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Capitalism and Morality ______
Capitalism and Morality _________________________ THE TEMPORAL DIMENSION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE MOVING PICTURE OF THE GOOD Richard P. Mullin Professor Emeritus Wheeling Jesuit University Appeared in Wheeling Jesuit University’s Cardinal Perspectives Spring 1996 Picture of the Good One of the most urgent tasks of philosophy is to understand how ethical, social, and technological goods can be integrated in the midst of rapid change. The problem is to a large extent caused by moral myopia and tunnel vision.1 It is hard to get a clear focus when the viewer and the picture are moving so rapidly and irregularly. Technical advance and social change have a reciprocal relationship. This spawns a myriad of ethical problems which are distinctive to a technologically advancing society. Many of the social and ethical problems which involve technology result from the fact that technology does not advance evenly. When the technical aspect of social change combines with non-technical facets of life such as morality, legality, and politics, the unevenness becomes more pronounced and more troublesome. The Temporal Dimension Ethics must take account of the temporal dimension, i.e., the dimension of change. As the world and our interpretation of it change more and more rapidly, the past fades quickly out of sight while the future rushes on us ready-or-not. Past decisions were made without much of the information now available to us and within world-views which we can recapture only with great difficulty. The decisions which we make today will affect a future of which we are largely ignorant in ways at which we can only guess. -
Energy Research & Social Science
Energy Research & Social Science 70 (2020) 101617 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Research & Social Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/erss Review Sociotechnical agendas: Reviewing future directions for energy and climate T research ⁎ Benjamin K. Sovacoola, , David J. Hessb, Sulfikar Amirc, Frank W. Geelsd, Richard Hirshe, Leandro Rodriguez Medinaf, Clark Millerg, Carla Alvial Palavicinoh, Roopali Phadkei, Marianne Ryghaugj, Johan Schoth, Antti Silvastj, Jennie Stephensk, Andy Stirlingl, Bruno Turnheimm, Erik van der Vleutenn, Harro van Lenteo, Steven Yearleyp a University of Sussex, United Kingdom and Aarhus University, Denmark b Vanderbilt University, United States c Nanyang Technological University, Singapore d The University of Manchester, United Kingdom e Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States f Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico g Arizona State University, United States h Universiteit Utrecht, Netherlands i Macalester College, United States j Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway k Northeastern University, United States l University of Sussex, United Kingdom m Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Sciences Innovations Sociétés, France n Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands o Universiteit Maastricht, Netherlands p The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: The field of science and technology studies (STS) has introduced and developed a “sociotechnical” perspective Science and technology studies that has been taken up by many disciplines and areas of inquiry. The aims and objectives of this study are Sociotechnical systems threefold: to interrogate which sociotechnical concepts or tools from STS are useful at better understanding Science technology and society energy-related social science, to reflect on prominent themes and topics within those approaches, and to identify Sociology of scientific knowledge current research gaps and directions for the future. -
Science & Technology Studies
ALEXANDRA HOFMÄNNER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STUDIES ELSEWHERE A Postcolonial Programme SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STUDIES In April 2017, scientists took to the streets in a historically unprecedented Global March for Science. The event was seen as symbolic of a crisis in the relationship of science and society. This book considers the Global March ELSEWHERE for Science from a postcolonial perspective to inquire into the toolkit that the academic field of Science & Technology Studies (STS) has to offer. It HOFMÄNNER ALEXANDRA argues that new concepts and analytical approaches are necessary to in- A POSTCOLONIAL vestigate current global dynamics in science, technology and society, so as to deliver insights that the recent expansion of STS scholars beyond PROGRAMME Western Europe and North America alone is unlikely to provide. The book presents a Programme in Science Studies Elsewhere (SSE) to demonstrate the urgent need to carry postcolonial issues right into the centre of STS’s intellectual programme. Hofmänner possesses a potent antidote for the field’s inability to see science and technology outside of European or North American experiences. Rayvon Fouché, Professor and Director, American Studies, Purdue University, USA A compelling case for revisiting some of the traditional assumptions in the field of STS. Prof. Dr. Sabine Maasen, Director of the Munich Center for Technology in Society Alexandra Hofmänner is assistant professor in Science & Technology ELSEWHERE STUDIES TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE Studies ( ST S) at the University of Basel, Switzerland. She received a PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ( ETH Zürich ) and has carried out extensive research in Switzerland and South Africa. www.schwabeverlag.de Alexandra Hofmänner Science & Technology Studies Elsewhere A Postcolonial Programme Schwabe Verlag Published with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft. -
