SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
& SOCIETY { “STS” }
“ STILL INITIAL DRAFT ONLY “
WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOK -
“ DOES TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ? – THE DILEMMA OF
TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINATION ”
BY
MERRITT ROE SMITH & LEO MARX,
EDITORS
FRANK J. GADEK, PH.D.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
COPYRIGHT F. GADEK
01/04/2010
1
1994 MIT, 280 PAGES
ISBN 0-262-69167-1
IT IS MORE OF A PHILOSOPHY
TYPE BOOK
COMPARED TO THE VERY
FACTUAL BOOKS BY HEADRICK
& OTHRS
SUCH AN APPROACH WAS MISSING
IN MY DECADES OF STS RESEARCH,
SO I INCLUDED IT NOW
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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13 ESSAYS EXPLORE THIS CRUCIAL HISTORICAL
QUESTION
DOES SOCIETY’S TECHNOLOGY DETERMINE ITS –
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC & CULTURAL
FORMS ?
BUT GENERALLY, TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT AUTONOMOUS,
BUT SOCIAL PRODUCTS, SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEMOCRATIC
CONTROLS
BUT TECHNOLOGY IS CERTAINLY “AN AGENT OF CHANGE”
IN SOCIETY
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I HAVE INCLUDED CHAPTER NUMBERS, SINCE THEY DID NOT,
FOLLOWED BY THE CHAPTER TITLE, FIRST PAGE
NUMBER, AUTHOR [S]
THESE CAN GIVE YOU SOME OF THE “FLAVOR” OF THE BOOK
INTRODUCTION - IX - LEO MARX & MERRITT ROE SMITH
CHAPTER 1 – TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM IN AMERICAN
CULTURE - 1 - MERRITT ROE SMITH
CHAPTER 2 – RECOURSE OF EMPIRE: LANDSCAPES OF
PROGRESS IN TECHNOLOGICAL AMERICA – 37 –
MICHAEL L. SMITH
CHAPTER 3 – DO MACHINES MAKE HISTORY ? – 53 –
ROBERT L. HEILBRONER
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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CHAPTER 4 – TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM REVISITED
- 67 – ROBERT HEILBRONER
CHAPTER 5 – THREE FACES OF TECHNOLOGICAL
DETERMINISM – 79 – BRUCE BIMBER
CHAPTER 6 – TECHNOLOGICAL MEMENTUM – 101 –
THOMAS P. HUGHES
CHAPTER 7 – RETRIEVING SOCIOTECHNICAL CHANGE
FROM TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINATION – 115 –
THOMAS J. MISA
CHAPTER 8 – DETERMINISM AND INDETERMINACY IN THE
HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY – 143 – PHILIP SCRANTON
CHAPTER 9 -
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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THEY USE THE FOLLOWING QUOTE A LOT WITH
RESPECT TO THE DEBATE ON DETERMINISM –
KARL MARX –
“THE HAND-MILL GIVES YOU SOCIETY WITH
THE FEUDAL LORD
THE STEAMMILL, SOCIETY WITH
THE INDUSTRIAL CAPITALIST”
IT REMINDS US OF HOW OUR FAST-CHANGING
TECHNOLOGIES WILL ALTER OUR LIVES
[BACK COVER]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
SO MANY OF US HAVE
“DIRECT FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE”
WITH COMPUTERS
AND
HOW THEY HAVE SO DRAMATICALLY
CHANGED OUR LIVES IN SO MANY
WAYS
EVEN FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT
USE COMPUTERS !
[P#IX]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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BUT IS TECHNOLOGY AN INDEPENDENT
ENTITY, A VIRTUAL AUTONOMOUS AGENT
OF CHANGE ?
ARE THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR
TECHNICAL INGENUITY FAR- REACHING,
CUMULATIVE, MUTUALLY REINFORCING
& IRREVERSIBLE ?
DO INVENTIONS TAKE ON “A LIFE OF THEIR OWN” ?
DO WHOLE NETWORKS OF SYSTEMS BECOME
INDISPENSIBLE FOR THE ECONOMY & BECOME
A PRECONDITION FOR REPRODUCTION OF
THE ENTIRE SOCIAL ORDER ?
