The Technological Revolution Essay -- Technology

Due to continuous innovations, the American view of science and technology is constantly fluctuating. The ever-evolving image of science and technology in the United States is usually due to how the most recent developments in science and technology contribute, whether in a perceived positive of negative light. In times such as war, where technology essentially determines the outcome, the public’s perception of technology becomes essential, as well as the implementation of said technology. Many other factors are pertinent in determining the way the public identifies science and technology. After World War II and the evolution of nuclear weapons because of the Manhattan Project, the image of science and technology evolved in the United States for a variety of reasons. These motives include noteworthy historical events in which the technology is relevant, the mutable idea of development and popular culture and the media. After World War II, nuclear weapons dramatically grew in prominence. This omniscience of nuclear power also led to a general race to achieve technological hegemony. In 1950, only a few years after the conclusion of World War II, the Korean War began. Due to this escalation of military research because of the Korean War, â€Å"the importance of applied research in universities increased dramatically† (Hughes 113). Although universities are the premier research institutions in America, those against the war effort were appalled that such forces could simply invade universities to achieve an uncommon goal. Some, such as Alvin Weinberg, Director of the AEC Oak Ridge National Laboratories, complained about the â€Å"corruption of science by Big Science† (Hughes 128). The ‘corruption’ Weinberg refers to is the use of science to... ...American fear of Japanese technical dominance and racist sentiments by describing a dystopian Los Angeles, overcome by Japanese manufactured genetically altered robots that begin to replace humans. Both of these cinematic productions reflect a chief trepidation that pervaded America after the Second World War: the potential of technology, specifically robots, to supersede humans. Despite great benefits of the ample innovations since World War II, the image of science and technology remained tarnished by the apprehension that machines would one day replace humans as well as its potential for violence and unwarranted usage. Works Cited Hughes, Jeff. The Manhattan Project: Big Science and the Atom Bomb. New York: Columbia UP, 2002. Print. Pursell, Carroll W. The Machine in America: A Social History of Technology. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1995. Print.