How Technology Changed Society, 1900-2017

Last year we looked at the effects on human society around the world of introducing new technologies, in the time frame of the 15th to the 19th centuries. This year we will concentrate on the technologies of the 20th and 21st centuries. Our emphasis is on how society changed in response to technology, rather than on the details of individual technologies. We take a world-wide view and have a loose definition of technology, which may include transportation, communication, object-making, use of power, information manipulation, and other topics of interest to the group.

Facilitators:

Peter Steiner, peterediesteiner@gmail.com, retired (sort of) from teaching high school physics and chemistry about 10 years ago. Academy interests include science, history, art and current events, usually with some connection to societal effects.

Pat Cross, patcross@londonst.com, is a retired engineer, with degrees in physics and engineering, who is really enjoying getting a grip on historical topics in the Academy. This workshop marries her technical and historical interests.