Assignment # 3

For my Lib 200 research paper, I have two ideas in mine for the topic. One idea I have in mind is the Science and Technology: Promise and Peril category. I would like to explore the promise of new computers vs. the problem of e-waste.  For as long as I can remember, I have always relied on computers and technology for information, entertainment, and communication. So, I feel it would be very important to research the promise of new computers because I have grown up in a technologically savvy era where computer use is an everyday occurrence.  There’s also a negative side to advances in computers and technology.  Every time a new computer, or gadget of some sort makes it to the market, the older and obsolete versions of them are discarded into the fields of other countries.  This causes hazardous conditions and young children are put to work sorting through the e-waste. 
This is sad but unfortunately a reality.  I’d like to do some thorough research on this topic and encourage myself and others to refrain from purchasing unneeded technology.

My other idea for this research paper comes from the same category –Science and Technology: Promise and Peril.  It is the promise of artificial intelligence and /or robots vs. the dangers/problems for loss of labor and etc.   It is true that robots can be helpful in medicine.  However, this will cause layoffs for many people in this field.  Not only this, robots are dangerous to human beings as well because this will cause a major dependence on robots.  For instance, humans will lose major skills such as manual labor.  Humans will not be in as good health because they will be relying on robots to physically take on their tasks.  It is becoming obvious that we will soon be living in a world side by side with robots, so I definitely would like to explore this topic more.