Session 6 / Dosage 6

Brief Overview/Summary:

Session 6 was introduction to BioBusiness and the so called ‘part 1’ out of 2 of the topic. It was interesting to find out that prof was one of the people who was involved in creating the term BioBusiness. BioBusiness is a very broad term, basically it is any commercial activity based on life sciences. Yet prevalence of BioBusiness was underestimated.

Interesting Observation and Ideas:

There is a significantly higher percentage of people involved in BioBusiness than the percentage of GDP which is constituted by BioBusiness. I guess it is mainly due to the large number of people needed for the agriculture and environmental industries. However, I believe that if the relevant technologies are spread and made available to these industries worldwide, the labour needed would be significantly reduced. On the downside, many people would be unemployed.

The level of obesity rates are astounding. Especially in rising powers India and China. With increasing urbanization and technologies present today we indirectly promoted a trend of higher consumption and less exercise. Jobs and easy accessibility to food are some ‘benefits’ of urbanization. We do not even need to step out of our house for meals, they can be delivered right to our doorstep. In addition, the availability of internet, computers, consoles and televisions have given us more reason to stay home. In cities, people might have more stable and higher income jobs but they tend to be of longer working hours. After a day’s of work don’t you just want to head home and relax? Also longer working hours, means a heavier workload which implies more stress. Having more stress could lead to higher consumption of food, maybe even unhealthy food. All these factors and many more have caused people to consume more and/or exercise less. These could also contribute to an increasing amount of health problems. On the other hand, I am sure there are factors and technologies that promote a healthy lifestyle.

The importance of healthcare is paramount. Countries strive to increase the efficiency and productivity of the healthcare system. In the US they the use of Disease Management have significantly benefited them. Lowering cost, decreasing waiting time and reducing workload. However, I wondered why it has been implemented in the US but not other countries like Singapore. Well, different countries have different characteristics so the benefits reaped in the US might not be enjoyed in another country. Hence, countries need time to analyse and evaluate the feasibility of the concept of Disease Management before they implement it. Furthermore, Prof mentioned that healthcare and education are the slowest areas for changes to occur. I feel that it should be otherwise. These areas are important aspects of society and needs to be improved and adjusted constantly. Though careful evaluation of the change is needed, it should not be delayed. The timing of the change could be ever so significant.

The collaboration of technology makes it so much more convenient. Imagine if the world collaborates the way humans are trying to make technologies do so. It would be simply amazing. (Just a thought)

 

Key Takeaway Points:

1)      People need to start taking personal responsibility of their health. Parents need to guide their children to live a healthy lifestyle. Governments can aid their citizens by improving the healthcare system, making it more convenient and accessible, e.g. Disease Management.

2)      Potential of BioBusiness is limited by ethics and morals.

3)      Complement others not replace their roles (takeaway point from reading 6)

Issue for further discussion:

We have focused mainly on the benefits of BioBusiness and the potential it holds. What about the negative effects it brought along with it? We could discuss more on the negative impacts and how it could be mitigated.

Personal Rating:

8/10 More or less well balanced and insightful session.

Week 5/Dosage 5

Brief Overview/Summary:

Week 5, back to a single topic. This week we focused our attention on Information & Communication Technologies (ICT). ICT may sound like a very simple and straight forward term, when in fact the potential and possibilities it holds is surreal. Initially, before this session, I did not know much about ICT but now I am awed by the potential that ICT possesses. However, with a plus side also comes a down side. With the development of ICT negative impacts previously experienced could be amplified to a global scale. For example, global warfare, mass mobilization of hatred and coordinated simultaneous international crime.

 

Interesting Observation and Ideas:

In the past, many forms of mass media were passive. Ranging from radios to the printing press to the first form of the World Wide Web. Now, the development of technology has empowered humans/consumers the ability to interact with others/the producer. This has brought about a major change in mentality and perspective in the human mind. People were now able to criticize, praise voice out their opinion. They have the ability to do so and in certain countries the right to do so. With this two way interaction, producers could accustom to the wants of the consumers. Governments could receive feedback from the people. Ideas could be discussed and developed worldwide. International collaboration for the development of technologies were made easier. Not that these were not possible before, but now it has been made much more feasible. On the other hand, with that much interaction happening there are bound to be redundant or less useful information being put forth. At present people have to filter out those information by themselves. Knowledge management has to occur. As individuals we have to equip ourselves with knowledge and awareness to do so. Hence, there is an increasing need for people to be educated so that they would not be so gullible to believe everything that is presented to them.

