UL Seminar Highlights Role Of Technology In Combating Downturn

Business & Finance - Technology

Monday, 22 March 2010 23:57

Written by Mark Dunphy

The Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society (ISKS) at UL recently hosted the 4th in their series of conversations entitled, "Confronting the Crisis".

The seminar addressed the question, Can Technology Save us?, and brought together Liam Bannon, Professor Of Computer Science at UL and Brian O'Donovan, Programme Director at the Sametime Dublin Software Lab on the IBM Technology Campus.

The discussion addressed how both our current economic and social crisis in Ireland and the wider crisis of climate change ascribes a major role to technology, whether in the form of the so-called 'smart economy', of significant investment in R&D or of technologies such as carbon sequestration or the electric car.

Liam J. Bannon said; "The role of science and technology in the workings of modern society is substantial.  At the same time, the debates about its role in modern economic and social development are often long on rhetoric and short on critical analysis and reflection. In my presentation, I will argue for more nuanced perspectives on the relation between technology and society, looking backwards as well as forwards, and also address how such perspectives might inform current debate on the role of science and technology in various aspects of Irish life."

Brian O'Donovan added; "One of the main gains from the Celtic tiger years is the fact that Irish people have the self confidence to start their own business rather than look for a safe job. Technology will play a vital part in our future. However, the people who will benefit most from new technologies are not its inventors, but the people who understand the best way to use it."  "The open source movement and the arrival of web 2.0 has taught the IT industry that radically different business models are possible. If other industries learned these lessons we could improve lives in ways that are much more powerful than either socialism or unfettered capitalism."