The Aversion to Tampering with Nature (ATN) Scale: Individual Differences in (Dis)comfort with Altering the Natural World

People differ in their comfort with tampering with the natural world. Although some see altering nature as a sign of human progress, others see it as dangerous or hubristic. Across four studies, we investigate discomfort with tampering with the natural world. To do so, we develop the Aversion to Tampering with Nature (ATN) Scale, a short scale that is the first to directly measure this discomfort. We identify six activities that people believe tamper with nature (geoengineering, genetically modified organisms, pesticides, cloning, gene therapy, and nanoparticles) and show that ATN scores are associated with opposition to these activities. Furthermore, the ATN Scale predicts actual behavior: donations to an anti-tampering cause. We demonstrate that ATN is related to previously identified constructs including trust in technology, naturalness bias, purity values, disgust sensitivity, aversion to playing God, and environmental beliefs and values. By illuminating who is concerned about tampering with nature and what predicts these beliefs, the ATN Scale provides opportunities to better understand public opposition to technological innovations, consumer preferences for “natural” products, and strategies for science communication.     

Coastal Adaptation Planning in Fairbourne,Wales: lessons for Climate Change Adaptation

ABSTRACT

Adaptation to climate change is emerging as a central objective and policy frame for coastal communities. This paper examines recent climate change adaptation efforts in the UK, centring on the case of Fairbourne, Wales. The village is facing the long-term prospect of flooding and inundation due to the impacts of sea level rise. The recent Shoreline Management Plan for the area has recommended realignment of the coast and eventual decommissioning of Fairbourne. The paper draws on a qualitative research methodology of interviews, policy review and observation to narrate the case and provide key insights and lessons for planners working in environmentally vulnerable coastal settings and managing climate adaptation processes.     

Acceptance of automation manufacturing technology in China: an examination of perceived norm and organizational efficacy

Abstract

With a shift to more automation technology, social acceptance of technology plays an important role in the manufacturing sector. To what extent this occurs, and affects the adoption of technology, has been less researched, but is important in deciding how such technology is introduced, and the nature of the shift from labour-intensive manufacturing to automation. This research applies the revised technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the impact of social and individual antecedents on the acceptance of automation manufacturing technology. Survey data are collected from 258 Chinese manufacturers. Results suggest that perceived norms significantly affect organizational intention to use automation manufacturing technology both directly and via perceived usefulness; organizational efficacy explains the intention to use via mediating effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. This research is one of the first extending and applying TAM from individuals to organizations.     

基于SAO语义分析的潜在技术合作伙伴识别

将SAO语义结构信息引入技术伙伴识别选择过程中，构建基于SAO语义分析的技术合作伙伴识别体系，通过对企业进行技术愿景分析、企业知识库分析确定技术合作网络，对网络内企业重点子技术领域进行相似度分析，从而识别企业潜在的技术合作伙伴，并制定针对性的合作方案。以染敏太阳能电池为案例开展实证研究，验证了该方法体系的可行性。     

A note on “Coordinating a supply chain for deteriorating items with a revenue sharing and cooperative investment contract”

In this short note, we first improve the proof in Zhang et al. [1] to show the strict concavity of the unit time total profit of the whole supply chain with respect to preservation technology investment without approximation. We then generalize the model of Zhang et al. [1] to a broader class of market demand functions. Additionally, theoretical results are provided to illustrate the features of the proposed model.     

Then press enter: digital payment technology and the history of telephone interface

The internet and other digital networks in the U.S. (and beyond) remain essentially an upgrade of the national telephone network built by AT&T over the first half of the twentieth century, and digital payment remains tethered to telephony at the level of infrastructure. Telephone history also continues to inform digital payment at the level of interface. Debit card readers feature a keypad nearly identical to those introduced (also by AT&T) to the dialling public a half-century ago on touch-tone telephones. In this essay I highlight the development of the touch-tone keypad as a transformative payment technology. There have been three great leaps forward in the history of telephone interface: the dial, the keypad and the touch screen. Each corresponds to a period of technological transformation in the telephone industry and society more broadly: the rotary dial and automation, touch-tone keypads and digitization, and touch screens and computerization. The successful careers of the dial and the keypad, especially when read in tandem, suggest that touch screens will alter the everyday economics of retail payment even more radically than its predecessors. I also describe a broader trajectory of digital naturalization, whereby telephone numbers have proliferated into a personal identification number, passwords and a plethora of personalized information. Payments increasingly circulate today as subsets of personal information within the vast sea of big data. Payment apps are demonstrating a capacity to reorganize retail transactions on a scale as vast as any technology since the cash register. The history of retail payment finds the point of sale heading from the till into shoppers’ pockets. As a result, consumers are increasingly shouldering the costs of purchasing, maintaining, upgrading and securing the technology used for everyday transactions.     

桌面云技术在高校计算机类实验室建设中的应用

计算机软硬件技术更新换代速度越来越快.各学校计算机实验室拥有大量计算机，每年需要不少实验运行经费进行软硬件升级换代，因此应构建全新的实验室建设方案，降低实验室建设及维护成本，减轻教师工作强度，提高实验教学效果.通过桌面云技术把各种教学资源放到云平台上，师生用多种终端设备通过网络访问云端资源，可有效改善教学的时空环境，解决了传统实验室计算机更新换代快、实验环境扩展性差、维护管理复杂等问题.     

“科学技术是双刃剑”质疑

在学术界,持"科学技术是双刃剑"论的学者,似乎没有真正搞清楚科学技术的基本性质,因而他们的观点存在诸多明显缺陷。科学技术具有真、善、美的本性。具有真、善、美本性的科学技术,不可能同时包含着假、恶、丑的内容,因而"科学技术是双刃剑"的命题不合逻辑。人类在利用科学技术从事实践活动的过程中,常常会受到来自自然界盲目力量的报复,那是因为人类的无知。而一些个人、团体和国家利用科学技术从事犯罪活动,则根源于他们的贪婪,没有理由把他们犯下的罪行归咎于科学技术。     

论海德格尔技术观

海德格尔是20世纪德国著名的哲学家,作为后现代哲学思潮的先驱,海德格尔对技术进行了一系列深刻的本质探讨,而成为学界公认的对技术"存在论"进行追问和创新的哲学家,本文探讨了海德格尔的技术观,对其进行了梳理和评判。     

浅议高校财务信息化的安全问题

随着计算机的发展和信息化的普及，各个行业都不断地在改革和创新，财务行业亦是不落人后。财务信息化改变了传统的会计模式，加快了效率，降低了差错率，提高了数据处理能力，适应当前前经济社会发展的需要。但与此同时，复杂的互联网环境与财务信息系统特有的性质也带来了新的隐患，直接影响账务安全，威胁整个财务行业的发展。因此，探讨软硬件防护对安全管理的意义有助于高校计划财务处信息化建设工作。