Currently, the world has only began to explore and harness ‘the tip of the iceberg’ of the potential of ICT. “Today’s real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated.” With this being said by Kofi Annan we can infer that inequality is a persisting problem yet to be solved. However, ICT could be one of the solutions to inequality and other issues in the world. The Millennium Development Goals could be achieved with ICT. For example, a poor individual in Sudan could be linked/connected to a rich sponsor in the United Kingdom by just a click. In addition, if everyone was given the access to ICTs the playing ground would be level. A fellow peer brought up a question “Should access to the internet be a human right?” Indeed it should be, imagine what would happen if everyone in the world had access to the internet. Would education be so much of a problem? Boundaries and invisible inequality lines would slowly dissolve, bringing people together. It would ameliorate the persisting problems in the world and boost the progress of mankind significantly.

 Reading 6 left a deep impression on me. It was on The Project Natal. Upon watching the video, I was blown away by the technology presented. It was kind of scary though that a virtual being could be so human like. Yes, as discussed in class the possibilities and benefits we could reap from this technology were endless. However, I guess what bothered me was the possibility that the line between reality and the virtual world could be blurred. People could get ‘lost’ in the virtual world, especially children. At such a tender age, children could be lead to believe that the virtual world was indeed real and favour the virtual world to the one they are in. Negative psychological and societal impacts would definitely arise.

One interesting thought I had was that in the future, when the technology is sophisticated enough, people could actually upload their consciousness into systems and ‘live’ virtually. Humans would then be able to live forever as a machine. Another though I had was whether computers or systems would one day have the same analytical abilities as a human being.

 

Key Takeaway Points:

1)    The world has changed from an industrialised economy to a knowledge based one.

2)    Knowledge management plays an important role in today’s world.

3)    It is not the technology invented but the application of the technology that makes a difference.

4)    Expect the unexpected. The future is filled with possibilities.

 

Personal Rating:

9/10. The session today was a really insightful one for me.

Session 4/Dosage 4

Brief overview

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Einstein

With this being said it goes to show that technology is a double edged sword that can be abused. With the prevalence of globalization in the world driving the advancement of technology, we need people to stand up to guide and lead this advancement of technology in the right direction. Towards the use of technology for the greater good of all mankind.

Week 4 marks the last week of having 2 topics in one lesson and also my individual presentation. Honestly I was quite psyched up for it. It was interesting to present on the topic of change management, change leadership. It made me explore and learn about management and leadership in the ‘real world’. How companies operated. What people based their management and/or leadership on? The implications leadership on the world, so on and so forth. I liked that prof gave us a certain sense of freedom and did not narrow down on what we could or could not present on.

Interesting observation and ideas

At the start of the lesson Prof brought up a thought provoking discussion. He questioned the controversial views of industrialization in today’s world. How developed countries feel that less developed countries should not take up industrialization at present as it harms the world, when developed countries themselves did so previously. He then went on to a discussion the class had last week, about the development/use of green technology in Singapore. Ultimately, to me everyone is guilty right now for contributing to the degradation of the earth. We should keep that in mind and take a step forward, be proactive in changing our ways to make a better future. No what our status is the change will be significant. Everyone has a part to play. This is the mindset each and every one of us should have.

In the PDCA cycle, one of our peers mentioned that the ‘C’ was for change. However, when I went to look up on it I found out that the ‘C’ actually stands for check not change. Check meant to study the results and compare them with the expected results to ascertain any differences. Look for deviation in implementation from the plan and also to look for the appropriateness and completeness of the plan to enable execution. The PCDA is also similar to kaizen which means improvement or change for the better in Japanese, referring to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, and business management. (Went to look kaizen up after a fellow peer mentioned it in class)

Lastly, the definition of leadership and management as discussed in class is subjective. I do agree that a leader creates the paradigm, while the manager does the guidance towards the paradigm. However, in my opinion, the difference of a leader and manager: All leaders are managers, while not all managers are leaders. Leaders being leaders still have to manage certain aspects under them. In addition, the term manager is an official status at a workplace, while the term leader is not. At a work place people given the position of a manager, not a leader. E.g. Senior Manager Shane.

Key takeaway points

1)    Every individual makes a difference
2)    The ability to adapt and embrace change is vital
3)    Technology, globalization and competition are inextricably intertwined. In a constant cycle driving one another.

Personal rating for session

8/10 Interesting subjects discussed and sufficient time for the discussion of both topics. 

Outline of Individual Topical Paper - The Development and Future of Contact Lenses

Executive Summary

This paper will seek to uncover the prospect of contact lenses. The paper will examine the history of contact lenses, why and how it was created. The current purpose and limitations of the lenses, and what the future of contact lenses holds.

Background

What exactly are contact lenses? What types of contact lens are there?

Functions/Purpose of contact lenses.

Historical Perspective

How did contact lenses come about?

How technological advancement allowed the creation of contact lenses?

The original purpose of contact lenses and its effectiveness.

Current Situation

What caused the pervasive usage of contact lenses? The new purposes of the contact lens.