Curriculum Vitae
CURRICULUM VITAE Geoffrey Charles BOWKER Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences University of California, Irvine 6210 Donald Bren Hall Irvine, CA 92697-3425 [email protected] http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~gbowker POSITIONS Professor, Director Values in Design Laboratory, School of Information and Computer Science, University of California at Irvine, 2012+ Professor and Senior Scholar in Cyberscholarship, School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh. 2009-2011 Executive Director, Regis and Dianne McKenna Professor, Center for Science, Technology and Society, Santa Clara University. Professor in Communication and Environmental Studies. 2005-2009 Chair, Department of Communicaton, University of California, San Diego, 2002-2004. Professor, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego, 1999+. Teaching ethnography of information systems, computing and communication. Research project in biodiversity informatics. Participating Faculty, Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Cognitive Science, UCSD, 2001+. Fellow, San Diego Supercomputer Center, 2000+. Adjunct Professor, Department of History, University of California, San Diego, 1999+. Zero time appointment. Faculty Affiliate, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, 1998-1999. Assistant then Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, 1993-1998. Teaching information resources management, research methodologies in information science, information systems analysis and management. Research projects in history and sociology of the International Classification of Diseases, the Nursing Interventions Classification and organizational memory. (Promoted to Associate Fall 1996). May - June 1994 Visiting Professor, Department of Computer Science, Aarhuis University, Denmark. Teaching course in computer supported cooperative work and the ethnography of information systems. Visiting Scholar, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. -
Using Actor-Network Theory to Understand Inter-Organizational Network Aspects for Strategic Information Systems Planning
Using actor-network theory to understand inter-organizational network aspects for strategic information systems planning Danchao Hu February, 2011 Master thesis Business information technology School of Management and Governance (SMG) University of Twente Enschede, The Netherlands Graduation Committee: Dr. ir. Ton Spil Dr. P. A. T. van Eck School of Management and Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Governance, Mathematics and Computer Science University of Twente, University of Twente, Enschede, Enschede, The Netherlands The Netherlands 1 ABSTRACT Network perspective has been an important factor in inter-organizational strategic information systems planning (IOSISP), and has consequently become a conspicuous concern for scholars. Bearing in mind the increasing cooperation between organizations by virtue of information and communication technology, we argue that, in order to survive and prosper, realistic research must draw on the dual foundation of network theory and strategic information systems planning (SISP) research. However, network theories are as yet diversified in information systems research. In this paper, we argue that the network perspective, more specifically, the actor-network theory (ANT), is positioned to enhance the understanding of network composition and its development during the information systems planning. The controversial insistence on the agency of non-humans distinguishes the ANT from other network theories (e.g., social network theory, strong and weak ties, etc.). Meanwhile, the translation process introduced by ANT indicates a reasonable approach to understand the network evolvement. Thus, the theory has superiority over other network theories with its understanding of network composition and network development. This study draws largely from and originates from the SISP research field, and illustrates the appropriateness of the ANT in investigating SISP, specifically in the context of inter-organizational cooperation. -
Dedehayir Makinen Determining Reverse Salient Types
Tampere University of Technology Author(s) Dedehayir, Ozgur; Mäkinen, Saku Title Determining reverse salient types and evolutionary dynamics of technology systems with performance disparities Citation Dedehayir, Ozgur; Mäkinen, Saku 2011. Determining reverse salient types and evolutionary dynamics of technology systems with performance disparities. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management vol. 23, num. 10, 1095-1114. Year 2011 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2011.621308 Version Post-print URN http://URN.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201311271475 Copyright This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, volume 23, issue 10, 01 Nov 2011. Copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09537325.2011.621308. All material supplied via TUT DPub is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, and duplication or sale of all or part of any of the repository collections is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for your research use or educational purposes in electronic or print form. You must obtain permission for any other use. Electronic or print copies may not be offered, whether for sale or otherwise to anyone who is not an authorized user. Determining reverse salient types and evolutionary dynamics of technology systems with performance disparities Ozgur Dedehayir∗ and Saku J. Mäkinen Department of Industrial Management, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland ∗ Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Technological system evolution is marked by the uneven evolution of constituent sub‐systems. Subsequently, system evolution is hampered by the resulting state of unevenness, or reverse salience, which results from the presence of the sub‐system that delivers the lowest level of performance with respect to other sub‐systems, namely, the reverse salient. -