IF YES, THIS CAN BE CONSIDERED A
DETERMINISTIC VIEW
[P#XI]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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REDEFINED TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM –
HUMAN TENDENCY TO CREATE A KIND
OF SOCIETY THAT INVESTS TECHNOLOGIES
WITH ENOUGH POWER TO DRIVE HISTORY
HUMANITY’S CHOICE OF ITS FUTURE –
EXPRESSION OF FREEDOM
OR
EXPRESSION OF NECESSITY
A DILEMMA
WHY THEY DECIDED TO PRESENT THESE ESSAYS –
TO ELUCIDATE THESE ISSUES & DILEMMA
NOTE – TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IS NOT JUST
A WESTERN ENDEAVOUR ANY LONGER,
BUT IS GLOBAL
[P#XIV]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TWO EXTREME FORMS OF DETERMINISTIC VIEW –
HARD & SOFT
HARD – TECHNOLOGY ITSELF LEADS TO INESCAPABLE
NECESSITY
PERMIT FEW ALTERNATIVES
BUT NOT AN ORGANIZED INSTITUTION
BUT SO FAR, TECHNOLOGY IS STILL CONTROLLED
BY HUMANS – WILL THIS CONTINUE?
SINGLE CAUSE FOR GENESIS OF PRESUMED
DETERMINATIVE POWER OF TECHOLOGICAL
INNOVATION
OPTIMIST – FUTURE IS OUTCOME OF MANY
FREE CHOICES & REALIZATION
OF THE DREAM OF PROGRESS
PESSIMIST – PRODUCT OF NECESSITY’S IRON
HAND & POINTS TO A TOTALITARIAN
NIGHTMARE
[P#XII]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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NOTE – THE MOVIES 2001 & 2010 & THE NOVELS BY
ARTHUR C. CLARKE {SP} THEY ARE BASED ON –
EXPLORE THE AREAS OF
COMPUTERS TAKING OVER & LIFE
IN OUTER SPACE, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN
OUR KNOWN LIFE FORMS
AS THIS IS BEING WRITTEN BY ME, WE
ARE IN THE FIRST DAYS OF 2010 !
CERTAINLY COMPUTERS CONTINUE TO CONTROL
MORE OF OUR LIVES ALL THE TIME
REPORTS OF “STRANGE HAPPENINGS”
[EXTRATERRESTRIALS ?] ON OUR
PLANET HAVE CONTINUED
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SOFT – HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY IS
HISTORY OF HUMAN ACTIONS
HUMAN ACTORS INVOLVED
MANY CAUSES
WHY DID THEY DO IT & NOT OTHERS?
WHY THEN & IN THAT PLACE?
WHO BENEFITED / SUFFERED?
TECHNOLOGY LOCATED IN MORE
VARIOUS, COMPLEX SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC, POLITICAL &
CULTURAL MATRIX - WHICH
SEEMS MORE PLAUSIBLE
[P#XIII]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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MY “PRESENT TAKE” ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY [STS]
BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION, POSITIONS,
RESEARCH, ETC.
IT MAY BE TOO SIMPLISTIC TO TRY TO CATEGORIZE “ALL” OF STS
INTO JUST ONE OR A FEW SPECIFIC APPROACHES
THIS CAN BE SIMILAR TO SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT
EVEN JUST THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD – IT IS JUST A BASIC
STATIC DETAILED “ROADMAP” FOR MAKING DISCOVERIES
ABOUT NATURE – THIS IS FAR FROM WHAT IS INVOLVED,
BUT SOME MAY LOOK AT IT IN THIS VERY SIMPLISTIC
WAY
WITH THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS & HOW THEY BECAME SUCCESSFUL,
IT WOULD SEEM THAT ONE PARTICULAR “WAY” TO DO
ALL THIS WOULD BE A VERY SUSPECT
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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STS HAS COMPONENTS OF ALL 3 AREAS - SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY &
SOCIETY COMPONENTS
IN SOME STS AREAS, ONE OR MORE OF THESE COMPONENTS
MAY DOMINATE OR BE OF MINOR CONTRIBUTION
LIKE WITH THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD – THERE IS BOTH ART & SCIENCE
INVOLVED, AS THERE IS WITH HUMANITIES & OTHER AREAS
OF KNOWLEDGE
THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER AREAS OF ENDEAVOUR
ULTIMATELY, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT & DIVERSE AREAS
OF KNOWLEDGE & EXPLORATION INVOLVED IN
HUMAN ENDEAVORS
SOME MAY BE OF MORE IMPORTANCE & USE THAN
OTHERS, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC ENDEAVOR
INVOLVED.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC AND / OR
TECHNOLOGY, MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE
MAY BE INVOLVED, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF IMPORTANCE
EACH SCIENTIFIC / TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT MAY
OCCUR BY ITS OWN UNIQUE COMBINATION OF BOTH
SCIENCE & ART, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER FACTORS –
TIMING, LUCK, FUNDING, SOCIETAL CLIMATE / NEEDS /
DEVELOPMENT AT THAT TIME, ETC.
