CONTENT STATEMENT
15. Technologies inevitably involve trade-offs between costs and benefits. Decisions about the use of products and systems can result in intended and unintended consequences.
CONTENT ELABORATION
As technologies are researched and tested, people must weigh the cost of development against the potential benefits of a new technology. Costs could be more than just financial and may include environmental or ethical consequences. Similarly, benefits of technological advancement include consequences beyond finances. The advancement of any technology involves trade-offs between multiple costs and benefits.
For example, the decision to invest in research on new medical practices must take into account both the potential societal benefits of the research and the potential physical, moral and ethical hazards.
Advancements in technology result in both intended and unintended consequences. As decisions are made to develop and utilize new technologies, some of the potential consequences can be anticipated and considered in the decision-making process. However, there are typically going to be unforeseen or unintended consequences that result from technological change.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Analyze the costs and benefits of a selected technology, including intended and unintended consequences.