Technology, Humans, and Society:: Toward a Sustainable World [Hardcover]

Richard C. Dorf (Series Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0122210905 | ISBN-13: 978-0122210907 | Publication Date: February 6, 2001 | Edition: 1

A number of factors, from soaring fuel prices to genetically modified agricultural products, have greatly refocused worldwide attention on the interrelationship between technology and society and the necessity for sustainable engineering and business practices. Technology, Humans, and Society focuses on building a model for business and engineering that will lead to a sustainable world. The challenge for engineering is to develop new technologies that enable economic growth and do not deplete irreplaceable resources and destroy ecological systems.

No longer solely the domain of environmentalists and ecologists, "sustainable" or "green" business practices and engineering designs are becoming a central part of the planning of many of the world's most influential companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, Dow, and Agilent. Companies are overwhelmingly not only finding that sustainable business and engineering practices are good for environment, but also improve the image of the company and quite frequently the "bottom-line."

Dorf's 1975 publication, Technology and Society (ISBN: 0878350470), sold over 70,000 copies. The completely new Technology, Humans, and Society is created to meet the swelling demand for unified practices of both business people and technologists in the creation of a "greener" sustainable world.

* Readable discussion of key issues of sustainable engineering and business design and practice
* Covers how to plan and implement a business practice that leads to an environmental, social and economic balance that results in profitable growth

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... My compliments for your work in developing Technology, Humans, and Society. I am excited to know that some of us on the technology side are willing to help bridge the gap between the demands of business/technology and the vital long term issues of social and environmental responsibility. Hopefully, your text will find its way into undergraduate engineering and business curricula... the next generation is our best hope for establishing a balanced and sustainable world."
--Ron Mascitelli, President of Technology Perspectives and author of the forthcoming book, Building a Project-Driven Enterprise

"Making all the information of this book available in one place is a significant service. One hopes that the issue of sustainability will be debated widely in the next few years. At the very least, Technology, Humans, and Society will give people the fundamental knowledge and the vocabulary to make that debate meaningful."
--Barrett Hazeltine, Lehigh University's Science, Technology & Society Newsletter

"... My compliments for your work in developing Technology, Humans, and Society. I am excited to know that some of us on the technology side are willing to help bridge the gap between the demands of business/technology and the vital long term issues of social and environmental responsibility. Hopefully, your text will find its way into undergraduate engineering and business curricula... the next generation is our best hope for establishing a balanced and sustainable world." --Ron Mascitelli, President of Technology Perspectives and author of the forthcoming book, Building a Project-Driven Enterprise

From the Back Cover

The concept of a sustainable world rests squarely on a global framework for economic vitality, environmental quality, and social justice. The means of building, organizing, and operating within such a framework depends on sound decisions, responsible actions, appropriate technologies, and thoughtful governments. This book addresses the issues that illuminate a pathway to a sustainable world.
Technology, Humans, and Society is directed towards the scientist, business person, engineer, manager, governmental regulator, lawmaker, environmentalist or citizen concerned with the future of the world. Included in this book are additional contributions and readings from highly qualified authors with backgrounds in sustainable technologies, environmental studies, business and government.
Technology, Humans, and Society:
* enables business and engineering leaders to plan and implement a business practice that leads to an environmental social and economic balance that will result in profitable growth
* helps engineers and managers to build sustainable products and services that will be successful in the marketplace
* describes the critical matters of natural resources and the related technologies to process and transmit energy, materials, water, and wastes
* discusses sustainable agricultural systems that can adequately provide food while nurturing the earth
* describes the design of sustainable transportation systems
* considers the role of performance indicators for tracking quality of life and measures of progress and prosperity
* addresses sustainable architecture and buildings

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 500 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (February 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0122210905
• ISBN-13: 978-0122210907
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,342,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of the text, March 26, 2009

By 

Elissa Vaidman (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Technology, Humans, and Society:: Toward a Sustainable World (Hardcover)

The following review is required for an educational technology course I am taking in grad school at CSULB.

On a strictly objective level, the author accomplished his set purpose. He presents formulas for sustainability, the dangers in overconsumption, the imperative need for social change, detailed descriptions of sustainable systems and technologies, and a vision of the future potential of sustainability. However, I often sensed an emphasis on the need to do something, rather than on how to do it. Although Dorf included already successful solutions where appropriate, he did not provide many new ideas. Also, many of his suggestions had to do with government regulations or taxes, a solution which requires action from law-makers rather than something any Joe Moe can do. After reviewing this book, I don't feel any closer to knowing how to reduce my own carbon footprint, aside from switching to an electric car, recycling more, and buying local grown food. All things I knew before reading this text. However, for his intended audience, I can see its usefulness. To a scientist, business person, engineer, environmentalist and lawmaker, it is potentially relevant and helpful. Though, I would assume it does not provide any new information to scientists, engineers or environmentalists.
I do not wish to diminish the importance of the text. I think it provides a well researched framework for reaching a sustainable world. Its faults are mainly personal. I underestimated how much our world has changed in 9 years (not to mention the detrimental world effects of the economy crash just in the last few months).
The text was written in a time before we had a tangible concern about e-waste. Amazingly, I did not come across even one discussion about e-waste and its serious implications and negative effects on the environment and societies. In the book, computer technologies (including cell phones, PCs, MACs, PDAs, and all other digital gadgets) are seen as the future path to sustainability, however today, they are seen as the most detrimental to developing nations.

5.0 out of 5 stars Balancing Big Business, Economics and the Environment, March 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Technology, Humans, and Society:: Toward a Sustainable World (Hardcover)

How can we have a strong economy and thriving big businesses at the same time that we protect the environment and human health? This books explains how we can have the best of both these worlds through the use of new technologies that will allow us to enjoy an environmentally sustainable and yet economically viable future. If you generally interested in the field of sustainable business/development, this book can help you to better understand the many interesting aspects and opportunities of this field. Or, if you are already fairly knowledge on matters of the environment, technology or business, this book can provide you with some interesting, in-depth information as well. Of particular interest in this book is the chapter about the promising new technology of fuel cell vehicles entitled Fuel Cell Vehicles: Big Business, Fast Cars and Clean Air. This chapter presents a gripping, informative, and even entertainment account of how the field of sustainable business practices can offer something to everyone. Business people, investors, and environmentalist alike will find this book to be a valuable insight into the opportunites that sustainable development can provide.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars finally: transitor-mounted gel sequencing coverage, March 22, 2001

By 

Sal Gelardi (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technology, Humans, and Society:: Toward a Sustainable World (Hardcover)

A decent introductory section on why we, as humans would want to discover the unabiding sense of yearning and frustration in the vast technological wasteland. However I was hoping more light would be shed on the recent developments in transistor-mounted gel sequencing (but was happy to see it covered) and the philiosphical battle brewing within the seismological community regarding "drill-to-fill" technology. However, I did find the discussion of human tissue coalesence quite informative and enjoyed the many charts and diagrams. Good work.