIG technology in pacemaker technology has the potential to create a pacemaker that will outlast the life of the user! The thought that immediately comes to mind is that of Tony Stark, from the recent Ironman Movie, who requires a device implanted in his chest to keep him alive. In the beginning of the movie, his device is powered by a cumbersome car battery. However, Tony Stark, being a genius, manages to create a self powered device with the ability to generate energy far greater than what is really needed.

Current batteries are still cumbersome and often a tradeoff between battery size and capacity is required. According to Professor Najafi, "There is a fundamental question that needs to be answered about how to power wireless electronic devices, which are becoming ubiquitous and at the same time very efficient. There is plenty of energy surrounding these systems in the form of vibrations, heat, solar and wind." Utilizing the power of energy-scavenging, batteries to power these small devices would not need to have large capacities, allowing for cheaper, and better production of wireless sensors.

Issues for Further Discussion

Although the PFIGs are still in their infancy, i really do hope to see this new emerging technology being applied in the near future. My issues for discussion are:

1. Other than what has already been listed, what other currently existing technology may be synergized with this emerging technology to create even more exciting possibilities?
2. If this technology becomes so efficient that significant amounts of electricity can be generated, might PFIGs be used as large scale alternative electricity generation, similar to wind farms and solar plants today?

Personal Ratings

(8/10) I found this article to be very interesting. The idea of having batteries that recharge on their own is really exciting! I can't wait to see this emerging technology get past it's infancy and make its way down to consumers.

Session 7

Session 7

SESSION 7: REVIEW

Topics covered:

• BioBusiness Revolution: Agribiology, Environmental Life Sciences and Industrial Biotechnology (Past, Present and Future)
  

Brief Overview/ Summary

• BioBusiness Revolution: Agribiology, Environmental Life Sciences and Industrial Biotechnology (Past, Present and Future)
  

For this week, I've decided to change things up a bit and present my review in a more journalistic fashion.

First off, we started the session by watching a video on sustainable agriculture and the environment.






We then reviewed what we discussed about BioBusiness last week. Basically, BioBusiness is commercial activity based on an understanding of life sciences and life science processes. This includes the biomedical and agri-vetinary areas. Last week, we focused on the Biomedical sector of BioBusiness. This week, we focused on the Agri-Veterinary, Food, Environmental and Industrial sectors of BioBusiness. To provide a clearer example of what these sectors encompass:

1. 
   
   Agribiology
   
   1. Agribiology vs. Agribiotechnology
      
   2. 
      
      Genetic Modification of Crops
      
      
      
      
2. 
   
   Environmental Life Sciences
   
   1. Waste Mangement
      
   2. Bioremediation
      
   3. 
      
      Maintaining Biodiversity
      
      
      
      
3. 
   
   Industrial Life Sciences
   
   1. Industrial Enzymes
      
   2. BioFuels
      
   3. Biotech in Mining and other industries
      

Moving on, we discussed the weekly readings which talked about the potential of agrobiotechnology and where it might go in the near future. One of the readings that particularly interested me was "How to feed the world in 2050", a paper presented at a global conference organized by the FAO, argues that it is possible to meet the demand for food in the future as long as effort is made to develop food production. According to the paper, the food scarcity problem is actually a food DISTRIBUTION and SUPPLY problem. Yes, there's actually enough food to ensure no one on Earth suffers from starvation.

Following the discussion on the weekly readings, 4 of my classmates were given the opportunity to present on interesting articles they came across that were in line with this week's topic.

Interesting Observations and Ideas/Key Takeaways

One of the presentations this session that really grabbed my attention was the presentation by my friend, Olivia. She talked about the possibility of in-vitro meat production in the future, or lab-grown meat. Basically, meat is grown in the lab through the process of cloning muscle cells from the desired animal. Sample cells are extracted from the animal and placed in a nutrient solution. Then, the cloned cells are stretched mechanically to simulate muscle use in the animal. Eventually, a boneless piece of meat is produced. Why is this so amazing? To fully understand the impact of lab grown meat, an understanding of the current problems surrounding meat production is required.

PROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL MEAT PRODUCTION

• 
  
  Nutrition related diseases
  
  • A third of global mortality is meat-related.
    
  • 25% of all heart diseases are due to conventionally produced meats
    
• 
  
  Food borne diseases
  
  • 500 deaths in US each year are due to meat-related causes
    
• 
  
  Inefficient use of increasingly scarce resources
  
  • Intensive meat production is 25% as energy efficient as soybean production. Energy is lost through the process of raising livestock.
    
  • It will be substantially easier to obtaining mankind's food exclusively from
    
• 
  
  Pollution
  
  • 1.4 billion tons of farm animal waste is generated annually in the US. How much more is generated in countries where farming and agriculture are the main economic activities?
    

Now, I present to you the various advantages offered by lab-grown meat.

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF LAB-GROWN MEAT

• 
  
  Meat Composition
  
  • Growing meat artificially will allow for better control of fat content. Perhaps one day, we will be able to go to the store and purchase "low-fat" meat just like we do with milk today.
    
• 
  
  Replacement of exotic meats
  
  • Since the process of growing meat is basically cloning of cells, a whole new range of meat options will be available to the consumers. Dinosaur meat anybody?
    
• 
  
  Reduced animal use
  
  • Theoretically, you only need 1 farm animal to produce the worlds meat supply since you only need to extract sample tissue.
    

It sounds too good to be true, huh? Well, for now, it is. 1kg of lab meat will set you back USD 5 million. That's an expensive steak! Also, naturally, many people will be turned off by the fact that lab meat is grown and not obtained from animals. After all, Humans have a proven natural aversion to anything unnatural.