Technoscience the Politics of Interventions
Technoscience The Politics of Interventions Kristin Asdal, Brita Brenna and Ingunn Moser (eds.) Unipub 2007 © Unipub AS 2007 ISBN 978-82-7477-300-4 Contact info Unipub: T: + 47 22 85 33 00 F: + 47 22 85 30 39 E-mail: [email protected] www.unipub.no Publisher: Oslo Academic Press, Unipub Norway Printed in Norway: AIT e-dit AS, Oslo 2007 This book has been produced with financial support from Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (TIK) at the University of Oslo and The Research Council of Norway The introduction has been translated by Connie Stultz All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission Contents Introduction Kristin Asdal, Brita Brenna, Ingunn Moser The Politics of Interventions A History of STS .........................................................................................................7 Part 1: Networks and Critiques Michel Callon Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen of St. Brieuc Bay .................................. 57 Susan Leigh Star Power, Technology and the Phenomenology of Conventions On Being Allergic to Onions ..................................................................................... 79 Donna Haraway Situated Knowledges The Science Question in Feminism and The Privilege of Partial Perspective ...................... 109 Part 2: Modest Interventions Deborah Heath Bodies, Antibodies, and Modest Interventions ................................................ -
The Social Construction of Technology: Structural Considerations
Science,Klein, Kleinman Technology, / Social & Human Construction Values of Technology The Social Construction of Technology: Structural Considerations Hans K. Klein Georgia Institute of Technology Daniel Lee Kleinman University of Wisconsin–Madison Although scholarship in the social construction of technology (SCOT) has contributed much to illuminating technological development, most work using this theoretical approach is committed to an agency-centered approach. SCOT scholars have made only limited contributions to illustrating the influence of social structures. In this article, the authors argue for the importance of structural concepts to understanding technological development. They summarize the SCOT conceptual framework defined by Trevor Pinch and Wiebe Bijker and survey some of the methodological and explanatory difficulties that arise with their approach. Then the authors present concepts from organizational sociology and political economy that illuminate structural influences in shaping phe- nomena of interest to SCOT scholars. These structural concepts can be applied to the study of the design, development, and transformation of technology. The authors con- clude that the limited amount of scholarship on structural factors in the social shaping of technological development presents numerous opportunities for research. Researchers in the field of science and technology studies (STS) have pro- duced a great deal of scholarshipin recent years that documents and analyzes the social shaping of technology.1 An important area of this scholarship, known as the social construction of technology (SCOT), traces its origins to Trevor Pinch and Wiebe Bijker’s (1987) article, “The Social Construction of Facts and Artifacts: Or How the Sociology of Science and the Sociology of Technology Might Benefit Each Other.” From this seminal work has flowed a body of research that is rich and diverse—but that has largely remained com- mitted to an agency-centered approach. -
Reijo Miettinen, University of Helsinki
For Matti Sintonen’s Festschrift Reijo Miettinen, University of Helsinki The problem of the problem in inventive activity Some prominent researchers of creativity regard “the problem of the problem”, that is, the finding and definition of important problems, as a key phenomenon of the creative process (Getzels & Csikszentmihalyi 1976; Getzels 1982 and 1987). Getzels cites Einstein who stated that the formulation of problems is often more essential than their solution (1982, 37): “To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.” Therefore, instead of the problem-solving process, creativity research should focus on how important problems are being found and formulated (Getzels and Csikszentmihalyi 1976, 81): “The problem solver must become a problem finder (….). To turn a problem solver into a problem finder one must feel that there is a challenge needing resolution in the environment, one must formulate this feeling as a problem, and then attempt to device appropriate methods for solving it (…) Not only the solution but the problem itself must be discovered.” Getzels rightly points out that the world is teeming with conflicts and dilemmas. However, they must be specified and formulated in fertile and radical ways if they are to be moved to productive termination (Getzels 1982, 38). An important and fruitful problem is open to resolution and leads to a line of inquiry in the inventive activity. A German researcher Rainer Seidel (1976) has proposed that to solve the problem of the problem a social history of problems is needed. The tensions and contradictions of human practices are the starting point for the creation of new artifacts and methods. -
Free and Open Source Software As a Contribution to Digital Security in the Arctic
