Author Description

We begin with a review of the broad spectrum of areas discussed in our first Engineering for Social Change book. Then we move on to an examination of key emerging technologies in areas that are already showing evidence of unintended consequences, and where significant social impacts could occur in the near future. Virtual reality, AI, bionics, IoT and others are beginning to change the way society interacts, even at a basic human level. How will we change as a society when new ideas like the metaverse, NFTs, cryptocurrency and deepfakes become commonplace, and our connections become virtual and less concrete in nature? It is emphasized that we can no longer focus engineering design with just technical considerations, but societal needs must be strongly integrated into design courses for engineers. The consideration of philanthropy and nonprofits by engineering students has gotten special attention, which has been enhanced by our continued connection with the School of Public Policy. After a considerable amount of discussion, we decided to touch on a topic mostly ignored in the engineering curriculum. That is the participation of Black people in technology. The issue of Black Lives Matter and the widespread protests in 2020 have forced us to examine the long-standing opportunities denied to this community. We review a brief history of how we got here and end the chapter recognizing some notable role models important for future success. As a companion to this book, Dylan Hazelwood wrote The Technological Manipulation of Humanity. The reader need not to be a technologist or scientist to enjoy the book, which is a collection of vignettes examining how technology is impacting our lives in sometimes unseen ways. The book ends with a discussion of the tremendous gifts and conflicts of technology, and poses the perennial question; is there any way to ensure that technological developments increase our happiness?