Observation of the spread of contact lenses and the market for it.

How effective are contact lenses today? Have they served their original purpose well?  (Benefits & limitations)

Future Considerations

With research and innovation being done on such a small piece of equipment what are the possibilities? Could contact lenses change how the whole world looks at things, literally? In fact a prototype of bionic contact lenses has been created. What are the implications of this creation on the future of contact lenses? With further development on contact lenses, could it be the new dominant technology in the world? How will contact lenses impact the world in the future? Lastly, the feasibility of future possibilities of contact lenses will be explored.

TWC Week 3/Dosage 3

Brief Overview/Summary:

In today’s session, we once again covered two topics. Technology and Industrial Development: Moving Towards Sustainable Development. Technology and Innovation Management. In fact the connection between this two topics are so strong that it could actually be linked into one major topic.

Interesting Observation and Ideas:

In the beginning of the lecture, Prof showed us a video, ‘The Story of Stuff’. It mentions that in today’s world, many products are toxic contaminated. Over a 100,000 synthetic chemicals are being used in commerce and manufacture today, but only a handful have been tested for health impacts and NONE have been tested for synergistic health impacts. This just shows one thing. People in the world take what are being offered to them for granted. We, an intellectual species that have evolved over millions of years, are not questioning the basic assumptions in the world. We just assume that the company has done their best to manufacture the product for us. Do we question their methods? Human beings have to start questioning the process or steps taken by companies worldwide. Being proactive is key in moving towards sustainable development.

What is the result of sustainable development? Prof mentioned that it means people today can maximize their options without limiting the options of people in the future. I agree with Prof that it means not limiting the options of the future generations. However, I feel that for that to happen we have to tweak our options at the present moment. In fact, we may have to limit them due to the devastating impacts that we have brought about so far. Our option on the usage of natural resources has been minimized. We have to look to new environmental friendly resources. If we continue to maximize our option of natural resources, there would not be any left in the near future. Hence, we have to create new options and shy away from the old ones.

Is the population of Singapore innovative? A question I am sure many of us would love to share our views on. Yes, the population of Singapore is innovative, but we are not given the right amount of opportunities to develop our vision locally. I feel that what some mentioned in class, it is partly due to our education system and culture that inhibits our innovative tendencies, true. From young we are told never to fail, that failure is bad. Success is what we have to achieve. This mindset that has been cultivated into Singaporeans is a huge inhibitor to our innovation process. We are afraid to try, we are afraid to fail. With all due respect to the Singapore government, I feel that encouraging innovation is one area in which it can really improve on.

Key Takeaway Points:

1)      Innovation is of paramount importance to bring about sustainable development.

2)      Imitation is not only all bad, in fact it has a plus side. Imitation is a distinct habit in the history of innovation. It maximises the potential of ideas. This is because when someone imitates an idea he tries to make it better, hence he develops the idea further.

3)      Sustainable development is the result of efforts made by people, by humans. We as human beings who are part of this world have to put our best foot forward in order to achieve sustainable development. It is not a question of whether it is achievable, it is a question of how we are going to achieve it.

Maybe the link below to a video might convince you to what I’m saying. It is definitely worth watching. Keep in mind this occurred many years ago and look what we have done so far. Is it enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0

Issue for further discussion:

1)      With regards to what was discussed in session 3A. Third world countries have benefited from the backward advantage and higher growth rates as compared to developing countries in the past.

However, with higher growth does it imply more extensive consequences?

Are third world countries able to get out of the vicious ‘catch up’ cycle they are in? Or will they comfortably sink into it, constantly embracing the advantages of being backwards? (I have brought this up on the Facebook page hoping for perspectives!)

2)      Why has the Singapore government taken only small steps towards sustainable development?

Personal Rating:

I found today’s session very relevant to us, the future leaders of the world. In addition, we managed to balance the focus on both topics equally. I’ll give it a 8/10.

TWC Week 2/Lesson 2

Brief overview

‘Don’t become a slave to technology – manage your phone, don’t let it manage you.’ Richard Branson.

Such a stark statement, yet the implications are myriad. I agree with Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, to a certain extent. With the advancement of technology being so pervasive, we find ourselves caught up with it in almost every aspect of our lives. At times, we have to step back from our 5 by 3 Inches screen and take a breather or two. However, this statement depends on ones’ definition of technology. If technology, is the application of knowledge to solve problems and concerns, it can be said that technology is almost everything in our lives and it is physically impossible to escape it.

In session 2 we cover how technology has impacted societies and the possibilities of global dominance. In addition, the perspectives of technology and human development are being explored in the second half of the session. Some of our peers gave us interesting insights on particular topics, during their individual presentations.

