Mitcham points out an uneasiness in science and technology studies that he states is partly due to the ethical issues related to technological advancements, such as nuclear weapons and power plants, that have been well-addressed by the technological society. This is true considering major advancements require a lot of testing and experimenting to be achieved and this could easily cause disasters if not handled carefully. We see this when Mitcham lists events between 1973 and 1993 and he describes that “technological achievements and disasters enter into an almost normal rhythm.” However, if such testing had been prevented fearing these setbacks, technology would have been hindered in its development and many of the devices we take for granted today may not have existed. The growth of technology does not only provide us with more advanced machines. It also helps us to understand the world around us better, leading to an expansion of knowledge in the scientific and technological communities. Take, for instance, computers. The first computers were gigantic and would not even fit in a normal-sized room. This was due to vacuum tubes, called valves, that they used as circuitry to carry data throughout the system. In the 1950s, these valves were replaced by much smaller transistors. And in the 60s and 70s, microchips and microprocessors replaced transistors. These could hold thousands of transistors while being smaller than traditional transistors. Gradually, thanks to such developments, the computer shrunk in size to the point where we now have smartphones and smartwatches. Extensive research and testing allowed scientists to gather a new understanding of how to conduct more data while using smaller means. Such a pattern of progress can also be seen with virtually any technological device. However, technology can be both a boon and a bane, hence philosophical thinking about it is essential to understand the impact it, along with its potential complications, can have on society.
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