February 19, 2014

Avoiding the Robot Apocalypse: What is Technology?

Emma Yasui

We are surrounded by technology on a daily basis, and often it feels like our lives are being taken over by gadgets and machines.  But what is technology?  Anthropology is one of several disciplines that has explored this question, from the earliest human ancestors to modern day societies.  While this talk may not help in the event of an actual robot onslaught, it will set the stage for thinking about the human relationship with technology.

About the Presenter

Emma is in the 3rd year of her PhD in archaeology, where she focuses on the relationship between plants, stone tool technology, and people during the Jomon Period in Hokkaido. When she’s in Japan for research, she lives primarily off of ramen and carrots.