http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/technology Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 11 May 2026 20:30:12 -0400 Mon, 11 May 2026 20:30:12 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1490/the-internet-of-things-a-look-into-the-social-implications-of-google-glass By Kelly N. Widerschein - In its beta release, Google Glass was positioned as a groundbreaking technology - a glimpse into a future that has long been promised in science fiction. It was met with media fanfare and consumer interest, despite costing more than most PCs on the market and significantly more than even the most capable smart phones. While now widely seen as an expensive flop, the introduction of Google Glass generated crucial research for a future, successful rollout. Due to privacy concerns, widely publicized engineering flaws, and high cost, the general public rejected the beta version of Google Glass. However... Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1490/the-internet-of-things-a-look-into-the-social-implications-of-google-glass http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1559/the-technological-abyss-heideggerian-ontology-and-climate-change By Aaron Mazo - Whenever a decision is made in a social, political, or economic context, it is implicitly grounded in an ethical outlook. But where do these outlooks come from? To investigate this query, I examine the basis for ethical decisions regarding technology, focusing specifically on geoengineering responses to climate change. Subsequently, I argue that ethical considerations concerning climate change, and their corresponding practical decisions, cannot be reliably made without sufficient intelligibility regarding the objects and entities these decisions pertain to. To achieve this, I employ a Heideggerian... Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1559/the-technological-abyss-heideggerian-ontology-and-climate-change http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1422/the-crispr-fantasy-flaws-in-current-metaphors-of-gene-modifying-technology By Alex J. Maben - CRISPR gene-modifying technology continues to revolutionize fields involving biological research. Rapid advancements, however, have sparked a vibrant bioethical debate scene. This research focuses on the effective usage of CRISPR metaphors in scientific communication. Specifically, I argue that the current figurative terminology—gene editing, targeting, scissors, etc.—exhibit underlying oversimplifications that bias public perspectives on CRISPR. Though the actual experimental science occurs in lab, the world learns about the discoveries through literary expression. It is thus... Mon, 13 Jun 2016 10:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1422/the-crispr-fantasy-flaws-in-current-metaphors-of-gene-modifying-technology http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1391/the-ferris-wheel-the-worlds-columbian-exposition-of-1893-and-the-display-of-american-superiority By Violette H.P. Ho - The appearance of new technology such as electric lights and skyscrapers in urban centers prompted many to see cities as places of excitement and economic advancement. As more people continued to migrate, these American cities begun to suffer from overcrowding. In some areas, such as in New York City, the population reached as high as 334,000 people per square mile. Women made as little as 25 cents a day for working in a sweatshop. Most city dwellers barely earned enough to get by. They live in tenements with dozens of other families, with no access to safe drinking water. People sold food on... Sun, 17 Apr 2016 02:48 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1391/the-ferris-wheel-the-worlds-columbian-exposition-of-1893-and-the-display-of-american-superiority http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1379/the-loneliness-of-digital-devices-examining-removed-photo-series-by-eric-pickersgill By Nicole Litvan - Through her observations, Turkle found that “we [people] defend connectivity as a way to be close, even as we effectively hide from each other” (Turkle, 251). She shows that the growing reliance on technology, which aims to connect and bond individuals around the world, instead creates moments of disjunction and being “alone together” in social settings. In these cases, people are physically together in a home, restaurant, or building, but avoid intimate conversation and interaction because they are mentally in different electronic worlds, thousands of pixels away from... Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1379/the-loneliness-of-digital-devices-examining-removed-photo-series-by-eric-pickersgill http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1374/too-much-tech-harms-reading-retention-in-young-children By Maria E. Yienger - For today's children, technological devices such as iPads, smartphones, and e-readers are quickly replacing more traditional "toys" as sources of learning and entertainment. With their capacity to contain a multitude of activities within a single device, tech devices are the new norm and are being utilized from a young age. Many critics have explored the negative implications that technology has on reading and learning, and while it may seem like iPads and other technological devices are a convenient way to keep young children entertained and distracted, it has also been shown that reading habits... Sun, 06 Mar 2016 06:39 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1374/too-much-tech-harms-reading-retention-in-young-children http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1368/utilizing-technology-for-learning-stem-subjects-perceptions-of-urban-african-american-middle-school-students By Xue Wen - This study was designed to explore current issues of access, interests and attitudes towards technology use in STEM related courses for a population of middle school students enrolled at a Title I urban school in the South. The participants in the study were largely African-American students enrolled in grades 6, 7 and 8. Data were collected from 124 usable anonymous surveys. The study focused on