INSPIRATION & PERSPIRATION
THERE IS NO ONE DETAILED ROADMAP TO FOLLOW FOR
SUCCESS IN ALL OF THE SO DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE MIGHT BE OSBORNE’S
“HYPERGROWTH” TO DESCRIBE THE EARLY
DAYS OF PORTABLE, PERSONAL COMPUTERS
[PPC’S]
SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY OF COMPUTING WAS
PROGRESSING AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS
CONSUMER DEMAND WAS MORE THAN ANYONE
HAD IMAGINED
HOW TO TRY TO BEST MEET THESE CHALLENGES ?
NO ONE HAD EVER EXPERIENCED IT IN THE PAST
THERE WERE NO MODELS / GUIDELINES / ETC.
SOME OPTION WORKED & SOME DID NOT – NONE WORKED
FOR VERY LONG – THINGS WERE CONTINUALLY CHANGING SO
DRAMATICALLY & SO FAST
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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HOW DID ALL OF THIS COMPUTING START ?
THERE ARE MANY DIVERSE FACTORS –
TEENAGERS WORKING UNSUPERVISED
IN GARAGES & THEIR BEDROOMS
NEED OF SOCIETY TO BETTER MANAGE
THEIR WORLD
BUSINESS NEEDING TO GET INTO NEW
AREAS TO REMAIN PROFITABLE
DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRONICS
TIMING / LUCK / HARD WORK / PERSISTENCE
ENTREPRENURIAL & STRUCTURED OPTIONS
ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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ANY OF THESE FACTORS COULD BE MISSING,
BUT THE PROGRESS OF COMPUTING WOULD
JUST BE DELAYED, NOT STOPPED
OTHER FACTORS COULD INHIBIT OR FOSTER
PROGRESS IN COMPUTING & THEY DID, BUT
THEY COULD NOT PREVENT IT
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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THERE ARE TANGIBLE & “HARD” FACTORS
INVOLVED – IMPROVED MANUFACTURING
OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
WITH THE NEED TO PRODUCTIVELY INVEST THEIR GROWING
PROFITS, ETC.
BUT THERE WERE ALSO VERY INTANGIBLE
& “SOFT” FACTORS – IDEALISM, CURIOSITY,
OPPORTUNITY, ETC.
“NOBODY TOLD THEM IT COULD NOT
BE DONE” – THE UNKNOWN TO BE EXPLORED
“SOMEBODY SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE”
- A CHALLENGE
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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ALAN KAY, OF EARLY COMPUTER FAME,
HAD TWO VERY OPPOSITE QUOTES
THAT ARE APPROPRIATE IN MANY WAYS –
“TO PREDICT THE FUTURE – PREVENT IT”
REGRESSIVE, FEAR OF FUTURE,
NOT WANTING TO CHANGE, ETC.
“TO PREDICT THE FUTURE – INVENT IT”
PROGRESSIVE, EMBRACE FUTURE,
DESIRING CHANGE, ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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THE FAMOUS QUOTE BY MANY –
“ONLY CHANGE IS CONSTANT !”
IT WILL HAPPEN, NO MATTER
WHO & WHAT IS DONE
IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
SOONER OR LATER
BUT IT WILL HAPPEN
SO WHY NOT PREPARE FOR IT
& “JUST DO IT ?”
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SO OVERALL, TO TRY TO PREDICT / ANTICIPATE
SPECIFIC STS DEVELOPMENTS IS VERY DIFFICULT,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
VARIABLES
HOWEVER, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT STS & HOW
IT OPERATES, YOU CAN BETTER MANAGE WHATEVER
STS DEVELOPS, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL
LIFE
STS IS HERE & IT IS NOT GOING AWAY
SO JUST DEAL WITH IT
DEVELOP MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF STS & THE
MANY ISSUES INVOLVED SO YOU CAN DEVISE AN
APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT PLAN
GOOD LUCK – WE WILL ALL NEED IT !
