Chapter six discusses the recent evolution of technology and communications, their importance to society and their reliance on fossil fuels. The first major methods of transportation were trains and boats. Trains were cheap to build and maintain, and were an inexpensive way of transporting people and their goods across the country. Once steam engines came into play trains became an even more popular form of transportation. They were much preferred to horse drawn carriages. Next the chapter discussed new steam engined ships which allowed room for bigger ships and faster voyages. Steam engines were eventually replaced by diesel engines, which made traveling by ship even more likeable. A huge invention that followed was the combustion engine, which opened the way to automobiles, which are not almost an essential for every family in America. Finally, rockets were developed, and for the first time ever, allowing man to look for the first time beyond the boundaries of his own planet. Modern transportation would be be a burden without the use of all of these inventions that depend on fossil fuels. In fact, fossil fuels themselves require transportation to refineries and to local outputs where they can be accessed.
Next chapter six went on further to discuss inventions of communication such as the telegraph, the telephone, and eventually computers and the internet. These are all much more effective as long distance communications than mail. These all require electricity to function, and most of our country's electricity comes from fossil fuels. As a result, this is just one more way that fossil fuels have impacted our community.
Terms:
~Automation: A process that involves using control systems such as computers and machines to control modern development processes.
~Embourgeoisement: Factors that help categorize people into the 'middle class' of our society.
~
Comments:
~Excellent transportation is essential in a modern day society whither it means getting food from the grocery store, giving emergency supplies to those in Haiti, or moving troops to the front-lines to gain solid ground. Transportation itself has helped unite a global market and has greatly expanded our access to every day needs.
~Better communications are intended to make communicating easier, while also relying less on fossil fuels. For instance, rather than having to drive all the way home to ask my mom a simple question, or send a letter which required a jet plane and a delivery truck, I can simply call them on a phone, send them an instant message, or even video chat with them. Better communications such as radio and television allow the spread of news, and even can help promote awareness towards a natural disaster.
~I personally believe that the cars of the future are more likely to be made by apple rather than General Motors. Check this out!
http://www.teslamotors.com/models/index.php
Questions:
~How come at my college, everyone seems to drive to the Cafe rather than use a more economic friendly method such as riding a bike or walking?
~What should be prioritized, the development of new transportation technologies and communications, or the enhancement of older more energy consuming technologies?
~Which seems more efficient, the development of electric cars, or increased mileage in gasoline cars?
1. I can't fathom why people drive anywhere on a campus as small as Hartwick. I had a student who was on the water polo team who was moaning about how hard it was to walk up all these damn hills we have here. I had another student who called to say she'd have to miss class because her car wouldn't start--she lived in a Greek house less than half a mile from campus. Americans have lost the habit of considering our bodies as being capable of doing anything useful. But don't get me started.
ReplyDeleteIn your second question, the right strategy depends on how much potential you think there is down each path, and how much economic activity you expect there to be. If you foresee a continually expanding economy, then we'd damn well better have a lot more options in the future. If we're headed for stagnation, then tweaking and slightly enhancing our existing stuff will be the better way to go.
In your third question, "seems" isn't the right approach. Gasoline cars have inherent thermal limitations that are more constraining than for electric cars. On the other hand, the infrastructure for them exists already. Which course is _better_ depends on similar factors as discussed in response to your previous question, but "seeming" is not what it's about.