1 Technology as a Social Concept: reflections from group reading TASED, 6.December.2002

2 What is Technology? things and skills (hardware, software, orgware) a transformer (input  output) symbol/ideology (meanings, identities) sociocultural landscape (laws, customs, etc.) configurations that work knowledge and know-how (engineering, shepherding) standard techniques ways of organizing or mobilizing ways of defining a situation or problem residues or interdependencies that link or constrain choices In other words, not just physical artifacts

3 + = physical arrangements sociocultural arrangements technology as form and concept Not just a physical object What does this mean for Sustainable Development?

4 Co-shaping of Technology and Society ideas, attitudes, behaviors ways of doing Is technology change top-down, bottom-up, or both?

5 Technological Change: many dimensions multi-actor, non-centered process co-evolution of supply and demand technology tenure complementary infrastructure and lock-in fear and uncertainty about paradigm changes ability to deliver desired outcomes What are key factors affecting SD technologies?

6 Technology as Unfolding Process cumulativeness (R&D, adoption) learning and learning gaps (per level of industrialization) transformation of institutions and values creation of complementary infrastructure

7 “[N]ew technology is heavily context dependent, not only because of the learning that has to occur, but also because of the socio- technical linkages and regimes that exist already, and that might be created.” (p.341) “[T]echnological developments and their impacts are multiactor, noncentered processes that are difficult to control by top-down approaches.” “[T]he adoption of novelty is decisive for society, not its introduction. Adoption is an active process, and has elements of innovation itself.” (p.339) “[T]he eventual shape of a technology, the purposes for which it is used, and the way in which it is embedded in society, may be different in five or ten years’ time. How it will look is difficult to predict.” Quotes about Technology

8 Link to SD (Questions a la Alastair) How does technology emerge or get designed for SD purposes? Industry views of how to get the SD technology market? Government intervention? Technology forcing? Demands by citizens and communities for SD features? Designer ideas (if any) for SD? Response to forecast about the future consequences? Opposition to incorporating SD into technologies? Does design for SD require deep reflection on existing notions of development?

9 Technology Niches and (In)Flexibility specialized marketplace (cities for EVs) set of interactive actors/actor network opportunity to study the technical and economic feasibility and impacts facilitate reversible learning and constituency- building Trade-off: as niche technologies grow, they create new regimes. Can flexibility be retained?

10 Some Walk-away Lessons Technology change is more often an endogenous process than a cannonball. Understanding technology adoption requires understanding the context of its development and diffusion (i.e., existing technologies, values, incentives). Actors can play multiple roles: for example, the role of government as facilitator as well as rule- setter.

11 Potential Examples to Discuss Grammeen Bank: challenge to provide a “sustainable” infrastructure Electricity Production: challenge for small- scale projects and renewable technologies amidst existing infrastructure Human Mobility: alternative approaches in light of the current transportation paradigm