Prosthetics and ethics
How far should people go to enhance their bodies with machinery?
With the development of prosthetics progressing all the time, this engineering activity for kids will enable students to find out about the systems and controls, electronics and engineering behind the ever-advancing technologies in prosthetics and body centric communications.
This is a great resource to create educational discussions on the ethics of medical robots, body centric antenna as well as prosthetics.
An antenna is a very simple device in its construction. However, it plays a vital part in all aspects of communications technology. Its part in Body Centric Antennas (BCAs) is obviously essential to the function of this device.
Activity introduction
Body centric communications have abundant applications in personal healthcare, smart homes, personal entertainment, identification systems, space exploration and military. This topic investigates the driving technology behind body centric communications, explores current health applications of these devices, possibilities for the future and the ethical issues surrounding these advancements.
In this activity students are introduced to how the present body centric antenna, plus prosthetic technology, could be compared to science fiction ‘cyborgs’. Students will also be asked to discuss ethical issues around this idea.
You could start the discussion by focusing on the positive achievements that are possible using BCAs and prosthetic devices. Then you could progress to the more sinister cyborg possibilities. Draw the discussion together in a plenary and seek a class consensus.
Students can use different ethical positions to look at the issues. How would you consider the issues from a utilitarian viewpoint? How about from rights-based, moral duty or selfish ethical positions?
As an extension you can run a debate getting the students to adopt contrasting ethical standpoints in favour for and against Cybermen.
What you will need
- Projector
- Whiteboard
The engineering context
Body centric communications refers to any communication on, within or around the body using wireless technology.
Engineers play a key role in the advancement of healthcare as they create access to these life-changing technologies.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this STEM activity students will understand how an antenna turns radio frequency radiation into a voltage and vice versa, they will understand the role of antenna in electronic communications systems. They will also be able to consider ethical standpoints on using advanced technology to control prosthetics.
Download the free activity sheets below!
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
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