Social Impact Paper - Essay Example

?Social Impact Paper Introduction The history of human development is marked with milestones of inventions and discoveries that have assisted in making the arduous path smooth. The current state of human development may well be considered as having evolved along with the evolution of technologies. Many such technologies may lay claim to having been the key milestones in this path of human development. These claims are validated by the impact they have had on human beings and the changes in societal patterns that have resulted from such technological inventions and discoveries. The invention of the wheel is often considered as that which has had the greatest impact on human progress (1). In the same line of thought then the invention of the internal combustion engine has a strong impact on the sped and direction of human progress since its invention, not so long ago in the history of human progress. The impact of the internal combustion engine on human progress has been on a broad. Within the limits of this paper it is not possible to deal with every aspect of social impact that the invention of the internal combustion has. Therefore, this paper limits itself to evaluating the social impact of the gas powered internal combustion engine from the limited perspective of contribution to human progress in overland transportation, with particular emphasis on automobiles and the manner in which it has impacted on society. History The basic technology involved in the internal combustion engine can be truly said to be derived from the gunpowder engine developed in the seventeenth century. Two centuries were to elapse before the technology involved in the gunpowder engine could be harnessed into the internal combustion engine. Experiments conducted by Huygens and Papin on the gunpowder engine led to two different pathways in finding an efficient engine to power vehicles for transportation. The steam engine was one pathway and the internal combustion engine the second pathway. The steam engine was developed first and the internal combustion engine later, but both worked on the same principle of using the integral energy in steam or the explosion of a gas to deliver the required power. In the case of the steam engine water was heated to produce steam and its energy was used to drive a piston turned the wheels of a vehicle. Though passenger cars were developed using steam engine, the best use of steam engines was seen in the engines developed for hauling the locomotives of the train. The deficiencies of large engine size and lower efficiency made the steam engines unsuitable for widespread use in passenger vehicles. By the second half of the nineteenth century the search was on for a more efficient engine (2) Technological advances occur in what appears to be a predetermined sequence, one setting the ground for the other, and when the right idea is seeded into this advance of technology, further advances are made (3). The fundamental idea of the internal combustion engine gas was conceived through the principles contained in the gunpowder engine and the steam engine. The reason for the idea progressing to reality was finding the ideal fuel for the internal combustion engine. In the nineteenth century the availability of coal gas and petroleum removed this barrier to progress in the development of the gas powered internal combustion engine (2). The high energy fuel of petroleum in a mixture with air on ignition produces a rapid and powerful explosion. From 1860 to1880 the means for harnessing the energy of these explosions to power an internal combustion was under active experimentation and the results were soon forthcoming. Most of these experiments were in Germany and not surprisingly the early results sprang from Germany. Two sets of pioneers of the internal combustion engine using petroleum products emerged in the form of Daimler and Maybach on one side and Karl Benz on the other side. While Daimler and Maybach delivered early initial results of an internal combustion engine that could be used on two-wheelers, Karl Benz concentrating on an internal combustion engine for four wheelers. The development of the internal combustion engine using petroleum products was a major boost for the progress in the development of automobiles. Automobiles running on steam engines already existed, but were not popular because of their bulky engine and poor efficiency of the engine. The petroleum products powered internal combustion engine changed the dynamics for automobiles and was the major driving force for it emerging as the most popular mode of transport within a brief period of time. In the early twentieth century Ford using an assembly line for production of automobiles made automobiles affordable. In a short while the use of automobiles powered by internal combustion engines using petroleum virtually exploded. Automobiles for passenger transportations and hauling of goods soon filled the roads acting as the conduit for progress and development of humankind (4). Beneficial Impact It is about a hundred years since automobiles powered by internal combustion engines made their entry on roads. Within these hundred years use of automobiles in society is so rampant that to many the question of the benefits provided by automobiles to society is considered superfluous. Railroads and rail vehicles which was the driving force behind the early spread of communities in the United States of America were simply overpowered by the automobiles that followed. In modern America railroads make up a mere 4% of the transportation sector, while automobiles occupy a majestic 52% of the transportation sector. Out in a nutshell the automobile has benefited communities by it being the preferred mode of transport for carrying people to work and back home and delivery of the essential food and commodities to stores. With the automobile occupying such a dominant