Interesting observation and ideas

Invention is a subset of innovation. Innovation consist of two portions creativity and marketing. Where does invention fit in? It goes under creativity. Basically, one has to create an invention then introduce it into society. Once the invention is successfully marketed, it is considered to be an innovation. Interestingly, many of us thought that it was the other way around. Innovation was a subset of invention. Now I realized innovation is the introduction of changes into society. Hence, innovators are usually not the ones who create the products, those are merely the inventors. The innovators are the ones who suggest how the product is applied, introducing new ideas into the world.

In the past few decades, the growth of technology has been rapidly increasing. For many, this growth is of paramount importance to propel the human race into a new era of technology. On the other hand, some may extrapolate on the downside of this growth. Prof mentioned a book titled ‘The Human Zoo’. In this book, the author depicts human beings trapping themselves in imaginary cages. The cages symbolize the web of technologies that people get caught up with in every single day of their lives. Personally, I find this analogy surprisingly true, especially in Singapore. In public places, everywhere you turn you can see people using their phones, smart phones to be specific. People use it on the train, while driving, while walking and even as they eat. Even though the smart phone is only one form of technology, it paints an ugly picture of what just one piece of technology can do to us. Isolating us from interactions with the surrounding, subjecting us to higher risk of danger and taking our basic respect and courtesy for another human being. Furthermore, the increase use of technology can give rise to health problems. This occurs when people are preoccupied with technology and cut down on exercising. There are also reports where some technologies have negative effects on health.

The debate on colonialism. Is colonialism a boon or a bane? I would have to say it is both. It is observed that colonial countries suffer different fates. Mainly because of the geographical location, agriculture products and natural resources a country possess. Countries like India suffered under colonialism, having to only produce cash crops or products demanded by the British. Their original industries were abolished due to monoculturism, causing the downfall of their economy. However countries like Singapore thrived, because of our prime location in the trading sector. In addition, we are a small country and do not have much natural resources. Another argument worth mentioning is an individuals’ take on freedom. If one would rather be ruled by the worse local government, than be under any foreign state. He or she would definitely view colonialism as subjugation. In many cases this is a popular opinion, as colonial rulers use their colonies to their advantage, ignoring the obvious repercussions suffered in the colony. Even until today the fate of the once colonialised third world countries is determined by the economics of the dominant hegemonic powers. Rather than the interest of the dependent third world.

Key takeaway points

Vanessa brought up a discussion of the factors contributing to the rise of China. Was it politics, economics, culture or innovation? Vanessa and a few others mentioned that culture was the most significant factor. Others said politics was more significant, putting forth that without the political changes made in China, it would never have decided to open its’ doors in the first place. I feel economics and politics worked hand in hand in contributing to the rise of China. The fact that the political change allowed China to open it’s doors and China adopted new economic plans was vital for its’ rise. Prof mentioned that once China opened up it sent their scholars to the best universities around the world to learn and bring back with them the knowledge to develop a new China. China showed the world that perspective towards things was of paramount importance, just one tweak and we could end up with a different result. The concept of constantly accepting to, change and adapt, in the ever-evolving world is crucial to ones’ survivability.

One student questioned, why do we need to discuss about the past? We need to understand where things came from and how they got to where they are today. This understanding would serve as a platform for us to evaluate and learn from the past. I feel that this is very relevant in many different perspectives. For example, in the business perspective it strongly correlates to what was mentioned in Reading 2 of session 2A, in which businesses should ‘selectively forget the past’. By selectively forgetting the past, businesses are reviewing the policies used and filtering what should continue to be used in the future. This can also apply to oneself. We as individuals need to review what we have done, learn from our mistakes or even successes, as we plan into the future. I feel that this is a significant practice that all of us should carry out. We only live life once, we should do it right.

Prof’s organizational behavior model, was one that has eluded us although it was so logical and obvious. The model consisted of 3 mindsets, rising star, dominant and falling star mindsets. Prof used it to explain about businesses and countries. Once again, it can be a concept used on individuals as well. For example, for students in SMU, or be it any educational institutes. There will be students who are perceptive to learning and those who are not. In addition, those who do well might get complacent and fall into the aspect of a falling star. If we are every lost in our lives or wondering what we can do to improve, we can use the model to evaluate ourselves. In addition identifying the traits we need to work on or change.

Issue for further discussion

1) In relations to the second topic of the lecture, technology and human development, how has technology impacted human development psychologically really intrigued me. I found reading 3 quite interesting. We could discuss about the right of freedom people should have to pursue scientific temper in their own way.

2) If technology is the application of knowledge to solve problems or in other words ‘to know what to do’. Is there any human development that does not involve technology?

Personal rating for session

Although the session was too short for the full discussion of two topics, it was interesting and insightful. I wish there was more focus on the second topic though. I will give it a 6/10.