|
|
 |
 |
Celebration Events
| 4 November
2011 |
|
Distinguished
Lecture
Technology and Humanity: Beyond Human Enhancement
(by Professor Omar Wing, Emeritus Professor
and Founding Dean of Faculty of Engineering, CUHK)
|
| Date |
4
November 2011 (Friday) |
| Time |
3:30
pm - 4:30 pm |
| Venue |
Lecture
Theatre, 9/F., William M.W. Mong Engineering Building,
CUHK |
|
| |
|
|
| Hardly
a day goes by without seeing some amazing news on new
advances in biotechnology. Human organs and tissues are
now routinely grown on demand. Bionic eyes are afoot which
will enable persons with impaired vision to see by applying
visual signals directly to nerve cells, while cochlear
implant will do the same for hearing. An artificial nose
has been constructed out of nano-particle sensors which
will be able to detect the presence of certain types of
cancer in humans. A humanized antibody has been found
which inhibits nerve growth factor to suppress pain. A
robot arm can now be controlled by human thought, thus
immeasurably aiding the disabled. The list of diseases
that can be treated by genetically engineered pharmaceutical
products grows longer by the day. Heretofore, we take
our body as it is and create technologies to extend its
reach and its sensory and mental functions. Thus, we have
cars, ships and planes to take us to anywhere; microscopes
and telescopes to aid the naked eyes; computers to help
us manipulate symbols; and social networks to show off
and let off steam. All these technologies, as wonderful
as they are, are external to our body. We now go inside
the body and modify its basic building blocks to enhance
our abilities to ward off diseases and pains, to replace
damaged bodily parts, and to extend our life span. We
do not know if all of these desirable objectives will
be realized. From past experience, we have come to believe
that “whatever technology can do, technology will do.”
And technology has brought innumerable, lasting benefits
to humankind. But, to be a human is more than just to
have a disease-resistant body, to lead a long and pain-free
existence. Humans have feelings, emotions, and beliefs.
These transcend technology. They are there whether we
are using stone tools or a computer, whether we have an
ordinary or an enhanced body. In a broader perspective,
Kongzi said “人能弘道, 非道弘人.” With due respect to the great
teacher, I take it to mean that “man advances technology;
technology does not advance man.” To be an advanced man,
he must have great ideas, ideals, and convictions, and
he must have the courage to articulate the ideals and
implement the ideas. I think of Thomas Jefferson, who
said “all men are created equal.” This self-evident truth
forms the foundation of democracy. I think of Deng Xiao-ping,
who said “改革開放” and transformed China from a country of
one billion dispirited and weary people to a country with
the second largest economy of the world. These ideals
and ideas, too, transcend technology and are independent
of human enhancement. At a more practical level, humanity
has to do with what we are, what we do, and with our relations
to the society of which we are members. We must ask if
human enhancement will produce a new species of humans
who will, in the words of Bill Gates, “apply the discoveries
of science and technology to alleviate the inequity in
wealth and health” that exists in the world today. Will
the enhanced humans be able to reduce mistrust and hatred
among people, which are the causes of so many human conflicts?
Human creativity is unbounded. Human capability to do
good is also unbounded. As engineers, we will surely create
technology; as humans we must use technology to do good,
for humanity. |
|
|
|
| Professor
Omar Wing is the Professor Emeritus of Information Engineering
of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, having served
as Professor and founding Dean of the Faculty of Engineering
from 1991 to 1998. He is also the Professor Emeritus of
Electrical Engineering of Columbia University, having
been a faculty member of the Department of Electrical
Engineering there from 1956 to 1993. He served as Chairman
of the Department of Electrical Engineering two terms
from 1974-78 and 1983-86. He is Life Fellow of the Institute
of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and a recipient
of the IEEE Centennial Medal (1983), the IEEE Circuits
and Systems Society Award (1989), the IEEE Circuits and
Systems Society Jubilee Award (2000), and the IEEE Third
Millennium Medal (2000). Professor Wing is the author
or co-author of 55 journal papers published mostly in
the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, and author
or co-author of 97 conference papers presented mostly
at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.
He has published four textbooks in circuit theory and
GaAs circuit design. Professor Wing’s professional experiences
included serving as President of the IEEE Circuits and
Systems Society (1978), Editor of the IEEE Transactions
on Circuits and Systems (1975-77), and the General Chairman
of the First IEEE International Symposium on Circuits
and Systems (1968). Professor Wing’s industrial experiences
comprised four years at Bell Telephone Laboratories from
1952 to 1956. He was also a consultant at Bell Laboratories
at various times after becoming a faculty member at Columbia
University. Since 1979, he has been visiting China, giving
lectures and short courses on computer aided analysis
and design of electronic circuits at some 25 leading universities
and research institutes. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
