Technology will determine the future of the human race
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Related programme
The first of the 2005 series of Reith lectures, given by the distinguished engineer Lord Broers
The Lecture
Lord Broers begins his argument that technology will determine the future of the human race by looking back four thousand years to the successful development of stone age technology and the impact it had on humankind. He then moves forward to the present day to lament the lack of understanding of technology and failure to appreciate its importance that has led the general public to regard the safety bicycle as Britain’s greatest invention.
Communication technology is just one of the areas he draws upon to demonstrate the impact of technology on modern society, arguing that ‘most new technologies, with the exception of those associated with weaponry, have had hugely beneficial effects for most people’ and that their influences will ‘increase as time passes’.
Our Experts' Responses
'Consumer demand, not technology, drives the future,' says Joyce Fortune
'Someone needs to understand the second law of thermodynamics, but do we all need to?,' asks Derek Matravers
'As a nation, we need to re-engage with technology,' says Nick Braithwaite
'The technological potential is there, but the opportunity is left untaken,' says Tom Hewitt
Your Responses
What do you think about Broers' view and our experts' responses? Join the debate.
Content last updated: 04/04/2005
