Sociotechnical system
This is an approach that recognizes the interaction between people and technology.
The term refers to the interaction between society's complex infrastructures and human
behaviour. In this sense, society itself, and most of its substructures, are complex
sociotechni...
STS Questions and Answers 2024/2025
1. Sociotechnical system
This is an approach that recognizes the interaction between people and technology.
The term refers to the interaction between society's complex infrastructures and human
behaviour. In this sense, society itself, and most of its substructures, are complex
sociotechnical systems. The term sociotechnical systems was coined by Eric Trist, Ken
Bamforth and Fred Emery, World War II era, based on their work with workers in
English coal mines Tavistock Institute in London. A sociotechnical system is a synthesis of
society and technology—technology cannot be thought of as independent from society.
2. Momentum
This is the strength or force that allows something to continue or to grow stronger or
faster as time passes. Also, the strength or force that something has when it is moving.
Technological momentum is a theory about the relationship between technology and
society over time—(developed by Thomas P. Hughes) as technology matures, it
becomes autonomous. The theory is that the relationship between technology and
society always starts with a social determinism model, but evolves into a form
oftechnological determinism over time and as its use becomes more prevalent and
important.
3. Technological determinism
technological determinism, claims that society itself is modified by the introduction of a
new technology in an irreversible and irreparable way—for example, the introduction
of the automobile has influenced the manner in whichAmerican cities are designed, a
change that can clearly be seen when comparing the pre-automobile cities on the East
Coast to the post-automobile cities on the West Coast. Technology, under this model,
self-propagates as well—there is no turning back once adoption has taken place, and
the very existence of the technology means that it will continue to exist in the future.
4. Social construction of technology
A theory that argues that technology does not determine human action, but that
rather, human action shapes technology. They also argue that the ways a technology is
used cannot be understood without understanding how that technology is embedded in
its social context. SCOT is a response to technological determinism and is sometimes
known as technological constructivism.
refers to the attempt of usingengineering or technology to solve a
problem,[1][2][3][4][5] whether it be an important one affecting many people or a
minor inconvenience. Designing automobiles and highways to protect fallible drivers
provides one example of such a solution to the former type of problem. The term
technological fix is most appropriately applied when considering certain types of
problems—ones involving both technology and a human societal dimension. It can then
be used to distinguish this family of solutions from a distinctly different family of
solutions: those involving an attitudinal fix.
6. End-of-pipe technologies
Opposite of cleaner production; Cleaner production fits within pollution preventions
broader commitment towards the prevention rather than the control of pollution.
Pollution prevention is an approach which can be adopted within all sectors, whether it
be a household or a large industrial complex. Cleaner production, on the other hand,
directs activities towards production aspects, particularly within the manufacturing
sector.
7. Appropriate technology
Suggested 60's and 70's—tried to include social, economic, political side in to designs.
i.e. accounted for climate, economic state and such in to water filter/pumps for
developing countries. Didn't really try to address how to change society, still—better,
but not good. Well applied and introduced but if current social structure doesn't
change than its difficult for technology to reach its full potential and help as much as it
can—society itself stops it from being successful
8. Paradigm
A paradigm is a model or pattern for something that may be copied. Also a theory or
a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about.
Difficult to change current setting—how we generate and distribute electricity; built
infrastructure for automobiles—electric and hybrid cars were not easily introduced.
We live under paradigm of buying, using personal cars.
9. Europeans in North America
Hetchy when it became a national spotlight—conservationist vs preservationist split
became more apparent. When Europeans first settled in new world.
Everything affects everything else. Multiple cause, multiple effect. Further shows
limitation of a technological fix: can sometimes completely address/solve one social
and/or technological problem but oftentimes generates a completely new problem or,
at the very least, does not address all the causes; Snyder addresses this in his book.
11. Landscape of human and the natural world
Cronon: Wilderness is not natural—it's also defined by humans. Not productive tothink
of environment as void of humans.
12. Wilderness as the sublime
Cronon. Wilderness is no longer a place of satanic temptation and become instead a
sacred temple, much as it continues to be for those who love it today. Urge to return to
simpler, more primitive living.
13. Pastoral ideal
Leo Marx. People in highly industrialised societies often think that life was better when
everybody lived on a farm and grew their own food. They focus on the absence of
complex social issues and the 'close to nature' lifestyle. Looks at culture that creates the
pastoral ideal. Pastoral was a liminal space between the wilds and the repression of
urban life. Describes two types of pastoralism: one that is popular and sentimental, the
other imagative and complex. Sentimental can be found in expressions for a more
natural life over urban. Sentimental pastoralism is turning away from the present world
with its dilemmas and returning to something simpler. Marx sees this problematic
escapism conceals "the real problems of an industrial civilization." Instead, he wishes to
look to a more activist approach to pastoralism, one that looks to imagining and then
shaping the environment.
14. "machine in the garden"
Leo Marx. Interruption of pastoral scenery by technology due to the industrialization
of America during the 19th and 20th century. Demonstrated by Walden when
whistling sound of a steam locomotive disrupts the natural landscape of Walden Pond.
Marx uses metaphor to illustrate relationship between culture and technology in the
U.S. Claims there is tension between pastoral ideal in America and the rapid and
sweeping transformations wrought by machine technology. Lends to sudden, shocking
intrusion of technology into a pastoral scene.
15. Sleepy Hollow, 1844
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