Introduction
After the end of the Second World War, the third world nations were decolonized and this saw the emergence of new independent states. With this came the assimilation of new scientific and technological innovations in the developing nations. These developments were considered core in the development of the states.
This awareness has consequently led to the emergence of numerous national and international studies that seek to establish the effects of science and technology in the society among other issues. The various developments in the Asian countries include infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing and many more.
The Asian countries have always considered science and technology a vital tool in the achievement of economic and political objectives. In order to properly manage and run the various initiatives, the countries have set aside institutions to foresee these undertakings.
These institutions have various objectives and usually may work together to achieve a common goal. For example, the institutions in the telecommunication networks may work together with those that are involved in Information Technology (IT) in order to achieve their goals. This means that the institutions form a system that work as a unit.
Institutions
The Asian countries have several bodies that spearhead technological development within the country. China, for example, has the main administrative body referred to as the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Under it are other institutions that handle various aspects of science and technology. The organization of the national policy is done by the State Council Science and Education Leading Group.
The major scientific and technological strategies within the country are made by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. The institutions within the Asian countries form a system since they work together in order to achieve their greater goal of enhancing science and technological advancements in order to cause development and growth of the economy.
Technological advancements
Some of the earliest inventions in Asian countries included the gunpowder, printing, papermaking and the compass. These were the four greatest inventions in China. These discoveries had a great impact in the development of China and other Asian countries.
These discoveries were later adopted in other nations such as the Arab countries and the European countries. The discovery of gunpowder led to advancements in the production of firearms, rockets, landmines, among various other elements used in the military.
Another technological development in the Asian countries is in engineering. In china, for example, some of the early engineering works included the piston pumps, horse collars, the seed drills and the wheelbarrows. The suspension bridge is also a major technological development in Asia. The Tang Dynasty marked a period of important innovations.
Agriculture
One of the developments in science and technology in Asia is development in agricultural technologies. This was facilitated by the transfer of such technologies after World War II. Many countries in Asia such as India and Thailand mainly depended on agricultural products to grow their economies.
Therefore, the institutions that were involved in the development of such technologies participated in such developmental activities in order to modernise the agricultural sector. This played a great role in the formation of a compact system made up of innovations within the country.
Some of the institutions that were responsible for the technological developments in the continent were the universities and other public institutions. These institutions focused on developing new technologies and innovations in various fields including agriculture.
Various government institutions are also involved in research to come up with better technologies and innovations. For example, they came up with better ways to manage pasture, introduced crop rotation and various other ways of improving seeding rate. The agricultural sector has also improved due to the innovations in farm machinery and agrochemicals.
Automobile industry
Asian countries such as India, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have among the world’s largest automobile industries. This has been made possible by their automobile engineering. The science and technology in the Republic of India, for example, has employed advanced technologies in the manufacture of commercial vehicles. These technologies include the engine assembly units, assembly plants and UV assembly units.
Due to advancements in technology, the automobile industry has greatly developed in order to conform to the international standards that seek to reduce pollution due to combustion. This has seen modification in the vehicle engines. This has also seen the inclusion of other forms of energy other than fuel. These innovations have led to the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The hybrid vehicles use both the normal fuel engine and electric power. This technology has been used in vehicles and powertrains. This is done in order to achieve better fuel economy and to reduce the emissions from the engine. Therefore, it has enhanced the economy and preserved the environment. This may be seen in the reduction in air and water pollution.
Secondly, it is less costly. Although the initial cost of acquiring an electric or hybrid vehicles is high, it is relatively cheaper to own and maintain them as compared to the combustion engine vehicles. They are also more reliable since they have fewer moving parts.
Therefore, this means they do not require fluids such as the transmission, anti-freeze and the engine oils. This also means that they do not require as much maintenance as the fuel engines do. Furthermore, electric vehicles are generally quieter than the fuel engines.
Communication
The telecommunication network in India has continuously undergone development due to technological advancements. For example, India is the second largest in the world basing on the total number of phone users. The network has been transformed into the next generation network.
The telecommunication network is characterised by modern telephone exchange systems, signalling and media gateways, among various other advanced technologies. All these elements are interconnected and the data (information) is transmitted using Microwave radio waves or optical fibers. These systems also employ such technologies as wireless connections.
The Asian countries have also recorded advancements in broadcasting technology. For example, DTH – which is one of the new technologies in the field – is popularly used in these countries. Asia has greatly utilized satellite systems in their telecommunication networks. It is used to link up the various aspects of communication such as telephones, internet, radios and television.
The mobile phone industry in China is huge and is supplying mobile phones to countries all over the world. New technologies have enabled the mobile phone industry in such countries to join the smart phone revolution that has seen greater functionality of the mobile handsets that include faster and smarter internet browsing and other computer-like functionalities.
Information technology
The Asian countries have greatly been known due to their advanced IT and ITES sectors. These sectors have employed various scientific technologies. The institutions involved in the development of these technologies in IT form a system in that they enable the linking up of the various IT sectors.
The IT sector has greatly contributed to the GDP of many Asian countries such as Japan, India and China. This sector has also greatly contributed to the increase in employment opportunities in the countries. India has grown into the information age due to the technologies used in IT.
In India, the National Informatics Centre was established to spearhead the IT sector. Later on, the Computer Maintenance Company was also established. Some of the institutions involved in IT innovations include the Tata Infotech, Wipro, among others. With more research, there were greater improvements in IT and this saw the sector advance into the microchip revolution. Three computer networking schemes were also developed by the government. These three schemes acted as a system.
Technologies in space exploration
Various Asian countries have developed technologies in space exploration. For example, Japan has succeeded in space exploration due to its innovativeness. With several years of research, Japan developed rockets that would lead to space exploration. The institution involved in this initiative was the Institute of Industrial Science. The first steps included launching the rockets horizontally. In 1970, Japan successfully launched a manmade satellite into the earth’s orbit.
India was also not left behind in these innovations. Headed by the Indian Space Research Organization, India explored space technologies in order to apply it to benefit the country. There are various government space agencies. They include NASA, JAXA, among others.
Nuclear technology
Several Asian countries have employed nuclear power as a major source of electricity. This has been made possible due to the technological advancements. Nuclear power has supplemented other power sources in order to increase the capacity of power in the countries. Despite the dangers associated with the use of nuclear power, there are great benefits including the fact that it provides great amounts of power.
Conclusion
It can be seen that Asian countries have greatly developed in science and technology. These innovations are usually spearheaded by institutions within the specific countries. These institutions in the various fields work together to form a system that interconnects the various elements together. The technological development in Asia is characterised by the development in the various fields.
One of the areas where science and technology has played a major role is agriculture. With research in the area, innovations have been initiated in the agricultural sector. This includes the improvements in the ways of performing some of the farming activities. Improvements have also been seen in the machinery used.
Another area where the Asian countries have employed technology is the automobile industry. This may be seen in their manufacturing plants and the vehicles themselves. The invention of electric vehicles was a great innovation since it helped in reducing fuel consumption and the conservation of the environment. Technological advancements in communication and information technology have greatly improved people’s lives in various ways.
Nuclear technology is also a great initiative since it has provided an alternative source of power. Together, these technological initiatives (run by the various institutions) form a system that aims at applying the new technologies to improve livelihoods and cause economic growth.
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