Military Drones

After watching the documentary in class last Monday I found myself particularly interested in the section concerning the militaries use of predator drones. The remote controlled planes can fly several miles overhead to conduct twenty four hour surveillance or carry out airstrikes. I was surprised to hear the the use of these drones had increased under the Obama administration. I found an article on CBS.com (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/politics/main6201484.shtml) that partially explained the increased use of the drones.  

The first relevant and successful use of the drones during the new administration came when Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an airstrike. In the following months the use of drone airstrikes increased substantially in an attempt to eliminate more terrorist targets. “Intelligence officials and analysts say the drawdown of troops in an increasingly stable Iraq is part of the reason for the increase in drone strikes. The military once relied on drones for around-the-clock surveillance to flush out insurgents, support troops in battle and help avoid roadside bombs.” These drones are another example of how technological advancements are changing modern day society.

The article also went on to explain how the majority of Pakistani officials object to the United States increased use of drone attacks. Pakistan provides important counterterrorist intelligence with the U.S. and would like to have a greater amount of input on how and when the airstrikes are being carried out. In my opinion this is one of two major issues that will have to be addressed in the future pertaining to this new technology. Drones allow for relatively undetectable attacks, how will the U.S. government use this technology in cooperation with other governments like the one in Pakistan? Pakistan wants greater control over these attacks, I found it interesting that the people of Pakistan view the United States as cowards for using this technology as opposed to fighting with manned aircrafts. 

The other major issue with these remote controlled planes has to do with who is controlling them. Pilots can essentially “drive to war” every morning. These planes are controlled from half way across the globe which creates a new psychological component to war that has never existed. These pilots drive to and from a military base everyday but are operating in combat situations as well. This detachment creates a unique situation. The pilots of the planes do not physically see the consequences of their actions. After flying armed planes and bombing buildings that kill unknown numbers of people these men and women return home to their families who cannot possibly understand the emotional toll the this line of work is accompanied by. I came across one article in which a drone pilot talked about coming home from the military base to find his son playing a combat video game. He said that the video game looked like what he did at the base everyday. This is a scary situation and in my opinion it verifies the decision to shut down military recruiting sites that used video game simulations to expose children to the possibility of enlisting.   

Digital Doctors

Digital Doctors - The Future of Health Care

A consistent theme throughout this class has been how can we use technology to benefit our society. I came across a video (http://vids.kvie.org/video/1676974660/) as I surfed the web which addressed this issue. New technologies have always been a part of the health care industry. Advances in medicine and equipment are developed rapidly all which benefit the overall experience of the patient. Telemedicine, which is discussed during this short PBS documentary, is no different. This all encompassing term refers to the use of video conferencing and medical imaging to treat patients over long distances. Obviously there are numerous benefits to this type of technology, primarily a decrease in the overall cost of health care, the removal of language barriers, instant availability regardless of geographical location, as well as the elimination of physical limitations in most instances. 

The first benefit is obvious, the ability to connect to doctors via video conferencing cuts both explicit and implicit costs for health care. Patients no longer have to pay for transportation to and from a hospital or doctors office which can be expensive. Perhaps more importantly they save a great deal of time without the inconvenience of a waiting room. These “virtual visits” to the doctor also improve productivity cutting visit times and medical expenses. This technology also has the ability to remove language barriers. Patients can now visit a doctor anywhere in the world from the comfort of their homes. The ability to find a doctor that speaks the same language will allow patients to communicate with doctors and ultimately understand a diagnosis.

In my opinion the most beneficial aspect to the new technology is the ability to receive care from a doctor that is not located in the same geographic region. The video gives the example of a girl in a car crash in a rural area. The local hospital had no pediatrician on staff but were able to connect to a doctor one hundred miles away to diagnosis and monitor the girl. Having a camera in the room that could be controlled by both doctors inside and outside the local hospital allowed experts the ability to constantly watch the patient. This type of round the clock expert care, especially in under equipped rural areas, will be invaluable to patients. 

Like all technological advances that we have discussed this quarter, the underlying concern to this type of technology is the reduction of privacy. Personal information and medical records can be sent around the world instantly. Some patients feel that the exchange of information happens to easily and are worried that their private information could become public without their consent. This is a legitimate concern, however in my opinion this is not a reason to reject the technology for a more traditional form of medical care. There will always be hospitals but this technology creates a system that is much more efficient and beneficial for all in my opinion.