WE HAVE SURVIVED SO FAR & HOPEFULLY THIS SUCCESS
WILL CONTINUE
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SCHEMATIC / DIAGRAM OF HOW THIS TOPIC
FITS INTO MY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY &
SOCIETY { “ STS “ } DECADES OF RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SMALL & SHORT BOOK OF ONLY 221 PAGES
BUT PACKED WITH VERY INSIGHTFUL DETAILS
OF JUST HOW IMPERIALISTIC EMPIRES
WERE FOSTERED BY NEW TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 1800’S
SUCCESS OF SUCH IMPERIALISM / COLONIALISM
CREATED MANY SERIOUS ISSUES IN THE 1900’S,
INCLUDING WORLD WARS.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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AS WITH ALL MY PRESENTATIONS –
YOU SHOULD DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH
ON SUCH TOPICS
IT IS SO EASY TODAY WITH THE INTERNET
YOU CAN THEN FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS
ESPECIALLY ABOUT VERY CONTROVERSIAL
& LESS THAN CLEAR GLOBAL ISSUES –
PAST & PRESENT
PLEASE SHARE YOUR RESEARCH RESULTS
WITH THE REST OF US SO WE CAN ALL
BENEFIT
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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I FEEL MY FUNCTION IS –
TO ALERT YOU TO VERY FASCINATING
HISTORICAL EVENTS
TO STIMULATE YOU FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION
HELP YOU DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH
SO YOU CAN FORM YOUR OWN VIEWS
ON THESE EVENTS
POSSIBLY PRESENT CERTAIN ASPECTS
IN NEW & DIFFERENT WAYS OF “THINKING”
ABOUT SUCH “ STS “ [SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
& SOCIETY] DEVELOPMENTS FROM MY
VERY UNIQUE & DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE
BASED ON MY PAST EDUCATION, POSITIONS,
TRAINING, EXPERIENCES, RESEARCH, ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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IN ANY EVENT –
BY NO MEANS AM I ANY KIND OF “EXPERT”
THERE ARE MANY VIEWS TO MANY EVENTS
IN HISTORY
IT IS THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF INTERPRETATIONS
OF THESE EVENTS BY HUMANITY THAT WE MAY GET
TO A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THE “REAL” TRUTH
OF SUCH COMPLEX MATTERS, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE
BY SHARING SUCH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, WE MAY
GAIN A BETTER APPRECIATION OF “ STS “ IN GENERAL
SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT BETTER & MANAGE IT
BETTER IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, FOR THE BENEFIT
OF ALL
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY { STS }
BUT CONTINUED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENTS PROVIDED NEW MEANS
TO SUCCESSFULLY OVERCOME THESE
INHIBITORS & TO DO IT ECONOMICALLY
THUS, AT LEAST SOME AREAS OF SOCIETY
BENEFITED, BUT OTHER AREAS DID NOT
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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CONTINUED “INDUSTRIALIZATION”
{ INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CONTINUES }
OF EUROPEAN CONTRIES PROVIDED MUCH PROGRESS
BUT REQUIRED INCREASING –
AMOUNTS OF RAW MATERIALS
MANUFACTURE OF GOODS
MARKETS FOR GOODS PRODUCED
TRANSPOTATION TO MARKETS
SOPHISTICATED MANAGEMENT / FINANCES
MILITARY TO PROTECT INTERESTS
ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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BUT SOCIETY BOTH BENEFITED &
SUFFERED IN MANY COMPLEX WAYS
–
MODERN DEVELOPMENTS IMPROVED CERTAIN
ASPECTS
BUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE AND / OR
TIMELY FOR SOCIETIES / CULTURES OF CERTAIN
REGIONS
IMPERIALISM / COLONIALISM JINGOISM – NATIONALISM / PATRIOTISM
RACISM
FASCINATION WITH MACHINERY OVER PEOPLE
ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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EACH OF THESE AREAS CAN BE
EXPLORED IN GREAT DETAIL &
COMPLEXITY
MANY SOPHISTICATED
INTERACTIONS / RELATIONSHIPS
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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THE SIMPLE, BASIC HUMAN –
SPIRIT
CULTURE
BELIEFS
LIFE STYLE
TRADITION
ETC.
CAN RESIST MODERN INFLUENCE
IN THE LONG TERM !
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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IN ESSENCE,
TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
LIKE DARWINISM
BUT ‘SOCIETY” CERTAINLY HAS
HAD A BIG EFFECT ON SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
SO THERE IS HOPE THAT HUMANITY
-SOCIETY – CAN ULTIMATELY CONTROL
-& BETTER MANAGE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
FOR THE OVERALL BETTERMENT OF MANKIND!
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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IN A GROSS SIMPLIFICATION –
SOCIETY / PEOPLE – “EVERYDAY LIFESTLES”
DRAMATICALLY CHANGED BY
POWERFUL PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF
TECHNOLOGY
SOCIETY / PEOPLE “VALUES / BELIEFS / CULTURE”
NOT BASICALLY CHANGED BY
POWERFUL PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SO DESPITE THE GREAT POWER OF TECHNOLOGY
EXERCISED BY SO MANY FOR SO LONG HUMANS ARE STILL IN ULTIMATE CONTROL
BUT FOR HOW LONG ???
