Talk:Technology, Culture, Education: (Dis-)abilities

From Studyplace

Question 1: Find another example for the transformation of "nature" into "culture" using another sense than hearing (e.g. taste, touch, smell, sight). Do think both in terms of individual endowment and social amplification.

An example of the transformation of "nature" into "culture" is the use of a discriminating sense of taste and smell for characterizing and categorizing wines. Not only are sommeliers able to enjoy the distinctive flavors and characteristics of wine, but they can also advise others on wine selection and pair wines with appropriate foods. Many cultures admire and highly value this skill. Websites advertise four and eight week training courses to help the uninitiated. The websites beckon with the promise of enhancing one's own enjoyment and the suggestion of increased social status. --GeorgeB 12:47, 4 June 2009 (UTC)

Question 2: Explore another instance of the transforming of another aspect of human biological endowment through technology (e.g sight, movement, physical strength, etc.)

Night vision goggles are another example of enhancing normal biological capabilities through technology. As the technology has developed the ambient light requirement for the goggles to function has been reduced from requiring an infrared illuminating source to the ambient light of a moonless night. Current goggles have light amplification capabilities of 50K times. The primary use of this technology is to give law enforcement and the military personnel (i.e. defenders of a 'way of life') a nighttime advantage over opponents who are not similarly equipped. --GeorgeB 12:48, 4 June 2009 (UTC)