Blog Assignment 1

When comparing Kim Vicente's chapter of "The Human Facor" and half of Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle," I found that both authors see technology as having major downsides. The explanation of the Chernobyl incident showed me that it truly was human flaws that led to the deaths of many. The same goes for Mr. Hoenikker and his involvement with the dropping of the atomic bomb. When being described in the story, Mr. Hoenikker was a quiet man who kept to his own business during his life. When working on a weapon with the potential to kill thousands, perhaps Mr. Hoenikker didn't think of the devestation his work would do.

The criticims made towards technology in the two readings brings a different perspective to the minds of people who believe all techology is good. In my mind, techonolgy is started out to make our lives easier with good intentions. Later then, humans become the problem with technology, perhaps pushing it to far to top other countries. In "Cat's Cradle," having the ice-nine would have made the military have an easier time in mud, but while it solves all the watery areas they are in the problem would become way larger freezing all the water on Earth.

In my opinion, the "human factor" means that humans have the control over not only their lives, but also the technology that affects others lives as well. When pushing the limits of technology, we are risking the chances of not only hurting ourselves, but aslo the environment that our future generations will have to live with. When having a strong self control with our technology, we will know how far is too far with the research being done. I believe Vicente used the term "human factor" to show that humans are to blame if technology goes wrong.