Introduction: Technology and Biomimicry:
Technology and biomimicry converge as scientists and engineers draw inspiration from nature’s ingenious designs to develop innovative solutions for sustainable and efficient systems. In articles by Emily Badger and Molly Flatt, they explore the evolution of technology from natural settings and its application in solving urban planning challenges, paving the way for “smart cities” (Badger). Emily Badger’s article, “Tech Envisions the Ultimate Start-Up: An Entire City,” discusses how despite the digital revolution, cities like San Francisco grapple with issues such as traffic, homelessness, and income inequality. Experts propose solutions by designing new urban centers, envisioning “reinvention” akin to the arrival of Uber in taxi services. Badger emphasizes that these smart cities, based on internet usage, could benefit non-residents, ushering in a new approach to urban planning and smart cities. However, she acknowledges the challenge of reconciling technology and nature in this transformation.
Argument about Technology and Biomimicry
Molly Flatt, in her article “Nature and Technology: Friends or Enemies?” takes a different stance, suggesting that the pervasive use of tech gadgets indicates humans are inherently intertwined with technology (Flatt). She argues that human innovation has historically been inspired by nature, making technology a potential ally in sustainability and conservation efforts. Flatt contends that technology’s impact on human lives prompts further innovation for convenience. Both of her articles endorse technical innovation for human betterment and highlight the human ability to draw inspiration from nature. Thus, Flatt asserts that technology can enhance both human lives and habitats. Both writers employ rhetorical devices, converging on shared points regarding the use of technology to address challenges and the potential issues arising from biomimicry.
Focus on Technology and Biomimicry
Both articles aim to establish that technology is a response to human needs and environmental cues. Emily Badger, in her pursuit of arguing for technical innovation’s positive impact, relies on logos by emphasizing the visionary thinking of technological experts. She supports her claim about smart cities by presenting Ben Huh, a tech expert and founder of Y Combinator, as a strong authority. Badger employs a comparison and contrast strategy, juxtaposing American urban planning flaws with Croatian cities, strategically using kairos to underscore the opportune moment for urban planning reinvention (Badger). To enhance persuasiveness, she incorporates opinions from economists and homebuyers, demonstrating that technology will influence not only urban planning but also home construction, employing a matching diction and style.
Diction of Article about Technology and Biomimicry
Emily Badger skillfully employs a diction that seamlessly blends modern style with technical jargon, enhancing her argument’s appeal. The integration of terms like optimization, fantasizing, hubris, conflict, chips, hyperloop, and utopia showcases a harmonious mix of literary and technical language. Notably, she introduces neologisms like “NIMBYism” to illustrate linguistic improvements in construction discourse (Badger). Badger’s adept use of metaphors, such as “tabula rasa,” similes like the comparison to an iPhone, and compound wording such as “city-building, odd-sounding,” along with rhetorical questions, adds to the overall effectiveness of her argument (Badger). This intentional linguistic fusion contributes to the cohesiveness and impact of her communication.
Rhetorical Devices about Technology and Biomimicry
In “Nature and Technology: Friends and Enemies?” Molly Flatt adeptly employs logos, pathos, and kairos, supported by a strong ethos derived from authoritative sources like the Oxford Junior Dictionary, philosopher Christopher Potter, social networking site MySpace, and scientist Dr. Joppa. The goal is to persuade an informed audience that nature plays a crucial role in technological improvement and vice versa. Flatt utilizes pathos by emphasizing technology’s role in saving lives and strategically employs kairos by highlighting the swift integration of technology into human life, aligning with contemporary trends.
Notably, Flatt’s effective use of suitable diction, figurative language, and rhetorical questions enhances her argument. Metaphors, such as language “bridging the difference,” illustrate the integration of technology into human lives (Flatt). She incorporates everyday language, including terms like “e-waste,” “broadband,” “analogue,” and “cut and paste” (“Nature and Technology”). Rhetorical questions strategically employed throughout both articles reinforce the idea that technology and nature mutually shape each other. Flatt consistently argues that technology, in collaboration with nature, is enhancing human lives through continuous evolution.
Main Idea of Technology and Biomimicry
Emily Badger, in “Tech Envisions,” contends that technological innovations are poised to revolutionize our way of life, advocating for the construction of smart cities without traditional constraints, citing the emergence of “breakthrough ideas” as evidence of feasibility (Badger). Similarly, Molly Flatt suggests in her work that human beings turn to nature for inspiration whenever faced with difficulties, emphasizing the role of biomimicry in technological innovations (Flatt). Both authors share the perspective that challenges or problems drive innovation, rejecting the notion of natural genius. Flatt adds to this commonality by highlighting the idea of borrowing directly from nature.
While Flatt proposes the use of technology for conservation and sustainability, envisioning the preservation of the environment through technological gadgets (Flatt), Badger aligns with a similar notion by advocating for environmentally friendly smart cities that benefit people residing in the outskirts (Badger). However, Miles Parks introduces a nuanced perspective, raising concerns about the problems associated with biomimicry. Parks notes that while it’s beneficial to derive ideas from nature, such innovations may create new challenges, exemplified by weather changes affecting bird migration, requiring solutions like GPS tracking (Parks). This presents a cyclic process of technological innovation addressing and sometimes causing new problems. Despite this, the common thread in the arguments of Badger, Flatt, and Parks is the belief that technological innovation ultimately improves human life.
Conclusion: Technology and Biomimicry
In short, both Emily Badger and Molly Flatt effectively argue in their articles, “Tech Envisions” and “Nature and Technology,” that technology serves to enhance human lives and habitats. They portray technology as an ingenious adaptation of natural principles to meet immediate needs. While emphasizing the positive impact of technology on building better cities and improving the environment, both authors do not extensively address potential issues like health and environmental pollution or the challenges associated with energy consumption. Despite these omissions, the articles are strengthened by powerful supporting details, quotes from tech experts, and well-crafted language that includes rhetorical and literary devices. Overall, the arguments are compelling and convincing, although there is room for improvement and consideration of additional perspectives.
Works Cited: Technology and Biomimicry
- Badger, Emily. ” Tech Vision the Ultimate Start-Up: An Entire City.” The New York Times. 24 Feb. 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/…/tech-envisions-the-ultimate-start-up-an-entire-city.html. Accessed 18 March. 2022.
- Flat, Molly. “Nature and Technology: Friends or Enemies.” BBC. 16 Jul. 2015. www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150703-can-nature-and-technology-be-friends. Accessed 18 Mar. 2022.
- Parks, Miles. ” Artist’s Exhibit Borrows Human Tech To Solve Nature’s Manmade Problems. NPR. 31 Mar. 2017. https://www.npr.org/2017/03/31/522226096/artists-exhibit-borrows-human-tech-to-solve-natures-manmade-problems. Accessed 02 Apr. 2022.
Relevant Questions: Technology and Biomimicry
- How is biomimicry influencing the development of cutting-edge technologies?
- What role does artificial intelligence play in advancing biomimetic design and technology?
- Can you discuss recent breakthroughs in biomimetic materials and their applications in various industries?