1.
Why do some converging technologies raise special ethical and social issues?
Solution
Because
1. Human costs and de-valuing work: Consider the levels of automation undergoing will increase
the performance but at the cost of diminishing the work’s intellectual and emotional
value.For e.g The levels of automation found in fast-food restaurants , assembly line or
warehouse fulfillment centers, where work is de-humanized, worker growth is diminished, and
the value of rewarding work is stripped away.
2. De-Skilling : Development of powerful support systems that augment human intelligence in
demanding environments provides the positive benefits by reduction in errors and improve safety
but the gains from technology will outweigh the loss of skills.Automation can create a situation
where skilled operators can be replaced be less-skilled operators. For example, some aircraft
systems, such as the Boeing Dreamliner and the  F-35 Lighting II, have become so
complicated that they challenge the human capacity to fly them without assistance from an
“intelligent― assistant.
3.The erosion of privacy : Technologies have been developed to remotely monitor the activities
of the elderly allow parents to monitor every movement of their children – what they’re
doing at home but continous monitoring has opposite effect, instead leaving one feeling the loss
of highly valued privacy and dignity because of non-stop monitoring.
4. The dangers of distraction: The convergence of technologies can tax our attention spans in a
way that threatens the limits of human capabilities.With the availability of GPS screens,
entertainment monitors, handsfree cellphone and advanced stereo systems having multiple
mechanisms to control them, delivers high value and pleasure to the driver along with
passengers,but they divide the operator’s attention and distracting him or her from the stated
purpose of driving, leading to life- threatening situations