The Cold War (1947-1991) was a period of geopolitical tension between the US and the USSR. They indirectly fought each other with propaganda, proxy wars, weapons, and more. Both countries did anything to win, so they increased their state funding. With high funding, technology was able to progress and boom. Since then, technology has made an everlasting impact on society. Some notable technologies include the computer, internet, and satellite.
In earlier times, the computer was a simple machine that could do high number calculations and save people time. It was soon known as the “mathematical robot.” As time progressed, the computer became smaller, portable, and more complex. Computers were able to do more than computations. Devices once used by professionals became more widespread among everyone, including children and the elderly.
With the evolution of the computer, the internet was born. The internet is the network of connected computers that the web works on. The most notable web is the World Wide Web. You can see it being used everyday. (Just look at any website and what does the link begin with? WWW, standing for World Wide Web.) With the help of the web, people are able to access files, data, and media. People all across the world are also able to interact with one another, using email and shared browsers.
An image of a satellite, an object that orbits a planet or star in outer space.
The last notable technological device is the satellite. The idea of exploring what lies beyond Earth intrigued astronomers during the Cold War. Both the US and USSR wanted more control over the world and both believed that Outer Space was territory that could be conquered. This competition was coined the Space Race. To win, they needed a device to reach there first, known as the satellite. However, people still use satellites to explore and research even after the Space Race. We are able to monitor shifts and changes in land, the world beyond our Solar System, and predict the weather.
With these advancements, we are currently in the fourth industrial revolution. The prior revolutions being mechanization, mass production, and computers/automation. Our current revolution is known for AI and the Internet of Things (IoT). This revolution is to ensure that technology will work in our benefit, creating human-centered ideas. The idea of these four industrial revolutions can be found in Klaus Schawb’s book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution.
These technological developments have led us to push our limits and reach new goals we had never imagined before. We are reaching into a new society. Where will we go?
Discussion Questions:
What are some everyday technologies you use?
Why was the Cold War crucial to the advancement in technology?
What was the race between the US and the USSR for Outer Space called?
What threats and problems does technology pose?
Vocabulary:
Geopolitical: Politics influenced by geographical features
Propaganda: Information used to promote a certain political view
Proxy War: Armed conflict between two parties, each having a country supporting each side of the conflict
Computations: Math calculations
Mechanization: Introducing machines into an industry to replace human labor
Automation: Technology replaces human work, minimizing human input
