Craig Pattison Presentation for Social Impact of Technology: Media Presentation.

1. Social Impact of Technology: Media Presentation
GNED 1002
Craig Pattison
April 09, 2015

2. Brief Overview: Technology’s
effects on the planet
 Although technology has led to many
advancements in society like convenient
transportation methods, communication and
industrialization, it has also led to serious
negative consequences for the environment.
 It is now more important than ever that
humans attempt to reduce their technological
waste to minimize these negative
consequences.
 The next slides will look at how the
advancement of technology has negatively
impacted the environment.

3. Agenda:
 Air pollution
 Damage to wildlife and other
environmental ecosystems
 Global Warming
 Potential health threats
 Hazardous waste
 Nuclear waste

4. Air Pollution
 The industrial revolution has been identified as
one of the key factors contributing to air pollution.
As the demand to make life easier with
advancements in technology continues to rise, it
becomes necessary for factories to run 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.
 This means that tons of harmful gasses are
pumped into earth’s atmosphere 365 days a year.
 The lack of policy enforcement by the pollution
control board allows industries to bypass many of
the laws that have been put in place to keep
pollution down.

5. Air Pollution Cont.
 However, industry is not all to blame.
 Humans play a major role as they pump harmful
gasses into the atmosphere; especially through
the cars they drive.
 Before the industrial revolution the carbon
dioxide levels never rose higher then three-
hundredths of a percent of the average level for
earth. Since the industrial revolution, the levels
have risen by more then 40%.
 At this rate the earth might begin to resemble
the planet Venus in years to come; thus causing
a mass extinction as life forms as we know them
would not be able to survive on Venus’s climate.

6. Damage to Wildlife
 Technology has also led to many damages to
the planet’s wildlife and precious ecosystems.
 There has been numerous habitats that have
been destroyed because of clear cutting which
is a technique often used to create space for
new factories, houses, buildings etc.
 This has caused many species to relocate to
less desired areas, become endangered (if
they are unable to find adequate food and
resources in a new environment),
and some have even become extinct.

7. Damage to Wildlife Cont.
 Furthermore, chemicals that continue to be
dumped into lakes, rivers and oceans have
altered the functionality of the ecosystem.
 These chemicals have also caused animal
populations to become sick or at risk of harm.
For example the BP oil spill caused many
animals harm as they were covered in sticky,
thick oil.
 As the human population continues to rise, the
demand for water for consumption increases
causing a tremendous depletion of drinkable
water for both humans and wildlife species
alike.

8. Global Warming
Green house gasses such as methane,
nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide produced
by the advancement of technology has
enhanced global warming. This
effects the earths
surface, ocean and
atmosphere
temperature by
heating it up. This
will continue to
lead to more
severe weather
which can have
many negative
impacts on humans,
animals and other plants
and wildlife.
(Top left 1884 average temp,
Bottom right 2010 average temp)

9. Global Warming Cont.
 The increase of greenhouse gasses has also caused
a rapid change in temperature which has caused the
ice caps in the northern parts of the world to begin to
melt.
 They have been melting at a continuous rate for
many years and now scientists are beginning to see
a rise in the ocean levels.
 The rise of the earth’s sea levels is likely bring about
more powerful storms
 These storms are likely to destroy everything like
homes and other life necessities.
 Furthermore, flooding may lead to people having to
evacuate their homes and a destruction of precious
agriculture.

10. Potential Health Threats
 Radiation is very hazardous to humans and
animals, and unfortunately, is created by
technology such as “visible light,
microwaves, ultraviolet radiation, infrared
radiation, radio and radar waves, mobile
phone signals and wireless internet
connections” (para. 7).
 Additionally, respiratory problems are much
more common and are often more severe
now than ever due to air pollutants and
smog.

11. Hazardous Waste
 Poor waste management can cause water
contamination that makes it unhealthy and
unsafe for human consumption
 This can also cause significant damage to
aquatic life.
 Moreover, hazardous chemicals that are
improperly disposed of can contaminate
the earth’s soil thus making some land
unable to reproduce the plants that
humans and animals rely on for much of
their nutrition.

12. Hazardous Waste Cont.
 The improper disposal of waste can also
result in land and air pollution that can lead
to respiratory problems and other health
problems in both humans and animals.
 The act of burning human waste definitely
contributes to this land and air pollution

13. Nuclear Waste
 Nuclear waste can be dangerous to
handle and is known to react by causing
explosions and meltdowns of nuclear
plants.
 Nuclear plan meltdowns release large
amounts of radiation into the
atmosphere damaging the ozone layer
and causing significant risk to the health
of humans and other wildlife species.

14. Hope for the Future
 Technology has definitely led to many
environmental issues on both a local and
global scale.
 However, if humans learn to use
technology correctly by disposing their
waste properly (ie. using proper recycling
methods) hazardous and damaging effects
to the environment will be reduced.
 Furthermore, scientists can and will
continue developing safer alternatives in
order to protect, maintain and sustain the
environment that we live in.

15. Reference
 Anticipating the Environmental Effects of Technology. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/Publications/Integrative/EnTA/AEE
T/6.asp
 Bradford, A. (2015, March 10). Pollution Facts & Types of
Pollution. Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.livescience.com/22728-pollution-facts.html
 Causes of Radiation Exposure. (2011, March 14). Retrieved
April 9, 2015, from http://www.news-
medical.net/health/Causes-of-Radiation-Exposure.aspx
 Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey (2014) Episode Scripts |
SS. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.
php?tv-show=cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey-
2014&episode=s01e12

16. Reference Cont
 Effects of poor waste disposal. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9,
2015, from http://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-
recycling/effects-of-poor-waste-management.html
 Green Computing - Environmental Issues - The Carnegie
Cyber Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/facultyPages/environ
ment/issues.html
 GreenFacts - Facts on Health and the Environment. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm
 Greenpeace. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.greenpeace.org
 HWDSB. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/janetlee/files/2011/01/The-
Environmental-Impact-of-Humans.pdf