position in the transportation sector urban and city development for the communities is planned in such a manner as to account for expanding use of automobiles and also to ensure smooth movement of the ever increasing numbers of automobiles on American roads. There are many who view societies in America as mobile societies given the density of use of the automobiles, given that the average American covers between 20,000 to 30,000 miles every year using automobiles, and the millions of dollars that are spent every year around the automobiles in providing facilities for the rapid and safe transit of automobiles on American roads (5). The automobile gave societies the benefit of transportation and convenience. The transport potential of automobiles was a key factor in the dispersion of population in American communities. Urban congestion could be controlled with people willing to take to the suburbs, as they could travel to their work sites and then go back home in automobiles. The convenience of automobiles also meant that there was greater scope for relaxation by driving to relaxation and entertainment areas in automobiles during weekends or holidays. Automobiles also provided potential for more social interaction of individuals by making it possible to conveniently visit relatives and friends living far away. A benefit to society was a corollary to the large use of automobiles for different purposes in societies. This was the rapid and vast development of the infrastructure required for automobiles to move on. A vast network of roads is now present criss-crossing the country across practically every region of the country. Billions of dollars have been spent on the creation of this infrastructure. The presence of this infrastructure is the reason for the vast mobile populations of America and the spread of communities into areas with limited internal infrastructure for their support, and able to depend on external support of their needs through the transportation potential of the automobile. The transportation and convenience benefit of the automobile has really dispersed communities in this vast country to really make use of the potential that the largeness of the land provides (6). Harmful Effects The internal combustion engine and the automobile may have been one of the star inventions over the last hundred years. Yet, like many of the inventions there are two sides of the coin. Along with benefits come harmful effects and society has to evaluate the potential harmful effects, while allowing the new technology to become a part of the society. (7). The automobile has become an integral part of American society. In its early entry into use in American society the perils associated with its extensive use were seldom considered. A century of use has highlighted the harmful effects of the automobile and the cascading impact of these harmful effects. The automobile was the key to the decongestion of the urban areas. This was because of the economy and convenience associated with automobile. The current layout of American societies and the billions of dollars used in creating the infrastructure that American societies thrive are all based on the economy of transportation by the automobile. Should any need arise, like the shortage or high cost of petroleum products that fire the internal combustion then the surmise on which American society thrives will collapse, unless an alternative economical fuels source to drive automobiles is found. This is not a threat that may occur in the far future, but rather a growing current reality given the state of the petroleum fuel reserves still available to us. Depletion in the reserves of petroleum is already creating strife and conflict in the areas where these reserves are high. These conflicts cause loss of life and threaten the societies in not just these regions, but also threaten the peace and harmony of the world. (8). The next major issue is the pollution threat to the environment by the burning of the petroleum based fossil fuels in the internal combustion engines of the vast number of automobile cars running all over America and the rest of the world. This was not seen as potential threat at the time when petroleum based fuels were used in the internal combustion engines, because of the lack of understanding of environmental issues and the few numbers of automobiles on the road. The rapid growth in population and economic growth around the world has put an unimagined number of automobiles on the road. These fast growing numbers of automobiles along with burning of fossil fuels for other activities in society including manufacturing have made the environmental issue in the burning of fossil fuels a real threat to the environment, and through that a threat to our very existence. Warnings of global warning and its consequences are seen practically on a regular basis already threatening societies living in the danger, and with the spread of the effects of global warming societies in every part of the world will not be spared (8). The dependence on automobiles has led to reduced physical activity raising the potential for reduced health and well-being among the individuals in society, owing to the rise in diseases and conditions that develop from lack of exercise. The health of the nation is at stake, and so too the potential for huge financial resources to be used in maintaining the health and well-being of individuals in the society. In addition, every year 30,000 automobile accidents occur across the country causing loss of life and mobility of individuals adding to economic costs in addition to the personal loss. The harmful effects of the technology of the internal combustion engine and the automobile are clear examples of how the unfettered entry of technology into society can backfire (8). Societal Controls Societal control over the use of the automobile in the initial periods concerned the safe use of