Path Dependence, Technological Momentum, Social Construction

Technological Frame: Technological inventions are created within society and cannot be viewed distinctly. The definition of an artifact is according to the relevant user group.

Each relevant social group has own technological frame. It builds when relevant social groups interact around an artifact. It provides the goals, ideas and tools needed for problem-solving. The social group constrains the outcome.

Degree of Inclusion: As actors can be members of more than one relevant social group, they can also be influenced by more than one technological frame. Degree of Inclusion in a technological frame depends on extent to which an actor’s interactions are structured by that frame.

Innovation often comes from inclusion in more than one technological frame (Bijker). Innovation is the only things that is going to save us now for this oil-dependency crisis we are in. Those in power better get the message quick.

Power is the transitive capacity to harness the agency of others to comply with one’s ends. It is exercised, not possessed. Previously economists would talk of technology without mentioning social power. Sociologists would not discuss technological power.

Path Dependence & Technological Momentum (Thomas Hughes 1969)

We can’t really go back to change technology. Example is how Google creates a type of dependency and certain inequality.

Technological Determinism: belief that Technical forces determine social and cultural changes. 

Social Construction: belief that Social and Cultural forces determine technical change. Maybe we could adapt water problem-solving in Africa to the same method Apple used to involve the whole market using iPod culture which is embedded and which is fitted to the youth culture which drives its technicalities. Younger developing systems tend to be more open to socio-cultural influences while older systems prove to be more independent of outside influence, and therefore more deterministic in nature.” (Thomas Hughes)

Technological Momentum: Progression of technology over time, it is a combination of technological determinism and social constructivism. Social development shapes and is shaped by technology.

Example of Technological Momentum: the use of oil.

The automobile industry actually originated in France, not the U.S., and the gas-powered engine was one factor that created a dependency on oil in much of the developed world. The people least connected to society are the least affected by technology. Different civilizations like The Bronze Age, The Iron Age, the Roman Empire, The Oil Age, contributed to their downfall by their dependence on a certain technology. That is what is happening to the U.S. as the federal government attempts to seize the oil resources of other nations. Iran is soon to be next. The easy solution to the problem, rather than killing many innocent people, is Innovation, the only way out of this mess. Does America still have the ingenuity it believes gave it the edge in the past? Or have Americans gotten hypnotized by their iPods, cell phones and laptops? I believe the ingenuity is out there, but it seems politics has gotten in the way. The power of Big Oil corporations combining with Big Government. Instead of putting our money on development of new technology to take our dependence off oil, our government just keeps putting more money and lives into the military-industrial complex. See my prior blog. New policies and new technology need to address this dependency.

Interpretive Flexibility: an example is the legal issues right now involving DNA and stem cells.

Social Constructivism is a tool not “good” or “evil” in and of itself, but is just a framework for understanding. It can be used to show things hidden inside another tool – used to analyze the relationship(s) between certain technologies and society.