Question

My choice is hybrid or smart cars

This week, you will submit your Analysis of Impact draft (roughly four pages, using APA format).

This portion of the Course Project provides an analysis of the chosen technology’s influence on society considering all of the following components:

Social

How has this technology been received, accepted, or rejected? Why? Is it feared or favored? What is the attitude toward change? How are the developers trying to sell the technology to the general public? Look at attitudes, feelings (emotions), behaviors, personality, and the ways humans change as a result of this technology. What is being thought, and why? Is the human mind impacted? How? Are interactions between people changing as a result? Who is included or excluded, and why? Use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Piaget, or some other theorist. What psychological needs are met by the technology (e.g., cell phones once granted status and now promote a sense of belonging or connectedness) or created by the technology? Consumerism?

Look at groups and organizations that have arisen and prospered because of this technology. Are these groups supportive or antagonistic, and why? (An example is genetically modified foods [GMOs] and the backlash against the Monsanto corporation. Another is cochlear implants that allow the deaf to hear yet reduce the deaf population that calls itself a community.) How does the technology change society, or how does society change in response to the technology? What factors in society led to the development in the first place? What do class, gender roles, race, norms, and the like mean in this context? Who will benefit from the technology, and who might be harmed (this might also belong in the ethics and morals section)? For example, prosthetics enable people to participate more fully and actively in society (some people compete in triathlons and marathons), and war has brought about the need for advances in prosthetic technology as casualties with missing limbs return home to the United States. Look at the workplace, new companies, and/or jobs created, jobs lost (or save this for the economics section, perhaps). Look at roles—subgroups, people’s interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Consider crime, healthcare, and schools. Surveillance cameras, for example, have recently been installed in New York City, and the result has been a decrease in the amount of crime, purse-snatching, pickpocketing, and so forth. Yet some fear the big-brother effect of always being watched and tracked, as well as concerns over “who will guard the guards.”

Cultural

This is a really important section. Consider the elements that comprise the culture and subcultures. Compare the United States' use of the technology with that of other nations around the world. What is it about Americans that brings about innovation, or has America declined in terms of technical innovation, scientific research, and development? Look at advertising for the technology, the use of celebrities or stars or heroes, the applications (e.g., sports and nanotechnology), and the values represented by the culture. What has priority, and why? An example: IBM was spelled out in xenon atoms. Why were these letters chosen instead of something else? What new words have been added to our vocabulary from this technology? Horseless carriagewas used long before the term automobile. Wirelesspreceded Wi-Fi, and webcastingpreceded podcasting. Broadcastwas a term adapted from agriculture long before it was used for radio and television.

How do musicians and artists react to, use, or incorporate the technology in their artistic productions? For example, fiber optic lighting has been used on the stage and in parades (Disney) for costuming. The drama term in the limelight, for example, was derived from a lens and lighting system used in lighthouses. Look at literature—perhaps science fiction or fantasy stories—that predate the technology (Jules Verne, for example, wrote about submarines before they were actually invented and used—though Leonardo da Vinci had sketched the idea centuries before Verne). Are there any songs, short stories, poems, plays, TV shows, or films that directly make reference to the technology? Are there any related literary works that apply? Is the artifact in a museum or will it be? Why? How does the technology relate to concepts of beauty and novelty and human creativity? How can people express their humanity through this technology? An example: Scientists experimenting with nano made a nano guitar that actually played a tune, though it was subthreshold to human hearing.

Political

Look at government policy, government intervention, government involvement (support or lack of support, funding), both nationally and internationally. Consider Congress, the president, the Supreme Court (decisions), the rate of change, liberalism, conservatism, legislation, litigation, and so forth. What political factors are at work in the progression or regression of the technology (e.g. lobbyists, special interest groups, partisan views, vocal advocates, or spokespersons)? For example: The Americans with Disabilities Act was designed to prevent discrimination and encourage accessibility to public facilities; it impacted architects, companies, organizations, and persons with disabilities through the installation of ramps (wider doors, lower knobs and handles, larger restroom stalls), the use of assistive devices in schools and in the workplace, hiring practices, and lawsuits against employers, among other things.

Economic

Consider production, consumption, costs, variables of supply-demand, corporations, private enterprise, and impact on the nation’s economy (employment, displacement, outsourcing). Are certain industries impacted more than others? Look up financial projections—expectations for growth, startup companies, the stock exchange, and so forth—anything related to business and the United States and global economy. Who are the chief players in the business environment, and what is their role? How much has been invested in research and development? How will the price fluctuate? What economic trends are to be observed? Who will make money from the technology? Who is funding the research and development? Who controls the purse strings, and why? Look at foundations and charitable organizations, the outcomes and the nature of consumers. Be sure to use charts and tables and quantitative data in this section. Tables, figures, and data and statistics must be current, valid, and used appropriately.