the automobiles, because of its potential to be life threatening on the road. Therefore the initial societal controls concerned where and how automobiles can be used. Therefore the first societal control pertained to separating use of the roads by pedestrians and automobiles. The automobiles were given right of way in the middle of the roads, while pedestrians had to make do with the sides of the roads. Crossing the roads still were a peril to the pedestrians till the development of pedestrian crossings. Then controls were put in place to for automobiles proceeding in one direction to stay to one predetermined side of the road. To again reduce the potential threat to life the requirement for developing adequate driving and a prescribed age became mandatory. However, seldom were any restrictions placed on the power of the internal combustion engine leading to the development of automobiles with the capability of high speeds. To reduce the threat from high speeds to pedestrians and other automobiles on the roads speed limits were enforced within the crowded environs of cities and towns, and it was only in the open highways that high speed use of automobiles was allowed. Thus the initial set of societal controls all pertained to the safe use of the automobile in terms of safety of the pedestrians and other motorists. Personal safety measures to protect the passengers of the automobile came at a later stage and were in the form of mandatory use of belts, presence of airbags, and stronger build of the automobiles to prevent crumbling of the automobile due to impact. A key point to be noted here was the total freedom given to automobile manufacturers to develop automobiles that guzzled huge quantities of petroleum based fuels in delivery the features of high speeds and comfort conveniences in these automobiles (9). The late realization of the limited resources of petroleum based internal combustion engine fuels and the rapid depletion of these resources forced societal controls on the quantum of fuels burnt by the internal combustion engine. In the USA fuel economy standards were enforced through the corporate average fuel economy standards (CAFE) placed on automobile manufacturers by the U.S. government. This control measure consisted of the calculation of the average fuel efficiency of all passenger cars sold by a manufacturer. From 1990 onwards CAFE requirement for passenger cars was set at 27.5 miles per gallon. Lower fuel efficiencies meant higher taxes shared by the manufacturer and the buyer. To offset low fuel efficiency of American manufactured cars, American car manufacturers would have to import and sell a certain number of small cars with high fuel efficiency from other parts of the world. Such an action would mean lowering production of automobiles in America leading to job losses. In the early years of CAFE, emphasis was more on preventing job losses. The ineffectiveness of such a societal control demonstrates of how it is difficult to rein in a technology once it is given free run in a society (10). Conclusion The internal combustion engine using petroleum based fuels made its entry into nearly a century ago. The impact of this technology on society, because of the convenience and economy it provided in transport witnessed a dramatic growth in its use among the members of society. Its impact was so strong that planning of the dispersion of the growth in population and the various infrastructures required by the communities was grounded in the automobile and its transportation facility. Much was made of the boon that the automobile was to society and its development. So much so early controls on the automobile in society took into account only the safety aspects of pedestrians, passengers, motorists. There was no control established on the size of the internal combustion engines and their fuels efficiency. This veil was lifted when there was realization that petroleum based fuels was a limited resource and they were fast depleting due to their uncontrolled use. The fears of automobiles were reinforced when the damage to the environment and its disastrous consequences through the burning of petroleum based fuels in the internal combustion engine of automobiles became clear. Society was then forced into action to introduce control measures on the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines of automobiles. However, these measures are not having the desired effect, showing that once a technology is allowed unfettered entry into society, societal controls introduced at a later stage may not have the desired effects. Negative Effects Works Cited 1. Abraham Mark. Meet Your Political Mind: The Interactions between Instincts and Intellect and its Impact on Human Behavior. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation 2011. 2. Derry, K. Thomas & Williams, I. Trevor. A Short History of Technology; From the Earliest Times to A.D. 1900. New York: Dover Publications. 1960. 3. Kelly Kevin. Convergence: What Technology Wants. London: Penguin Group. 2011, p.131-155. 4. Herbst Judith. The History of Transportation. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. 2006. 5. Schwaller, E. Antony. Total Automotive Technology. Fourth Edition. New York: Delmar Learning. 2005. 6. David, L. Lewis & Laurence Goldstein. The Automobile and American Culture. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 1980. 7. Postman Neil. Judgement of Thamus: Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Alfred A Knopf, Inc. 1992, p.3-20. 8. Kantrowitz, Roy & Wilkins Bethany. “What Are the Recent Negative of the Automobile on Society?” 2011. 15 Oct. 2011. . 9. Levin, R. Miriam. Cultures of Control. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Overseas Publishers Association N.V. 2000. 10. Carbaugh, J. Robert. Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach. Fourth Edition. Mason, Ohio: Thomson Higher Education. 2006. Read More