Course detail
Exponential Technologies
FSI-ZNV Acad. year: 2021/2022 Summer semester
The course provides a view of the likely future development of technology, both at the global level and in the selected specialized areas related to mechanical engineering. Attention is paid mainly to disruptive and exponential technologies, which fundamentally surpass and displace existing technologies. The course helps students to create a thought framework that leads to the belief that even small groups of people can contribute to solving major societal challenges through these technologies.
Teaching takes place in cooperation with the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
3
Supervisor
Department
Learning outcomes of the course unit
– Knowledge of theoretical basis of technological singularity.
- Understanding of the limits of "linear thinking".
- An idea of the future demographic, economic and technological development of society.
- Ability of global and interdisciplinary thinking.
- Ability to use the knowledge of emerging sciences and technologies in solving engineering problems.
Prerequisites
– knowledge of physics, mechanics, materials science and machine design at the level of bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, self-study.
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
Conditions for granting the credit:
- active participation in lectures (min. 5 from 10 points),
- submission of an essay dealing with the possible future use of knowledge of disruptive or exponential technologies in mechanical engineering (min. 25 from 50 points),
- presentation of an essay and discussion (min. 20 from 40 points).
Aims
Students will be able to understand the future development of technology, have an overview of disruptive and exponential technologies and understand the essence of dramatic changes that these technologies bring to human society.
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
Lectures: attendance is mandatory and controlled by the teacher. Maximum of two absences is allowed. In case of long-term absence, compensation for missed classes is in the competence of the course guarantor.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme N-KSI-P: Mechanical Engineering Design, Master's, compulsory
Programme M2A-P: Applied Sciences in Engineering, Master's
branch M-PDS: Industrial Design, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
26 hours, compulsory
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
– Singularity and exponential technologies.
- Economic, intercultural and anthroposocial factors of the future development of the society.
- Evolution and its perspectives.
- Biology-inspired artificial intelligence.
- Autonomous machines.
- Current state and future of nanotechnologies.
- Current use of solar energy and prospects for the future.
- The future of biomedical technologies.
- Mobile robotics.
- How to write an essay.