And the Environmental Impact

Consider such things as dangers to humans, the depletion of resources, air and water pollution, discovery before inventions, impact on wildlife and humans (health and safety), long-term and short-term effects, waste disposal, and aesthetic considerations (how the technology changes the landscape). Look also at the positive effects (savings of raw materials or fossil fuels, low environmental impact, enhancement to the environment). For example, some thought the Alaskan Pipeline would impact the caribou population and its ability to migrate; the scientists discovered that the population actually increased and was healthier because they had “shade” from the above-the-ground pipe, fewer biting flies, and less physically stressed females.
Other negative examples: The spotted owl and deforestation in Washington State; the snail darter and the dam, endangered species and loss of habitats, extinction, over-mining, overproduction, pollution of ground water, landfills, toxic wastes, stripping the soil of nutrients, over fishing, over hunting, and over harvesting.

Answer 1

Analysis of hybrid and smart cars on society:

Smart and hybrid Cars are the cars which uses latest technologies to use other source of fuels rather than the conventional fuel hence contributing substantially less pollution to the environment. Smart and hybrid cars are the herald of a new era where we use fuel intelligently and keep substantial developement in mind.

Social impact :

At first people were skeptical about the idea of smart cars but with time more and more people are getting interested in this kind of vehicle. People are understanding the benefits of this kind of cars and the demand rate has already increased. The developers at first targetted the section of the society which were aware of the fact of the harmful effects diesel and petrol cars and were not skeptical about the performance, but now as already said, a vast section of society have changed thier mindset regarding the hybrid technology and are looking at the brighter side of using this technology, not only against fighting pollution but these kind of cars are also quite economical to use and are best suited for city use. Aswe know that Maslow's hierarchy of needs has five level, the smart car technology is actually fulfiling the self-actualization level as people are finding it innovative, giving a purpose of experience, it also fulfils the self-esteem level because it is providing them to be unique than others and also a feeling of confidence. Various Automobile companies have made a good name as well as profit by the help of this technology like Toyota launched the Prius which became very famous and is still a vechile which is bought by many. Tesla has also shown that hybrid cars are also capable of fighting with its petrol or diesel counterpart regarding performance. Smart cars also have some downsides too, like when Google proposed the idea of driverless car it feared the drivers who made thier living from this profession that they might lose thier job, but when looked at this technology from another angle, it seems that it might help in reducing the accidents rate.

Cultural impact:

When it comes to Americans , they are never afraid of trying new things and this might be one of the reasons in making it the most powerful country in the world. Americans have alaways embraced technologies and that is the raeson why hybrid cars were a hit in America. Since the early 2000s the number of hybrid cars have increased by a around ten times which is around 900%. This shows the accepatnce rate of this kind of cars in America is quite high. Many celebrities have shown interest on hybrid cars , like Jessica Alba and Natalie portman are few names who have used hybrid cars . Musicians have also used cars like Tesla to indicate that they are also concerned about the environment , this kind of promotion helps common man to advance with thier idea of buying such cars. Also new words such as green car or future cars have been coined due to this emerging tehnology. There was a direct refrence of using electric cars when Jaden Smith used his Tesla model X in his music video and he said that the usage of that specific car signifies that we should switch our priority and move to use electric cars. We all know Elon Musk who is considered to play a huge part in bringing electric cars has amplified the craze of such cars when he launched a car into a spaceship to fly in the universe.

Political impact:

In 2010 Then president Mr. Barack Obama declared a goal to put around 1 million hybrid cars on the roads of America. In 2015 around 0.7% of the total passenger cars bought were hybrid cars. The rate of selling has to increase in order to fulfil Obama's goal , Actually the problem is that people fear that the battery will run out on long trip and will make them stranded.Also the cost of the batteries of such cars are not getting cheaper, savingson gas however can cancel the high price, even when you factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit Electrical buyers get.

Economic impact:

The production of Electrical vechile in America is increasing by around 40% every year which shows the demand of such vechile, The cost of an electrical vechile generally starts at around $22,000 and if considered that an average american drives around 15,000 miles per year the person pays $550 to charge it per year. The chief players in EV in America are Tesla , Chevrolet, Nissan and Bmw. The graph below shows the cumulative Ev sales vs. year.

Environmental impact:

hybrid cars have a better mileage which is not only economical for the user but also beneficial for the environment.Also there is very less or no emission of harmful gas which contributes to global warming. Hybrid cars uses mainly electrical energy hence it takes and gives to gas therefore environmental friendly and the electricity can be produced from any renewable energy source.