Understanding Technological Innovation: A Socio-Technical Approach

Description

How do the social sciences address the question of innovation and the relationship between technology and use? This is the core point of this book which examines critically diverse works, in sociology, history, economics and anthropology, in order to formulate a new approach. This reflection is essentially of a general nature, though the cases used to illustrate the analysis are drawn primarily from the field of ICT. Patrice Flichy studies how the socio-technological actions of the different actors, particularly designers and users, are organized within the same frames of reference. He also introduces a new element into the model by demonstrating how time is involved in technological choices. Understanding Technological Innovation will be essential reading for advanced teaching and research training in the fields of science and technology studies, and media and communication studies. Contents Preface Part I: Standard theories 1. From no technology to all technology 2. Technological determinism – social determinism Part II: A socio-technical approach 3. The anthropology of technology: thinking the technological and the social together 4. Socio-technical action and frame of reference Part III: Socio-technical history 5. The time of technology 6. Technological imaginaire 7. The birth of socio-technical frames Conclusion Bibliography Index