Contemporary Issue ( Individual And Technology )

Question 1

What is technology?

Answer 1

Technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society and the environment.

Question 2

Outline the positive and negative impacts of technology.

Answer 2

The impacts of technology can be positive and negative.
- In regards to communication the positives may be instant, 24/7 access, global, increases safety, brings people closer, and various forms available. Negatives may be 24/7 hard to escape, work/life imbalance, tragedy fatigue, less private, anonymous interaction possible.

• In regards to education, positives may include easy information access, flexible/innovative delivery methods, collaborative learning, innovative assessment methods, greater engagements. Negatives may be reliability of sources, over reliance on easy information access, plagiarism, death of handwriting, distractions, inequality of access.
• In regards to law, positives may be videoed police interviews, giving evidence by CCTV, online access to legislation/cases, electronic filing and storage, enhanced investigative capabilities. Negatives may be anonymous criminals, social media, csi effect, juror investigation enables.

Question 3

Outline the legal implications of technology.

Answer 3

loss of control of information - who owns information? Who should have access to information? Privacy breaches/loss - is there a right to privacy?

Identity theft / credit card fraud - how can identity data be protected? Should its management be regulated?

Payment security - who is responsible for financial loss?

Digital footprints - right to control?

Cyberbullying - is this a crime? What can cyberbullies be prosecuted for?

Copyright infringement - how can intellectual property be protected?

Gene technology - who owns embryos? How should they be treated legally?

Use of DNA evidence - to what extent should it be relied on?

Question 4

The privacy act 1988 ( cth ) ….

Answer 4

regulates the collection and handling of personal information, and contains the Australian privacy principles.