Book contents
- Technology and the Public Interest
- Technology and the Public Interest
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 The Human Right to Technology
- 2 The Collective Right to Technology
- 3 The Fundamental Right to Technology
- 4 The Irresponsibility of Technology Companies
- 5 Fundamental Corporate Responsibility
- 6 Patent Responsibility
- Acknowledgments
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 April 2022
- Technology and the Public Interest
- Technology and the Public Interest
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 The Human Right to Technology
- 2 The Collective Right to Technology
- 3 The Fundamental Right to Technology
- 4 The Irresponsibility of Technology Companies
- 5 Fundamental Corporate Responsibility
- 6 Patent Responsibility
- Acknowledgments
- Index
Summary
Technology has the amazing power to change lives. Many years ago, I came across the exciting news that laser technology was being adopted in eye surgery to cure near-sightedness. As I was quite troubled by near-sightedness in my left eye, I enthusiastically consulted an eye doctor in my city to see whether such surgery could effect a major change in my life. She was a famous doctor who had received post-doctoral training in eye surgery at Harvard Medical School. After examining my eyes, she encouraged me to have laser surgery and not to worry about the potential side effects. I can still vividly recall her quick response to my concerns: “You don’t need to worry about side effects. Technology always advances. It will cure side effects in the future.” This response did not assuage my concerns. Instead, I asked a follow-up question: what if technological advancement was unable to eliminate side effects? The doctor immediately responded: “Please believe in technology!”
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Technology and the Public Interest , pp. 1 - 15Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022