Chapter 1

Historical definitions of technology

1. Technology as material substance
-ignores interaction between technology and society (huge problem)
-technology is seen as a passive tool completely under control by humans
2. Technology as knowledge
-based upon, uses, generates complex knowledge as the result of human activity
related to artifacts
-artifacts: modification/modelling/production of objects that have human imposed
traits
-problem: ignores the fact that knowledge needed to create/use/transform objects is
different than the object itself
-problem: ignores technologys impact on society, technology is limited to
knowledge only (expertise, skill, know how)
Laytons model of technology (spectrum)
1. Ideas - technological imagination, thought processes that precede the tool
2. Design between abstract idea and object, process of idea to tool production
3. Technique describes the artifact which is tangible and lets humans complete
tasks
-advantage 1: makes a difference between knowledge and the artifact it creates
-advantage 2: has a middle stage between the idea of a tool and the artifact itself
-problem: does not explain how technology and knowledge are linked to society
3. Technology as practice (Ursula Franklin)
-system involving organization, procedures, symbols, new words, mindset
-cynical since people must trust machines and devices
-criticizes the view that machines provide solutions to problems created by
unpredictable people and are always controllable
-believed that technology often enslaves people even if the intention was to
liberate, technology induced isolation
-advantage: instead of external force, technology becomes normalized in everyday
lives
-problem: technology is seen as a negative force that determines how social change
occurs in society, ignores human agency. Peoples capacity to make decisions is
ignored (what and how to use)
4. Technology as technique
- Martin Heidegger: technique describes an abstract concept instead of object, is a
human activity that has 2 parts goal and mechanism. Goal is what people what to
achieve with the technique, mechanism is the process to reach the goal.
-Jurgen Habermas: technology is strategic social action aimed at positive outcomes.
rational choice and influencing a rational opponent if needed is considered
-Jacques Ellul: a standardized method for obtaining a predetermined goal in society.

Technique is a mechanism that maximizes efficiency, sometimes ignoring

social/psychological/moral/economic consequences
-problem: technology is seen as an external force, social change is ignored
5. Technology as society
-technology is an agent of change that can control and change humanity
-Jean Baudrillard: technology becomes the world
-Herbert Marcuse: introduction of new technologies creates new standards, cultural
and social change, which in return affect the development of technology
-society cannot exist without technology, even our perception of reality is influenced
by technology
-problem: technology is assumed to be fully integrated into society, cannot study
how technology interacts with society
Definition of technology the book uses: Technology is an assemblage of material
objects, embodying and reflecting societal elements, such as knowledge, norms,
and attitudes, that have been shaped and structured to serve social, political,
cultural, and existential purposes.
1. Separates technology from society enough to allow analysis of technology society
interdependence
2. Technology is not an element of society, instead seen as serving a social purpose
3. Technology embodies and reflects knowledge, social norms, social structures,
political interested etc.
Simulation
Artificial intelligence is made to resemble or outperform human intelligence. The
Turing test (imitation game) has two goals to test a machines potential to how
intelligent behaviour and to assess a humans ability to differentiate between
human and machine intelligence. Chatterbots/intelligent agents are software
systems based on algorithms that can process complex and large amounts of data.
Augmentation
Wearable computing involves portable computers aiding in the decisions making
process by providing additional info, enhanced surrounding awareness capabilities,
and real time data streaming. Transhumanism is the idea of surpassing biological
limitations of our bodies, such as lifespan lengths or capabilities of our brains.