Scientific Method as the Part of Modern Technologies - Essay Example

Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : xxxxxxxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx @2012 Introduction Scientific method has over the years played a crucial role in the development of the existing new technologies. The scientific method entails a process of inquiry that is characterized by formulation of hypothesis, experimentation, observation, measurement, testing and modification of the hypothesis, which is further subjected to particular principle of thinking. Having gone through a long history, that is from the Greeks and the then to the Muslims and later to the Renaissance; certainly the scientific method has transformed the way people think and their innovation capabilities. This particular paper seeks to evaluate the development of Silicon Valley as a technological region. In addition the paper will evaluate some scientists behind the development of modern computing and how they are similar or different from the earlier scientists who discovered electricity. Silicon Valley is a region in North California of the United States. Since the initial years of the twentieth centaury the region was mainly a base for the electronic industry. Expansion of the area into a technological herb started through innovation and experimentation in areas such as military electronics, televisions and radio. Von Burg and Mand (2010) highlight that Silicon Valley developed as an outcome of planning, human foresight and the need to take technological advancement to a higher level. One of the greatest contributory factors to the development of Silicon Valley was the existence of Stanford University. Fredrick Terman an administrator of Stanford University and also an electrical engineer encouraged graduates and the affiliates of the university , to begun their won companies and also be more innovative. These therefore lead to the rise of companies such as, Varian Associates and Hewlett-Packard during the 1940’s. It was not only the electronic technology that triggered the development of Silicon Valley as a renowned technological base, but rather the region had experts involved in other technological inventions. For instance the 1940’s Silicon Valley had engineers who were carrying out experiments on techniques of magnetic recording for the storage of data. Due to the nurturing of skills, high tech revolution and innovation, Silicon Valley begun to expand as the years progressed. The region has since been transformed into an area that invents cutting edge technology such as high-speed internet, I-phones, computers, and electronics originate. By the year 2006, Silicon Valley was one of the largest technology cities especially in computer technology (Von Burg and Mand, 2010). Some of the personalities behind the computer technology include John Bardeen, Jack Kilby, Robert Noyce, Ted Hoff and Steve Jobs. John Bardeen was a crucial contributor to the development of the modern computing. Bardeen together with his two collogues; Walter Houser and Bradford Shockley invented the transistor in 1948, which greatly transformed all modern devices that use electricity including the computer. The transistor was significant in contributing to the existing modern computers because it replaced the huge, energy hungry vacuum tube that existed in the first generation computers. In addition computers that were constructed using the transistor were much smaller (Prithiviraj, 2009). Jack Kilby transformed the use of the transistors by inventing the integrated circuit in 1958. Although the transistors were common in many electronic devices including computers, they were actually not small enough. In addition the transistor had the limitation of a lot of connections to other electronics and wires. The contribution of the integrated circuit to the development of modern computing is that in designing computers it was vital to increase the amount of components that were required in coming up with technical advances. The integrated circuit solved the possibility of coming up with one single blow that was able to accommodate a smaller space, therefore solving the complication of manufacturing transistor circuits that are very complex (Bellis, 2010). Robert Noyce is also credited for the invention of the integrated circuit. While Jack Kilby was working on the integrated circuit in California, Robert Noyce also had the same idea of developing an integrated circuit. The development of the integrated circuit is credited to both Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce (McClellan & Dorn &2006). Ted Hoff is credited for the development of the microprocessor in the year 1971. The microprocessor was useful in making the computer shrink is size and also run faster. The new invention was referred to as the microcomputer. The new computer had no monitor, keyboard, software and hard drive. Later on in year 1976, from Ted Hoff’s idea of the microcomputer, Steve Jobs come up with the apple computer. In the year 2010, Jobs expanded modern computing the introduction the state of the art invention of the ipad Computers, which are much smaller and portable(McClellan & Dorn &2006). The scientific philosophies and methodologies applied by early pioneers in the development of electricity have both similarities and differences with those of scientists who contributed to the development of modern computers, like; Bardeen, Noyce, Kilby, Hoff and Jobs. One of the similarities that exists between the methodologies of early