respondents’ perceptions of and experiences with computers and mobile devices, especially with respect to learning in math, science, technology and other so-called STEM courses. Potential differences... Mon, 22 Feb 2016 04:15 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1368/utilizing-technology-for-learning-stem-subjects-perceptions-of-urban-african-american-middle-school-students http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1530/toxicological-effects-of-nanomaterials-on-aqueous-and-terrestrial-ecosystems By Sabina Hyseni - This paper provides a holistic overview of the effects of engineered and natural nanomaterials (ENMs and NNMs) in the environment. Through increasing production and technology, NMs are contaminating the air, soil, and water with large toxicological implications. The proposed pathways of nanomaterials in the environment suggest that they accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environment due to emissions, surface runoff and effluent from wastewater treatment facilities. Nanomaterial toxicological studies have also shown large bactericidal and mutagenic effects due to the metal ion properties, stabilizing... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1530/toxicological-effects-of-nanomaterials-on-aqueous-and-terrestrial-ecosystems http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1584/indias-anti-gmo-rhetoric-wielding-gandhian-thought-to-undermine-corporate-capitalist-agriculture By Julia Sullivan - As a predominantly rural and densely populated developing nation, India is positioned at the vanguard of the global debate surrounding GMOs. As concerns related to food security mount, what transpires in India is of great importance. Citizens' collective memory of the country's colonial experience and Gandhi's role as an independence leader, however, have made for a poignant encounter with biotechnology. A range of diverse anti-GMO civil society groups have risen to the fore, some of which, despite not having come together on a cohesive campaign, articulate their organizational objectives through... Sun, 31 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1584/indias-anti-gmo-rhetoric-wielding-gandhian-thought-to-undermine-corporate-capitalist-agriculture http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1137/the-effect-of-technology-on-face-to-face-communication By Emily Drago - Recent technological advancements have had a drastic impact on the way individuals communicate. In this research, previous studies were analyzed, field observations were conducted, and an online survey was administered to determine the level of engagement individuals have with their cell phones, other technologies and with each other in face-to-face situations. Findings suggest that technology has a negative effect on both the quality and quantity of face-to-face communication. Despite individuals’ awareness of the decrease of face-to-face communication as a result of technology, more than... Sat, 30 May 2015 11:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1137/the-effect-of-technology-on-face-to-face-communication http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1017/artificial-composers-tools-of-the-modern-musician-or-affront-to-human-creativity By Jonathan P. Farrell - On August 13, 2014, Youtube user CGPGrey posted Humans Need Not Apply, an informative video detailing the trajectory of automated technology and its implications on the job market and human employment. After describing the superhuman superiority of automation in low-skill, white collar, and professional job markets, Grey (2014) addresses artistic specialists: “But perhaps you are unfazed because you’re a special creative snowflake. Well, guess what: you’re not that special” (11:15). He then proceeds to debunk the myth that creativity is exclusively human, and does so to... Sun, 22 Mar 2015 05:21 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1017/artificial-composers-tools-of-the-modern-musician-or-affront-to-human-creativity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public By Leah C. Campbell - Much has been said in regards to Barack Obama’s revolutionary use of technology during both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns for President of the United States. Yet, during his administration, that groundbreaking tactic suddenly disappeared. In 2013, with the launch of the We The People website, the Obama administration focused its efforts on reigniting that feeling of connection that powered two successful elections. The site was created as an update to the Office of Public Engagement, which had drawn criticism in past administrations for its ineffectiveness. While the website and corresponding... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 03:31 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/914/gene-therapy-current-treatment-options-and-likely-near-term-developments By Mark T. Edwards - Gene therapy cells usually treats somatic cells and although originally devised to treat inherited disorders (Evans & Robbins, 1995), most gene therapy now benefits cancer patients. It is also used to treat acquired immune disorders, arthritis and hemophilia (Evans & Robbins, 1995; Mountain, 2000). Gene therapy is an attractive proposition since certain Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) or proteins provide effective treatments but are traditionally difficult to deliver effectively. Conventional treatments for some disorders are invasive, unpleasant, frequently ineffective and often have side effects... Mon, 15 Sep 2014 10:35 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/914/gene-therapy-current-treatment-options-and-likely-near-term-developments http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/908/regulating-gmos-in-the-united-states-and-europe-the-political-and-economic-drivers-behind-monsantos-agricultural-biotechnology-business By David C. Shishido - Scholars, the media, and activist groups often attribute the difference in regulatory approaches to cultural "soft" factors, characterized by a precautionary approach and cultural aversion to