Protecting Innovation and the Future

Blog #21

Maria Kozdroy

11-20-14

Disclaimer: this post is to be used a response to class discussion and reading.

Protecting Innovation and the Future

            Technology is rapidly changing and the United States is starting to slowly fall behind to other countries.  The war of arms has been increasing and countries are thoroughly competing now to have the best weapons.  According to Woodhouse in Chapter 16 of the STS text, he believes that “availability of new weapons changes the way that military planner and decision makers think and act.”  Military innovation involves individuals to think in different and new ways, taking in consideration of fairness, hopefully.  The Secretary of the Department of Defense Chuck Hagel announced at a recent defense forum at the Minot Air Force Base on Friday November 14, 2014, “We must change the way we innovate, operate and do business.”  The United States does not want to fall behind, and needs to take the necessary steps to progress and overcome the challenges of danger and therefore fairness.

            Ever since September 11, 2001, the United States DoD has taken more planned approaches in security measures.  Other countries that the U.S. is currently in war against, such as Iraq, are expanding their knowledge of weapons and developing newer and more advanced technologies.  In order to combat this, the United States must too focus on combatting their technologies while also combatting against the physical attacks of the countries’ militaries themselves.  The United States government, especially the DoD, must ascertain the precautions of new military weapons.  The main goal of the U.S. government and military to me, is to protect the rightful citizens of the United States.  Military innovations, thus should continue to protect us as one proud country.  New technologies need to be able to stay faithful to this idea.  For example, in response to 9/11, the U.S. has been watching very closely to all its boundaries to protect all its citizens.  A change to military innovation would be to host more soldiers on U.S. grounds.  Even though this may not be a physical innovation, it should help bring out the thought of overall protection. 

            Additionally, Chuch Hagel believes, “This program [of military innovation] will look toward the next decade and beyond.”  Even though, life is being lived at the moment, there too is constant consideration of the future.  As a result, the U.S. should not just necessarily focus on new technological advancements; rather, changes in the military and military innovations as they stand right now.  War is not just based on physical strength forces attacking but the power of technology.  Military innovation is changing politics, making more individuals go into research, and the military itself.  It leaves me to wonder what will military innovation and U.S. protection be in six decades.

Sources:

http://www.wjhl.com/story/27395791/hagel-us-needs-game-changing-military-innovation

Woodhouse, Edward. The Future of Technological Civilization. Chapter 16