pioneers of electricity such as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Michael Faraday, and those of computer scientists is the aspect the application of the steps of a scientific method. McClellan and Dorn( 2006) highlight that the scientific method entail four main steps which include; observing a particular problem and then describing it , in order to evaluate if there is some kind of sense in the problem. The second step involves coming up with a hypothesis to explain the problem. The third step is the use of the hypothesis to explain the problem and the fourth is carrying out an experiment in order to prove whether the predictions made are correct. Both the early pioneers of electricity and the scientists involved in the invention of computer applied the four steps of the scientific method in order to come up with their inventions. For instance when evaluating one of the pioneers of electricity; Michael Faraday and Jack Kilby, both scientists applied the scientific method in their process. When Michael Faraday was working in the British Royal Institute, he assisted other scientists in their experiments. Faraday begun to question, the principles behind the working of the mortar, as a result after undertaking research, he come up with a hypothesis of the electromagnetic rotation (McClellan & Dorn, 2006). Faraday then used the electromagnetic rotation in explaining the working of the mortar. After giving explanation he carried out various experiments which later led to the development of the electric generator and transformer. Jack Kilby on the other hand was frustrated concerning how long it takes in order to make connections between electronics in computer parts. Kilby therefore embarked on thinking about creating a single component in a single block, which was his hypothesis. After coming up with the hypothesis, Kilby used hypothesis to explain the problem. He explained the possibility of coming up with one single blow that was able to accommodate a smaller space, therefore solving the complication of manufacturing transistor circuits that are very complex. After subjecting his idea to experimentation Kilby come up with the integrated circuit (Bellis, 2010). Another similarity that exists in terms scientific philosophies adopted by early pioneers in the development of electricity and scientist who contributed to the development of modern computers is the aspect of subjecting scientific inquiry to rationality. In scientific philosophy rationality involves subjecting ideas to critical scientific thinking (Luis, 2008). As observed from both categories of scientists, every category of scientist came up with assumptions which were further explored through reasoning in order to validate the truth. The use of rationality by both categories of scientists therefore leads us to the analogy that earlier scientific method can also be found in the new technologies. This can implies that the reasoning that contributed to the development of electricity in the early years also exists in new technologies such as the computers. One of the contrasting aspects that exists between scientific philosophies adopted by early pioneers in the development of electricity and scientist who contributed to the development of modern computers is the aspect of the dependency on observation. Pioneer Scientists such as Luigi Galvani, Alessandro Volta Michael Faraday, depended on observation in order to come up with their findings. In the invention of electricity, scientists conducted observations through studying electric screen images and later they recorded meters (McClellan & Dorn & 2006). On the other hand, scientists who contributed to the development of computers such as Steve Jobs utilized a different form of observation. For instance Steve Jobs asserted that in most cases he did not just carry out experiments and observed them, but rather he used what he refers to as Creative Visualization. According to Jobs, creative observation involves listening to a voice that is within you, concentrating on the voice and following the new creative idea that the voice brings to you (Lee, 2011). Conclusion From the above discussion, what is evident is that the scientific method is still an integral part in modern technological developments such as the computers. The paper has analyzed Silicon Valley and the factors which led to its development which are planning, human foresight and the need to take technological advancement to a higher level. The paper has also examined the application of scientific philosophy and methodology in early scientists who pioneered the development of electricity and those who lead o the development of computers. From the discussion what is evident is that the principles of scientific methods are still the same such as the application of the scientific method steps. However transformations do exist in terms how both categories of scientists thought and undertook their innovations. References Bellis,M, 2010, The History of the Integrated Circuit aka Microchip Luis Manuel, L, 2008, Scientific philosophy, Scientific philosophy. Lee, D, 2011, Was Steve Jobs Smart? Scientists on the Keys to Success, ABC News. McClellan, E and Dorn, H, 2006, Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction Science and Technology in World History, JHU Press. Von Burg, K and Mand Burg, U, 2010, Paths and Regions, The creation and Growth of Silicon Valley. Prithiviraj, S, 2009, The History of transistors and its importance in modern technology, Culture and society. Read More