SOCI 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Technological Determinism, Sociotechnical System, Industrial Arts
25 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
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TECHNOLOGY
Technology: study of industrial arts
- The term technology was only popularized after WWII
- alternative terms to technology used were “practical arts,” “applied science”, “engineering”
“invention”. These terms are all synonomous with Technology.
- breaking down term: teks is Indo-European root word meaning to fabricate or weave; in Greek,
tekton refers to carpenter or builder and tekhne to art, craft or skill
- Technology is not just about physical objects but knowledge and skills. The kind of knowledge
required in creating something.
- Why are some created in the first place? What is the reason behind technological development?
‘ Technology as process’
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Moving beyond the material
- Technology as Physical Objects: tools, machines, instruments, weapons, appliances
- Technology as knowledge: “know-how” behind an invention
- Technology as activity: skills, methods, procedures. What people engage in.
- Technology as process: reason behind technological development (why are technologies created
in the first place?)
- Technology as a socio-technical system: interaction between humans and objects
Revolutionary Technologies
The term revolution often implies abrupt social change – here the idea is that the technology is
so different from anything developed prior to it, it will “revolutionize” or change society in a
fundamental way
Revolutionary is often associated with new Technology. In reality technology is rarely considered
“revolutionary”. Throughout history revolutionary technology would be things such as the mechanical
clock and the printing press.
In this course, we will see that very few technologies throughout history should be given this
revolutionary label
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The Telegraph developed in mid 1800’s, first electrical means of communication is a good example of
revolutionary technology.
A better term is to think of technology as an evolutionary process instead of revolutionary.
The term evolution implies slow and gradual change . Highlights connections between the past
and present.
Success and Failure
- In terms of success and failure, why are some technologies successful in one part of the world
and not in another?
- The idea that the success or failure of any technology is the result of certain societies being
more advanced than others is a simplistic response to this question and neglects to account for
other factors that are more important in determining success and failure
- For instance, it is important to understand that social, cultural, legal, political and economic
factors play a KEY role in the success or failure of new technologies
IV. Theories about Technology. 3 theories, and 5 themes will be examined.
1. Technological Determinism
- Technological determinism is a theory which attempts to explain the relationship between
technology and society.
- Technological determinism is a viewpoint that regards technology as the primary agent of social
and organizational change. What this means is once technology is introduced in society it’s
going to shape the society in a fundamental way.
- Although humans create technology overtime we don’t have control of technology. Internet
tends to control our lives and cellphones.
- Idea that technology is the “cause” of social, political, economic and cultural change is the
central element in determinist theories of technological change
- Technology is thus the “driving force of history” that can have a revolutionary impact on
relatively passive societies
- With determinism, the relationship between technology and society is a ONE WAY STREET.
Technology is what shapes society.
- Determinism is a popular but problematic theory.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The term technology was only popularized after wwii alternative terms to technology used were practical arts, applied science , engineering . These terms are all synonomous with technology. breaking down term: teks is indo-european root word meaning to fabricate or weave; in greek, tekton refers to carpenter or builder and tekhne to art, craft or skill. Technology is not just about physical objects but knowledge and skills. The kind of knowledge required in creating something. Technology as physical objects: tools, machines, instruments, weapons, appliances. Technology as process: reason behind technological development (why are technologies created in the first place?) Technology as a socio-technical system: interaction between humans and objects. The term revolution often implies abrupt social change here the idea is that the technology is so different from anything developed prior to it, it will revolutionize or change society in a fundamental way. Throughout history revolutionary technology would be things such as the mechanical clock and the printing press.