CAN THIS ALWAYS BE THE CASE ???
HOW CAN IT BE INSURED TO CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE
IN THE FUTURE ?
WHAT CAN CAUSE IT TO NOT BE THE CASE IN THE FUTURE?
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SOCIAL HISTORY OF TECHOLOGY TRIES TO
UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES, DEVELOPMENTS
& CONSEQUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY
CONTEXT MUST BE CONSIDERED, NOT JUST
“PHYSICAL” TECHNOLOGIES
[P#4]
THIS IS WHAT “STS” IS ALL ABOUT !!!
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SOCIETY
SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY
ALL INTERCONNECTED IN
MANY DIVERSE / COMPLEX
WAYS
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SOME MULTIPLE & DEBATEABLE CAUSES OF
NINTEENTH CENTURY IMPERIALISM –
POLITICS
RIVALRIES
NAVAL STRATEGY
INSTABILITY OF IMPERIAL FRONTIERS
DIVERT PUBLIC FROM DOMESTIC ISSUES
GROUP PRESSURE ON DECISION MAKING
ECONOMICS
RAW MATERIAL NEEDS
SECURE MARKETS
INVESTMENTS
ETC.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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BUT A COMMON UNDERLYING ELEMENT –
MOTIVATION OF IMPERIALISTS
IMPERIAL = REGAL, ROYAL, IMPOSING,
MAJESTIC, GRAND, COLONIAL, ETC.
IMPERIALISM = MILITARY / POLITICAL
CONQUEST
[P#6]
WHY DID THEY WANT TO EXTEND THEIR
INFLUENCE TO OTHERS
BUT COULD THEY DO THIS? DID THEY
HAVE THE MEANS? WAS IT FEASIBLE?
[P#5]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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NATURALLY, THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER
FACTORS BESIDES JUST TECHNOLOGY THAT
LED TO THE PENETRATION & CONQUEST OF
THESE NEW GLOBAL AREAS
EVENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF MANY FACTORS
COMING TO CLOSURE - E.G., TIMING, MATURATION,
NEW SOCIETAL NEEDS, “TIPPING POINT,” MULTIPLIER
EFFECTS, ETC.
BUT TECHNOLOGY / INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
HAS A CENTRAL ROLE
[P#8]
HISTORY RESULTS FROM INTERACTION OF
HUMAN DECISIONS
[P#9]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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ME –
SOCIETY [PEOPLE / HUMANS - LIVING] MAKE IT HAPPEN
SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY [NON-LIVING] PROVIDE THE
MEANS THAT CAN BE CHOSEN / USED
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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MANY CAUSES FOR AN EVENT
ALWAYS DEBATABLE ON ORDER
OF IMPORTANCE OF EACH
BUT CAUSES INVOLVE BOTH MOTIVES & MEANS
THEY ARE CONNECTED
NEED APPROPRIATE MOTIVES
ADEQUATE MEANS
IF NEITHER OR BOTH ARE NOT SUFFICIENT,
EVENT NOT SUCCESSFUL
[P#9-10]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TWO FACTORS –
WHAT CAN BE DONE WILL BE DONE
WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY
ONE CAN INFLUENCE THE OTHER
FIND A USE FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY
FIND NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR A USE
EITHER CAN COME FIRST
OR
BOTH CAN HAPPEN ABOUT THE SAME TIME
{CHICKEN / EGG ISSUE}
[P#10]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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BOTH MEANS & MOTIVES
CAN CHANGE & INTERACT
TO FAVOR AN EVENT
REALISTICALLY HAPPENING
THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
IN THE PAST
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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SO BASICALLY, THIS BOOK AIMS TO OPEN NEW
VISTAS & PROVOKE FRESH THINKING
BY ADDING THE TECHNOLOGICAL
DIMENSION TO THE LIST OF FACTORS
INVOLVED WITH IMPERIALISM
[P#12]
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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AND SO IT GOES !
WHAT IS NEXT ?
WHO KNOWS ?
BUT AS PASTEUR SAID –
“ CHANCE FAVORS THE PREPARED MIND ! “
OUR SO SUCCESSFUL & PRODUCTIVE
CAREERS & LIVES HAVE PREPARED US
WELL FOR THE OUR NEXT PHASE IN LIFE
LIFE IS RARELY DULL !
ALL THE BEST ALWAYS !
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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TO BE CONTINUED AS
INTEREST &
RESOURCES PERMIT
JUST LET ME KNOW !
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
HISTORY ?
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