In this week's community education column, local author John Astley, writes for the Journal on technology and our its role in society

‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ is an Audi cars branding statement that we are very familiar with. A translation of this is, ‘advancement through technology’ which raises several key issues about the role of technology in our everyday lives that I wish to explore.

The word technology comes from the ancient Greek, the ‘science of craft’; art, skill, and the hand. In our society we tend to use the word technology to describe all things to do with the intervention of human beings (in the main) to devise techniques to help solve problems. The wheel, the screwdriver, the printing press, the telephone, and the microchip; all objects that spring from our need to survive and advance, to make our lives easier, and use our labour more efficiently and effectively.

Four stages of development have been identified; the hand, the tool, the machine and the robot. Technological interventions come about within our community, even our specific culture group. One of the key issues about technological innovations is whether existing, or new technologies are created to meet social needs, or primarily to make a profit?

The widespread use of electricity, for example, in the early twentieth century was essential for the development of any modernising and industrialising societies. However, who did, and does now, control these global technologies, with the power to direct social and economic development? There are important questions here about decision making and accountability, and also how perception of what is ‘society’ changes. People often mistake the new (post) industrial age as civilisation. Shell being taken to court in Holland over climate change being an interesting recent example.

Understandably most of us expect technological changes, and the material objects that are created by these technologies. We do need cars, and mobile phones, and… don’t we? More and more people are now questioning both the necessity for some things that are created, why they are produced, and what the consequences of these objects really are. To quote Vance Packard, an American sociologist of the 1950s; who are these ‘hidden persuaders’ that influence and direct our choices in an expanding world of a consumer oriented culture? Packard followed his book on advertising and the like, with books on ‘the status seekers’ and ‘the waste makers’. The dedication of this last book sums up our dilemma; ‘To my mother and father who never confused the possession of goods with the good life’.

Decisions are made daily about the development of new technologies, the good, the bad and the ugly. Intended consequences are associated with every such decision; ‘it will function as a real aide for people, improve their lives and wellbeing, it will meet a gap in the marketplace, and, it will sell well; this is progress’. However, we need to be cautious about promises made on new technologies creating a wealthier and more leisured society, the many downsides of automation being a key example. So, there will always be some unintended consequences of such decisions. Who in our community will address and resolve outcomes? Who has the power to do that? Do we believe that potential users of these ‘products’ have sufficient education, know-how, information, understanding, and insights into what are perceived to be ‘our needs’ to make good choices and proper use of what is on offer?

One of the major issues facing us all post-Brexit is food production and consumption. The southwest is still a significant food producer, and more is produced with less people. Will the ‘new normal’ of a post pandemic community create greater reliance on locally grown, harvested and fished foods? Many people in Exmouth grow their own food, and the use of allotments remains a popular option. However, not as popular as in the past, when using family labour on land and sea was necessary for meeting needs. We have become increasingly used to relying on others to provide our food, at a price, and our expectations continue to rise. How could we cope without having 24/7 access to out of season foodstuffs? Just load up another aeroplane.

Even if we have not yet considered these issues around the role of technologies in our everyday lives, we will very soon need to do so.

The Open University have some good free introductory short courses; see at open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology