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Tech Midterm
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| What is technology? | Technology is merely a way of doing something in a "better" way (faster, cheaper, easier) |
| What was the impact of the plow? (Direct and indirect effects) | Direct: increased agricultural productivity/more efficient farming Indirect: population growth, urbanization, social inequality (land ownership differences), development of complex societies |
| What are the 4 main characteristics of technology? | Technology is systemic (rarely can be thought of as just a single gadget), technology is dynamic (constantly changing and developing), cumulative (almost always building on existing knowledge and experience), uncertain (more than one way to do something) |
| What do we mean when we say that technology has to be understood as a system | Technology is not just 1 technology, it's made up of lots of technologies. A car = roads, fuel supply, laws, drivers, factories |
| What is a reverse salient | Product of uneven development of technology. technology develops at different paces. a weak or lagging part in a technological system |
| Is technology always designed with a practical purpose in mind? | Yes, but that purpose doesn't always stick. people use technology for other things. Technology can also reflect status, politics, culture, or profit motives |
| Is technological progress the same thing as social progress? | Different. Just because you can do something (tech), doesn't mean you should (social). just because we can live longer in a hospital, doesn't mean we should (low quality of life) |
| What is technological determinism ? | Argues that tech develops according to it's own internal logic; tech is neutral. tech and society need each other. The idea that technology drives social change |
| Is technology really neutral, or can it be political (non-neutral)? What does Winner have to say about this? | Technology can be political. Winner says specific technologies often embody particular values or serve specific interests or are integrated with social institutions. |
| What is Pacey’s concept of “technology-practice”, and how does it differ from the conventional notion of “technology”? | personal values and individual experience of technical work are added on to the definition of technology. Technology includes: technical (tools), organizational (institutions), cultural (values). differs from narrow view of tech as just machines |
| What is Bijker’s “social construction of technology” (SCOT) approach, and how does it differ from both technological determinism and Pacey’s technology-practice? | Technology is shaped by social groups, not just engineers. Relevant social groups (different stakeholders), interpretive flexibility (same tech has different meanings). Differs from determinism (tech shapes society), Pacey (broader system view) |
| How do the two types of technological innovation – the dramatic breakthroughs, and the improvements and refinements to existing technologies – differ from each other? | Breakthroughs - radical, new inventions Incremental improvements - refinements over time |
| What is R & D (Research and Development), and what is the role of each in technological development? | Research - new knowledge Development - applying knowledge to create products |
| What is scaling up ? | Expanding a technology from small-scale to mass use |
| How does technological advance in one area stimulate technological development in other areas? | Interconnected innovation. computing = medicine, communication, transportation |
| Who or what are translators, and what role do they play in technological development and the diffusion of technology? | Translators are people/groups who adapt and spread technology across contexts. they help bridge gaps between creators and users |
| What is effective demand ? | Demand backed by ability to pay. Drives which technologies succeed |
| How have social forces such as gender, race and class impacted the development of technologies? | They shape who designs technology, who benefits from technology, and who is excluded |
| In what ways do the market forces of a capitalist economy work to promote technological innovation? | Promotes innovation through competition, profit incentives, investment in R&D |
| How did the centrally-planned (non-market driven) economies of the Soviet Union and other state socialist societies of the 20th century inhibit the development of technology? | They have limits. There's less competition, less incentive to innovate, slower technological growth |
| How important are economic considerations in the development of technology? Are there technologies where economic considerations take a back seat to other factors? | Economics is important but military, politics, culture can dominate (eg: space race) |
| Is technology simply “applied science”? | Not simply applied science. technology and science influence each other, but are distinct |
| How do science and technology differ from each other? And in what ways are they similar, what do they have in common? And how does each stimulate the development of the other? | Science: understands the world Technology: applies knowledge to solve problems Similarities: both rely on experimentation and knowledge |
| What is technological diffusion ? | Spread of technology across societies |
| Why did China fall behind Europe and Japan in technological development? | Political choices, isolation, lack of incentives for innovation |
| What is the brain drain ? | Loss of skilled workers to other countries. people go where technology is better |
| Is it advisable for developing nations (i.e., what used to be termed “3rd World” countries) simply to emulate the U.S. and Japan in adopting new technologies? Why or why not? | Not always. different needs, resources, and cultures |
| What is appropriate technology ? What are its goals (there are several)? | Goals: affordable, sustainable, locally adaptable, environmentally friendly |
| In what ways has the diffusion of western technologies to developing nations skewed and distorted those nations’ development? | Problems with western tech diffusion: can increase inequality, disrupt local economies, create dependency |
| What affects the choice of a particular technology over other, competing technologies? Is it just the technical merits of that technology, rational economic considerations, or are there other reasons? | Politics, culture, economics, social values |
| What are patents, and how do they work to stimulate and/or slow down technological development? | Patents are legal protection for inventions. it encourages innovation but can limit access and slow diffusion |
| How does the “bottom-up” diffusion of technology, as exemplified in the examples used in Assignment 2, differ from the conventional “top-down” technology transfers from developed to developing nations? | Top-down: from developed to developing nations Bottom-up: local innovation and adaptation |
| When businesses are deciding whether to adopt a new technology, what factors guide their decisions, and ultimately determine the speed at which new innovations are adopted by firms? | Factors: cost, risk, competition, compatibility, expected profit |
| What is the difference between uncertainty and risk ? | Risk: outcomes known (probabilities exist) Uncertainty: outcomes unknown |
| What are: technological determinism, SCOT, feminist theory, semiotic approach, cultural/media studies approach? | Technological determinism: tech shapes society SCOT: society shapes tech Feminist Theory: examines gender bias Semiotic approach: meaning and symbols in tech Cultural/media studies: tech in culture and media |
| What are the different categories of non-user? | Resisters: never used the tech because they don't want to Excluded: don't use it because they don't have access to it rejecters: stopped using it voluntarily expelled: stopped using it involuntarily |
| What kinds of roles do users of technology play besides just "using" tech? | Modify it, influence design, spread it, resist it |
Created by:
Kendalwebb07