What is a man vs. technology conflict in Lois Lowry's The Giver?

One type of technology that proves to be quite a conflict in Lois Lowry's The Giver is medical technology. Normally, when we think of technology, computers and TVs come to mind. We sometimes forget that medical advances are also a type of technology. There are two major types of medical technology that influence the plot and conflict for Jonas: the pill that suppresses the Stirrings and the injection used to Release (or kill) people. 

First, Jonas is introduced to the medicine (or pill) that suppresses the Stirrings after he has a vivid dream about his friend Fiona. Everyone must tell what they dreamed at breakfast time; so after Jonas tells his dream one morning, his mother knows that he has hit puberty and is ready for the pill. This pill not only suppresses sensual feelings, but it also takes away the desire for preference. For example, Jonas might want to date Fiona after having such a dream. He may even want to marry her one day; but in a world of Sameness, the community can't have preferential treatment towards any other person. That would upset the family units and the fact that free choice is undesirable. Thus, the Stirrings pill does much more than simply suppress sensual feelings.

Next, the injection that the community uses to Release people is deadly. Modern science does this with animals when it is time to "put them down," but we don't use it on people. For example, a veterinarian uses a sleeping aide first, then injects the animal with the deadly serum. Jonas's father, on the other hand, does not use a sleeping serum first, he simply injects the deadly medicine as follows:

"He took out a syringe and a small bottle. Very carefully he inserted the needle into the bottle and began to fill the syringe with a clear liquid. . . his father began very carefully to direct the needle into the top of a new child's forehead, puncturing the place where the fragile skin pulsed. The newborn squirmed, and wailed faintly" (149).

This is the most significant use of medical technology in the book because it is the turning point for Jonas. It is Jonas vs. the community and their deadly medical technology after this. He can't bear the fact that killing babies is an approved practice! After seeing his father kill a baby, he plots to overthrow the community with the Giver's help.