genetically modified (GM) agriculture in the EU, and general ignorance of agricultural bioengineering in America. While relevant, these cultural factors focus more on the impact, rather than the cause, of Monsanto's dichotomized fiscal success on opposite sides of the Atlantic. They also discredit a U.S. history replete with both strong public interest advocacy and risk-averse health legislation that has... Sun, 17 Aug 2014 09:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/908/regulating-gmos-in-the-united-states-and-europe-the-political-and-economic-drivers-behind-monsantos-agricultural-biotechnology-business http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/879/making-sense-of-memes-where-they-came-from-and-why-we-keep-clicking-them By Marion Provencher Langlois - The word meme has changed since its creation by Dawkins. It now refers, in Internet language, to pictures, sounds, videos or websites that are shared or reproduced from person to person through social media and user-generated content websites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Tumblr, Reddit, etc. This examination considers Internet memes that are composed of an image, either an illustration or a photograph, accompanied by text. Under this form only what is written changes. This way, a new story or a new joke is created, however with the restriction of having to use the same image and the same framework... Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:45 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/879/making-sense-of-memes-where-they-came-from-and-why-we-keep-clicking-them http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/844/south-koreas-sustainable-urban-planning-and-environmental-technology By Lorna Kang - In the process of rapid urbanization spurred on by an increasingly globalizing world, the inhabitants of mega-cities make an important tradeoff between improved quality of life and the systematic destruction of the natural organization of land and the environment. In the developing nations of East Asia, rapid urbanization and economic growth are visibly apparent, but so are urban environmental problems in overcrowded cities. The complexity of the issue is ever-growing because slowing economic growth is not a favorable solution, but sustainable urban development is still a viable possibility. In... Sat, 21 Dec 2013 02:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/844/south-koreas-sustainable-urban-planning-and-environmental-technology http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/766/technology-and-justice-the-philosophy-of-authenticity-and-democratic-theory By Matthew McManus - My aim in this work is to sketch, in broad strokes, an idea for a method of both assessing these dynamics and, ultimately, moving beyond them to provide a philosophic foundation for those moral notions I will suggest are attractive. By necessity, this has meant starting primarily with an analysis and critique of modernity and its normative content. While this is hardly a novel idea, I have attempted to contribute originally to the discourse of modernity, as Habermas characterizes it, by suggesting how a reconceptualization of temporality, and a reexamination of time's connection to language, would... Wed, 02 Oct 2013 11:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/766/technology-and-justice-the-philosophy-of-authenticity-and-democratic-theory http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1223/information-technology-and-control-in-the-dprk By Robert Duffley - In the Hermit Kingdom, information is a crucial resource. Its possession represents access to resource and weapons development techniques, but more importantly, information is what separates North Korean society from the rest of the world. Since the state’s inception, meager rations of information combined with hearty doses of propaganda have kept the populace starved with respect to knowledge of the rest of the world’s progress, which has quickly surpassed their own in the past two decades. Why, then, has the current regime dared implement 21st century communications systems such... Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1223/information-technology-and-control-in-the-dprk http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/560/the-technological-evolution-of-filmmaking-and-its-relation-to-quality-in-cinema By Ryan A. Piccirillo - The development of motion picture complexity has been driven by a continuing technological evolution, ignited and manipulated by human initiative and inventiveness, which has afforded filmmakers the opportunity to practice a more complex craft to tell more complex stories. In concert with societal attitudes and proximity, this evolution has driven the development of distinct styles, movements, and methods that would have been impossible without increasingly advanced apparatus. However, while this technological progression has been linear, it has not necessarily coincided with a similar evolution... Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:02 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/560/the-technological-evolution-of-filmmaking-and-its-relation-to-quality-in-cinema http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/550/reading-deeply-how-the-internet-may-limit-our-autonomy By Jesse A. Goldberg - Traditionally, human beings and tools are thought to be in a simple relationship with one another. All agency is located in the person, consequently making the human being the sole object of power which acts on its subject, the tool. As we move forward into an era of increasingly powerful digital technologies, this model has to be re-examined. Instead of a one-way relationship in which the human agent has total control as the sole actor and the tool is merely the object acted upon – a mere means to an end which the human agent has in mind, it would be more accurate today in the face of digital... Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/550/reading-deeply-how-the-internet-may-limit-our-autonomy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/509/brave-new-world-and-the-threat-of-technological-growth By Derek D. Miller - The world in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World has one goal: technological progress. The morals and aspirations of the society are not those of our society today - such as family, love, and success - but instead are focused around industry, economy, and technologic growth and improvement. The citizens are not concerned with themselves as individuals; they have been conditioned to see the world as a collective and technologically oriented. This society is one which Neil Postman, the author of Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology, would consider a ‘Technopoly.’ But... Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:21 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/509/brave-new-world-and-the-threat-of-technological-growth http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/414/using-online-forums-in-language-learning-and-education By Manprit Kaur - The online forum is an ideal place to put a learning community and its learning objects on the same page (Harman and Koohang 2005). In order to offer a successful discussion forum, teachers need to be fully skilled in practical use of the sites and committed to engaging with them, believing in their relevance and benefit for students and willing to spend dedicated time every week on the discussion forum with students. As Salmon (2004) advises, teachers need to take time to induct students to the online discussion tools and focus on familiarization and socialization into the online forum from the... Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:52 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/414/using-online-forums-in-language-learning-and-education http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/364/incorporating-technology-into-the-modern-english-language-arts-classroom By Steven A. Carbone II - The mere mention of the English Language Arts content area, for many people, might conjure images of ancient, dusty tomes, the sound of a classroom full of pens scratching across college-ruled paper, or the palpable befuddlement of students staring down a school year full of challenging texts and writing. Enter technology, and along with it an entirely new skill set and accompanying literacies. This is the twenty-first century after all, and English teachers would be remiss if they did not take advantage of the latest and greatest technological methods of reading, expression, and communication... Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/364/incorporating-technology-into-the-modern-english-language-arts-classroom http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/199/using-stem-cell-and-gene-therapy-technologies-to-treat-parkinsons-disease By Heena Mulchandani - The sudden onset of Parkinsonism in drug addicts consuming the heroin- analogue MPTP in the 1980’s, led to its discovery as a potential cause of sporadic PD; indeed several chemical agents such as Rotenone have also received considerable attention (2). Although its etiology is still incompletely understood, the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of PD has been hotly debated for decades. The recent discovery of at least five genes (such as a-synuclein and parkin (Park-2))(3) together with animal lesion models (6-OHDA, MPTP, Rotenone) and human post mortem tissue analysis has polarized belief... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/199/using-stem-cell-and-gene-therapy-technologies-to-treat-parkinsons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/190/revisiting-hg-wells-depiction-of-science-and-religion-in-war-of-the-worlds By Alex C. Hawley - Generally these inventions and discoveries are considered “good;” they are making life easier for us and helping us better our understanding of both ourselves and the world around us. However, to some, science has challenged their way of life. Instead of embracing new perspectives, some religious followers have tended to cling to traditional beliefs and shun what science and technology have to offer. For instance, when Charles Darwin introduced his theory of evolution by natural selection, he was directly challenging the cardinal belief that God created the earth and its inhabitants... Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:19 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/190/revisiting-hg-wells-depiction-of-science-and-religion-in-war-of-the-worlds http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1115/surveillence-society-selling-our-secrets By Kiel Patrick - As early as 1978 the Henley Center identified that household interactions were becoming increasingly ‘cellular’ rather than ‘nuclear’2; that is increasingly family interaction as a unit was becoming far less regular and more divided – combined with the diversification of TV channels it was recognized that the growth in individualism would require new marketing strategies which in turn shifted from the promotion of universal products in mass markets through the mass media such as BBC 1 & 2 to the promotion of highly differentiated product’s target to particular... Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1115/surveillence-society-selling-our-secrets http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/57/making-contact-the-photographers-interface-with-the-world By Kia M. Carbone - Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), a key twentieth-century cultural theorist, has been influential in various fields, including art and literary criticism. He wrote “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” in 1935 to examine revolutionary changes in the arts due to monumental advances in technology associated with modernity. He argues that in the age of mechanical reproduction, art becomes reproducible and thereby gradually loses its traditional and ritualistic value, causing it to lose “aura” and “authenticity.”[1] About a century earlier, Karl Marx... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:24 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/57/making-contact-the-photographers-interface-with-the-world