The Evolution of Successive Generations of Technology

Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2019

of Christianity in the late Roman Empire. This will be one of several points where a teacher will want to provide much needed context and better informed historical arguments. Because the story basically ends at Newtonian mechanics, the book does not cover enough material for one-semester introductory astronomy courses as they are commonly taught. The graphics, while serviceable, are sometimes crowded and would be considerably clarified in many cases by redrafting to cover a full page. However, typographical errors are relatively few for a first edition. The book includes a full index, but a glossary would be a valuable addition.

In the modern era, personal gadgets have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. From smartphones and tablets to smartwatches and fitness trackers, these gadgets have transformed the way we live, work, and play. While some argue that these devices are a distraction and have a negative impact on human life, others believe that they have brought a lot of convenience and benefits. In this article, we will explore the impact of personal gadgets on modern civilization and their effects on human life.

Philosophy of Engineering and Technology, 2018

To fully accomplish the "thing turn" in the philosophy of technology this paper invites shifting the attention from humans towards the world. The concept of world here refers to the complex made of the Earth with all things and living beings, including humans; it ignores the great divide between nature and society or culture. In this worldly perspective, the thing turn means adopting the perspective of things and raising questions such as how artifacts come into being, how they intervene within the world, how they change it. Such issues are vital to prevent the alienation of technology both from nature and from human beings.

Peter Henlein – Nuremberg – the world’s first pocket watch: these three notions seem to be inextricably linked, but were (and are) heavily contested. These disputes are described briefly, with special consideration of the life and work of Enrico Morpurgo, professor of Italian in Amsterdam (1894–1972).

This book may be reproduced without permission provided that it is reproduced in its entirety without any changes and it is distributed free of any charges. Grossmann, Moritz, 1826-1885. [Preis-Schrift Abhandlung über die Konstruktion einer einfachen, aber mechanisch volkommenen Uhr Glashütte in Sachsen] Prize essay on the construction of a simple but mechanically perfect watch. ISBN 0 9581369 0 4.

NatureCulture vol. 1, 2012

evolution which, for them, stretches back at least 100,000 years. This lengthy temporal contextualization is the main point of divergence from contemporary anthropology and STS; it is what makes these texts obsolete today.

The Invisible Machine In a journal article written by Mark Weiser entitled The Computer for the 21 st Century, he tries to look beyond the role of ubiquitous computing in the future where technological advancements surpass its basic computing functions to a machine that is experienced by its users yet hidden from their lives. He introduced the concept of ubiquitous computing by referring to it as an " invisible machine " where computers are unconsciously integrated as a basic need in performing everyday tasks. He creates a visualized concept on how the 21 st century technology can revolutionize electronic devices in our lives. Based on the envisioned concept of ubiquitous computing, Weiser cited examples of inch-scale machines with an ability to render the fundamental functions of writing and display surfaces such as papers, boards, clocks, and Post-It notes. He referred to them as Pads, Tabs, and Boards which comprises the initial components of the ubiquitous computing platform. Weiser rigorously explained the functions of each hardware component and its implications to the creation of an embodied virtual reality. The purpose of the article was to provide knowledge on how ubiquitous computing, as an emerging mode of computer technology can introduce a faster and convenient way of performing tasks while providing smooth interactions between people and computers at the same time. Since the article was written in 1991, there were several surprising predictions that Weiser had laid out with respect to the booming growth of technology from the beginning of the 21 st century to the present. The late Mark Weiser, the author of the article, was the chief scientist of the XEROX PARC, a research and development company and the father of ubiquitous computing. His notable contribution in the field of computer science was the set of principles in describing the concept of ubiquitous computing. In this paper, the concept of Mark Weiser's " invisible machine " shall be explored and how it continuously shapes the evolution of modern technology and human life.