Cuestionario: Technology's Power and Energy Impact — 12 preguntas

1. When analyzing a traditional craft like pottery from Rajasthan, how should one correctly apply the concept of technique rather than technology?

A. Consider technology as the ancestral practice and technique as the modern development

B. Highlight only the physical tools used, ignoring mental representations

C. Emphasize the use of modern scientific methods and innovations

D. Focus on the combination of material, objects, energy sources, and mental gestures as universal elements

Answer: (D)

Explicación

The concept of technique includes four constitutive elements: material, objects, energy sources, and mental representations, and is universal and ancestral. Technology, by contrast, is modern and scientific, so applying technique correctly involves focusing on these universal elements rather than modern scientific methods. Review: Definitions and distinctions between technique and technology. Course evidence: "- The four constitutive elements of a technique are: material, objects, energy sources, and representations (mental gestures). - A common error is confusing technique, which is universal and ancestral, with technology, which is modern and scientific."

2. What is the primary role of data centers in the context of global energy consumption?

A. To generate electricity for industrial use

B. To consume a significant portion of global electricity, about 1.4-1.5% in 2024

C. To store renewable energy for later distribution

D. To reduce overall global electricity consumption through efficiency

Answer: (B)

Explicación

Data centers consumed 415 TWh globally in 2024, which represents about 1.4-1.5% of the world's electricity, showing their primary role as significant consumers of global electricity rather than producers or reducers. Review: Technology as a source of power and its energy consumption. Course evidence: "Data centers consumed 415 TWh globally in 2024, about 1.4-1.5% of the world's electricity, enough to power 300 million households."

3. What is the primary role of Big Tech companies in exerting influence according to the source?

A. To regulate state powers through legal frameworks

B. To provide global diplomatic strategies combining coercion and attraction

C. To enforce military power and economic sanctions

D. To leverage data collection, analysis, and storage via data centers

Answer: (D)

Explicación

The source states that Big Tech companies leverage data collection, analysis, and storage via data centers to influence their users, highlighting this as their primary role, unlike states which use military power or diplomatic strategies. Review: Power levers of Big Tech companies versus state powers. Course evidence: "Big Tech companies have over 6 billion users, leveraging data collection, analysis, and storage via data centers."

4. What is the primary role of Apple Park in Apple's business operations?

A. To operate as Apple's global customer service center

B. To function as Apple's main retail store

C. To serve as Apple's corporate campus and headquarters

D. To manufacture iPhones and other Apple devices

Answer: (C)

Explicación

Apple Park is described as a corporate campus located in Cupertino, California, serving as Apple's headquarters, which is its primary role. The source does not mention manufacturing, retail, or customer service as functions of Apple Park. Review: Apple's business model, market presence, and product evolution. Course evidence: "Apple Park : A corporate campus located in Cupertino, California, Silicon Valley, USA, inaugurated in 2017, designed by Norman Foster, and nicknamed the 'Spaceship'."

5. When was Tencent founded and who were its founders?

A. Founded in November 1998 by Pony Ma, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen, and Zeng Liqing

B. Founded in 2005 by Charles Chen and Pony Ma

C. Founded in 1995 by Ma Huateng and Zhang Zhidong

D. Founded in 2000 by Jack Ma and Pony Ma

Answer: (A)

Explicación

Tencent was founded in November 1998 by Pony Ma, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen, and Zeng Liqing, as explicitly stated in the source excerpt. Review: Tencent's founding, ecosystem, and digital services metrics. Course evidence: "A technology company founded in November 1998 by Pony Ma, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen, and Zeng Liqing"

6. What does the term 'First-Mover Advantage' mean in the context of technology markets?

A. The dominance of national champions like Tencent and Alibaba

B. The protection of domestic markets through government policies

C. The concentration of talent and venture capital in a specific region

D. The competitive edge gained by being the first to establish a presence in new technologies

Answer: (D)

Explicación

The source defines 'First-Mover Advantage' as the competitive edge gained by being the first to establish a presence in new technologies. Other options describe different concepts such as market protection, regional ecosystems, or company dominance, which are not the definition of First-Mover Advantage. Review: Factors behind US tech dominance and Chinese tech success. Course evidence: "- **First-Mover Advantage** : The competitive edge gained by being the first to establish a presence in new technologies such as email, commercial web, social networks, and mobile."

7. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of recent energy storage innovations supporting the energy transition?

A. Exclusive use of fossil fuel-based storage

B. Incorporation of lithium-sulfur batteries

C. Restriction to traditional lead-acid batteries

D. Dependence solely on mechanical storage methods

Answer: (B)

Explicación

The source explicitly lists lithium-sulfur batteries among recent energy storage innovations, while the other options are either outdated or unrelated to the advancements described. Review: Technological innovations supporting energy transition and management. Course evidence: "Energy storage innovations include lithium-air batteries, air-breathing batteries, thermal storage, lithium-sulfur batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells."

8. What is the primary cause of Taiwan's unique strategic leverage in global geopolitics according to the source?

A. Its leadership in nuclear technology development

B. Its advancements in quantum computing research

C. Its dominant role in manufacturing and controlling semi-conductors

D. Its control over space technology infrastructure

Answer: (C)

Explicación

The source explicitly states that Taiwan's strategic leverage arises from its dominant role in manufacturing and controlling semi-conductors, which are foundational to electronics, AI, and defense systems. Other technologies like nuclear, quantum computing, and space are led by different nations. Review: Historical overview of key technologies and their geopolitical impacts. Course evidence: "Semi-conductors form the backbone of modern electronics, AI, and defense systems, with Taiwan serving as a unique strategic leverage point on the global stage. The manufacturing and control of these components are concentrated in Taiwan, the USA, and South…"

9. When was the World Wide Web commercialized, marking its transition to a platform for commerce and information?

A. 2007

B. 1989

C. 2003

D. 1994

Answer: (D)

Explicación

The source states that the Web was commercialized in 1994 with Netscape and Yahoo!, marking a key shift to commerce and information platforms. 1989 relates to AOL's launch, 2003 to social networks emergence, and 2007 to the mobile era start. Review: Detailed timeline and milestones of the World Wide Web evolution. Course evidence: "- Early Internet milestones include the creation of email in 1971, which introduced digital communication; bulletin boards in 1978, enabling community discussions; and the launch of AOL in 1989, which popularized online services among the general public. -…"

10. What is the primary role of China’s Great Firewall in the country's technological development?

A. To balance power between Big Tech companies and the state

B. To replace older technologies with newer, more efficient ones

C. To reduce overall energy consumption of digital technologies

D. To create a protected market and exclusive data moat fostering domestic innovation

Answer: (D)

Explicación

The source states that China’s Great Firewall creates a protected market and exclusive data moat that enables China to develop and sustain technological advancements, emphasizing its role in fostering domestic innovation rather than energy reduction, technology replacement, or power balancing. Review: Critical questions and misconceptions about technology and energy consumption. Course evidence: "China’s technological strength is largely due to the Great Firewall, which creates a protected market environment and an exclusive data moat. This strategic barrier enables China to develop and sustain its technological advancements despite external…"

11. What is the primary role of the attention economy in Big Tech business models?

A. To provide free internet access to users worldwide

B. To create open-source software for public use

C. To generate revenue by capturing and monetizing user attention through data collection

D. To develop new hardware products for consumers

Answer: (C)

Explicación

The attention economy's main function is to generate revenue by capturing and monetizing user attention through data collection, which supports profiling and targeted advertising, as explicitly stated in the source excerpt. Review: Concept and implications of the attention economy in Big Tech business models. Course evidence: "The attention economy constitutes a business model where Big Tech companies generate revenue by capturing and monetizing user attention through data collection. Every minute of user engagement produces data that feeds into profiling systems, enabling the…"

12. Who is credited with founding the Chinese tech company Tencent in November 1998?

A. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg

B. Pony Ma (Ma Huateng), Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen, and Zeng Liqing

C. Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, Eric Schmidt, and Susan Wojcicki

D. Jack Ma, Pony Ma, Lei Jun, Robin Li, and Zhang Yiming

Answer: (B)

Explicación

The source explicitly states that Tencent was founded in November 1998 by Pony Ma (Ma Huateng), Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen, and Zeng Liqing. The other options list founders of different major tech companies, making them plausible but incorrect here. Review: Key quantitative data on Big Tech market values, user bases, and energy use. Course evidence: "Tencent — Réponses précises aux questions du cours Quand a été créée la société ? Novembre 1998 — fondée par Pony Ma (Ma Huateng), Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Charles Chen et Zeng Liqing."