Issues for Further Discussion

I have a couple of questions which I feel should be raised regarding lab meat.

1. 
   
   With all the benefits surrounding lab-grown meat,
   
   1. Would you be willing to try it? (When it becomes more affordable, of course.)
      
   2. Why/Why not?
      
   3. 
      
      What might be done to encourage and promote acceptance of lab meat in the future?
      
      
      
      
2. 
   
   An interesting point was raised during the class discussion of the possibility of in-vitro meat production.
   
   1. Instead of directing large amounts of resources towards creating artificial meat, wouldn't it be better if those resources were used to improve the current meat production processes and solving the problems that plague the meat industry today?
      

Personal Ratings

(7.5/10) This session was probably one of the best TWC sessions I've had since the start of term. Discussions were interesting and there was a very obvious "flow" in the class progression, if you know what I mean. Sometimes, everything that goes on during class feels quite disjointed with no real relevance and connection between topics and discussions.

Session 6

Session 6

SESSION 5: REVIEW

Topics covered:

BioBusiness Revolution: Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences (Past, Present and Future)


Brief Overview/ Summary

BioBusiness Revolution: Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences (Past, Present and Future)

• What exactly is BioBusiness?
  

BioBusiness is basically any business that carries out commercial activity related to the biotech industry. Some examples of industries where biobusinesses are found are the biomedical sciences industry, and the agricultural industry. In 2001, biobusiness was found to contribute a whopping 25% of global GDP and employs approximately 40% of the world's labor force. However, the employment figures showed that more than 50% of those employed in biobusinesses were actually farmers in developing countries as well as China and India. [Source: BioEnterprise Asia]

• 
  
  
  Some key areas in BioBusiness and relevant examples:
  
  • 
    
    
    Biomedical BioBusiness
    
    • 
      
      
      Healthcare
      
      • Better procedures and processes to improve chances of complete recovery?
        
    • 
      
      
      Pharmaceuticals
      
      • Tailor made medicines to specifically cater to each patient?
        
    • Biomedical Biotechnology
      
    • Herbal and traditional medicine
      
    • Medical devices
      
    • 
      
      
      Diagnostics
      
      
      
  • 
    
    
    Environmental and Industrial BioBusiness
    
    • Management of biodiversity
      
    • 
      
      
      Waste Management
      
      • The use of bacteria to break down previously non biodegradable material like plastics
        
    • 
      
      
      Environmental biotechnology
      
  • 
    
    
    Agricultural-Veterinary and Food BioBusiness
    
    • 
      
      
      Agriculture
      
      • "Natural Pesticides"
        
    • 
      
      
      Animal Husbandry
      
      • The creation of new hybrid species of animals. See: Zorse - half zebra, half horse
        
    • 
      
      
      Forestry and Lumber
      
      
      
      
  • 
    
    
    Others
    
    • 
      
      
      Bio-IT and the application of ICT in biobusiness
      
      • The use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is one of the more prominent uses of ICT in biobusiness.
        

Interesting Observations and Ideas/Key Takeaways

• 
  
  
  Spray-on Fabric
  
  I feel that it is appropriate to discuss my previous post regarding the possibility of spray-on shirts. After reading the article, I feel that there is great potential for spray-on fabrics in the biomedical industry. I present to you some possible applications and innovations that may result from this new development.
  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    Medical
    
    If you can spray on a shirt, why not spray on a bandage? A sterile spray-on bandage would be a perfect addition to any first aid kit. Gone is the need to store multiple sized bandages! Let's not forget the necessary fumbling around trying to apply it to the affected wound. A spray-on bandage would even eliminate the need for knowing how to properly applying bandages. With a spray on bandage, each bandage would be custom-made ensuring a perfect fit over every affected area.
    
    A spray-on cast would only be a natural progression of the spray-on bandage. Easily applied casts would eliminate the need for splints entirely. The perfect-fit nature of the spray-on would be able to perfectly immobilize the affected area temporarily until more advanced care is available.
    
    
  • 
    
    
    Military
    
    The possibility of easily applied first aid on the frontlines of battle would be an opportunity I'm sure many armed forces would be keen to invest in. Soldiers injured in the front lines of battle would have access to better first aid resulting in lesser casualties. Who wouldn't want that bandages and casts that are easily applied in the midst of battle?
    
     
    
• 
  
  
  Printing of organs
  
  • Organ printing is defined as computer-aided, jet-based 3D tissue-engineering of living human organs. Basically, a printer will create actual organs by painstakingly printing living cells layer by layer.
    
  • 
    
    
    Organ printing involves three sequential steps:
    
    • development of "blueprints" for organs
      
    • actual organ printing
      
    • 
      
      
      organ conditioning and accelerated organ maturation

Issues for Further Discussion

• 
  
  Ethical Issues
  
  Ethics has always played a big part in genetics and the medical sciences. Should man play God? Is it ethical?
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Overpopulation
  
  As health care continues to improve, so does the average lifespan of humans. What happens when man can live for more than 1000 years?
  
  
• 
  
  
  Safety concerns
  
  Although stringent safety measures have been implemented to ensure the safety and welfare of consumers, it is impossible to absolutely guarantee the safety of a new drug/medical procedure. Everything comes with side effects. Should certain "beneficial" drugs be approved although the risks relating to their usage are not fully known?
  
  

Personal Ratings

(7/10) This week's session was somewhat interesting, touching on genetic engineering, biomedical innovations and the issues relating to "Man playing God". Interesting stuff! J