Free and open source software as a contribution to digital security in the Arctic Gerald Zojer Digital technologies have become an integral part of everyday life for most inhabitants of the Arctic, diffusing so deep into society that even traditional activities are becoming digitised. All Arctic states have endorsed cybersecurity strategies, highlighting the significance that is attributed to digitalisation in today’s societies. Yet, these strategies reproduce a state-centric traditional security approach. Since digitalisation affects all spheres of human security, cybersecurity needs to be redefined in a more comprehensive way to be inclusive to challenges on the individual and community level. This paper discusses a digital security approach. Acknowledging the importance of software in contemporary information societies, this paper looks at how private and public software property regimes are related to digital security in an Arctic specific context. Following approaches from science and technology studies, with special attention to innovation research, this paper discusses the interrelations of proprietary software, open source software (OSS), and free and open source software (FOSS) approaches with digitalisation, considering the peculiarities of Arctic societies. The paper argues that FOSS provides advantages for the often small user base and niche markets of region specific applications, and thus utilising a FOSS approach promotes digital security in the Arctic. Introduction The motivation for this paper emerged in summer 2018 during a reindeer calf marking event in Sápmi, the Sámi homeland. During this event, reindeer were gathered in a fence system. First the calves were tagged by giving them a numbered collar. Then calves and adult female reindeer were left together in another fenced area so that the mother animal and the calf could find one another again. -
Dynamics of Reverse Salience As Technological Performance Gap: an Empirical Study of the Personal Computer Technology System
Received May 15, 2008/ Accepted August 29, 2008 J. Technol. Manag. Innov. 2008, Volume 3, Issue 3 DYNAMICS OF REVERSE SALIENCE AS TECHNOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE GAP: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM Ozgur Dedehayir, Saku J. Mäkinen* Abstract The evolution of technological systems is hindered by systemic components, referred to as reverse salients, which fail to deliver the necessary level of technological performance thereby inhibiting the performance delivery of the system as a whole. This paper develops a performance gap measure of reverse salience and applies this measurement in the study of the PC (personal computer) technological system, focusing on the evolutions of firstly the CPU (central processing unit) and PC game sub-systems, and secondly the GPU (graphics processing unit) and PC game sub-systems. The measurement of the temporal behavior of re- verse salience indicates that the PC game sub-system is the reverse salient, continuously trailing behind the technological per- formance of the CPU and GPU sub-systems from 1996 through 2006. The technological performance of the PC game sub-system as a reverse salient trails that of the CPU sub-system by up to 2300 MHz with a gradually decreasing performance disparity in recent years. In contrast, the dynamics of the PC game sub-system as a reverse salient trails the GPU sub-system with an ever increasing performance gap throughout the timeframe of analysis. In addition, we further discuss the research and managerial im- plications of our findings. Keywords: technology system, personal computer, reverse salient, computer games * - Dedehayir, Ozgur. Tampere University of Technology. -
Actor-Network and Translation in Engineering Laboratory: a Case Study of Universitas Indonesia Civil Engineering Testing Laboratory
MASYARAKAT Jurnal Sosiologi Vol. 24, No. 2, Juli 2019: 187-209 DOI: 10.7454/MJS.v24i2.9229 Actor-Network and Translation in Engineering Laboratory: A Case Study of Universitas Indonesia Civil Engineering Testing Laboratory Fazar Ramdhana Sargani Purusha Research Cooperatives E-mail: [email protected] Abstrak Penggunaan Teori Aktor-Jaringan (TAJ) di Indonesia telah diterapkan di berbagai bidang, seperti kajian kredit mikro, budi daya terumbu karang, kontestasi energi terbarukan, dan relasi sipil-militer. Namun, di Indonesia TAJ masih sangat jarang digunakan untuk meneliti laboratorium sebagai perkumpulan (assemblage) yang berjalan, kendati peranan- nya yang penting dalam memproduksi pengetahuan teknis. Guna mengisi kekosongan tersebut, artikel ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan penerapan TAJ pada kerja labora- torium, khusus di Laboratorium Struktur dan Material serta Laboratorium Uji Teknik Sipil Universitas Indonesia menggunakan konsep proses translasi. Artikel ini menemukan bahwa laboratorium tersusun bukan hanya oleh aktor manusia, seperti ahli-ahli yang otoritatif, tetapi juga aktor non-manusia –cth. gedung dan peralatan atau mesin. Seiring performanya, laboratorium membentuk asosiasi, yang tidak hanya menbangun tetapi juga memutus atau memilih relasi sesuai dengan kebutuhan jaringan tanpa harus seluruh aktor menyadari akan proses tersebut. Hal ini mengindikasikan keterbatasan ANT dalam men- deteksi ihwal-ihwal di luar tindakan dalam pembentukan jaringan. Pendekatan metode kualitatif diterapkan mengingat itulah yang paling tepat untuk dapat menerapkan prinsip pelacakan aktor dalam TAJ. Abstract Actor-Network Theory (ANT) has been implemented to study various topics in Indone- sian contexts such as microcredit, coral reef, contestation within the sustainable energy project, and civil-military relations. However, ANT is seldom used to examine laboratories as working assemblages in Indonesia, despite its crucial role in producing technological knowledge.