Take-home essay. Imagine you work for a think tank and have been tasked with writing a report about ONE of the following eight basic challenges the basic challenges that humans cope with through technology (hardly an exhaustive list): 1. How do we feed people? 2. How do we provide power or energy for work? 3. How do we defend ourselves? 4. How do we house people? 5. How do we protect public health? 6. How do we keep people informed? 7. How do we transport people and goods? 8. How do we organize communities and cities? In addressing these challenges, Western cultures have made technological choices involving (again, for the purposes of this assignment) several core values: sustainability; equity; efficiency or economy; effectiveness; transparency or choice. Because you bring a rigorous understanding of the history of technology to your job (right?!), your analysis will be historically informed. In a brief introduction, outline the contemporary issues and challenges at stake (who needs to be fed or defended or kept informed). Devote the main body of your essay to a discussion of two or three historical case studies germane to your technological challenge. In discussing those cases, consider the role of the core values outlined above. Conclude your essay by summarizing the key themes and lessons of your historical analysis. Restrict your research to course materials, namely, A Culture of Improvement; by Robert Freidel