SOSC 1731 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Technological Determinism, Telematics, Utopia

• School: York University
• Department: Social Science
• Course: SOSC 1731
• Professor: Lewis Code

Document Summary

Change in the city is seen to be a direct result of change in telematics or as a reaction to technological innovation or technological invention. Urban change is unalterable, inevitable and highly predictable. It is a change in the physical form of the city and determined by the type of technologies that are used in the city. Socioeconomic structure of the city will be determined by technological adoption as would social movements and public actions/reactions. Telematics technologies solutions to social, economic, spatial & physical urban problems. Utopianism passes judgment on the nature of the changes that are induced by the adoption and implementation of new telematics. Changes in cities are largely positive in nature and telematics innovation are seen as making the city a better place to live and work. Not all changes in the past have resulted in improvements, but technological innovation will take care of these problems.