Wondrium Insights: Promises and Perils of Technology

Course Overview

Have we allowed technology to hijack our humanity? Join a panel of experts who may change the way you look at our technological progress.

Overview Course No. 10400

Science fiction often portrays technology as something positive that eventually takes a dark turn. The robots rebel, the supercomputer takes over the world, and humanity often pays a high price for hubris and an over-investment in technological solutions to our problems. Many people believe that this future is increasingly plausible as our real-world technologies become more sophisticated and intertwined in our lives. After all, our phones always know where we are, our smart speakers listen in 24/7, and facial recognition software improves every day.

Is it even possible to avoid this technological dystopia feared by so many? Absolutely. In Promises and Perils of Technology, five insightful experts explain why they have tremendous optimism for the future. This is not blind idealism, as they also know and explain the perils of living in the “technic”—a world so awash in technology that we are as oblivious to its presence as fish are to water.

The five accomplished individuals who host this series include:

• Technology entrepreneur Caterina Fake
• Journalist David Kushner
• Biomedical scientist Dr. Knatokie Ford
• Retired NASA astronaut Leland Melvin
• Digital strategist Taryn Southern
• Neuroscientist Dr. Crystal Dilworth

They dig beneath the generalizations to reveal what we can all do to ensure the future of technology is the future we want. In this fascinating discussion, you will learn:

• How algorithms ingrained in business models shape our experiences
• The benefits of biohacking for present and future lives
• The medical impact of virtual reality
• The importance of equity in STEM fields
• The life-changing perspective of seeing Earth from space

Video Lectures

01: Caterina Fake – Keeping Humanity in Our Technology

Duration: 44 min
Would you prepare for a life in technology by studying literature in college? That’s exactly the path taken by Caterina Fake, founder of Flickr and venture capitalist. She argues that the humanities—ethics, philosophy—must be central to tech development. Discover the risks of coding-focused education and how technology can nurture, rather than diminish, human society.

02: David Kushner – Chronicling the Evolution of Digital Culture

Duration: 37 min
Journalist David Kushner explores the creative, ambitious world of coders who shaped digital culture. From blockchain gaming to augmented reality, he encourages us to engage with emerging tech to understand its promises and perils firsthand.

03: Dr. Knatokie Ford – Bringing Diversity to STEM Education

Duration: 39 min
Biomedical scientist Dr. Knatokie Ford advocates for inclusive STEM policies, emphasizing that diversity drives innovation. Learn why STEM education is vital even for non-STEM careers and how equity differs from equality in tech fields.

04: Leland Melvin – Exploring Our Future in Space

Duration: 35 min
Retired NASA astronaut Leland Melvin shares how space exploration transcends technology—it’s about human connection. Discover his insights on collaboration beyond Earth and why people, not machines, hold the key to progress.

05: Taryn Southern – Hacking Our Bodies and Minds

Duration: 41 min
Digital strategist Taryn Southern blends art, music, and VR with biohacking to push boundaries. Her optimism for technology’s role in enhancing human potential is rooted in personal and professional breakthroughs.