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Glossary STIS

Sustainable Technology in Society: Introduction (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven)

Studeersnel wordt niet gesponsord of ondersteund door een hogeschool of universiteit

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Glossary Sustainable technology

Week 1:
Sociotechnical system: a system in which processes cross disciplinary boundaries
System builder: an individual or organization that molds and align technical and non-technical elements,
building a sociotechnical system. They typically do so by identifying and articulating critical problems in
the system, no matter if the problems are of technical or non-technical nature. The inventor needs to
overcome obstructions that stem for multiple disciplines.
Transdisciplinary problem solving: identifying technical and non-technical reverse salient (elements that
lag behind and restrain total system development) and translate these into critical problems that may be
solved. This strategy crosses many disciplinary boundaries, thus creating a holistic approach.
Momentum: the apparent autonomy of mature large technical systems, resisting pressures for change.
This physics metaphor suggests a “mass” (in terms of interrelated technical and non-technical elements)
traveling with a certain “speed” in a certain “direction” (e.g. geographical expansion or scale increase). If
mature large technical systems are characterized by a large momentum and resist change, only extreme
external conditions
External shock: extreme external conditions (warfare, oil crises, and government interference) may
change the development trajectory.
Building visions: all main stakeholders agree to work towards a collective goal (Sustainable Development
Goals)
Building counter systems (niches): creating spaces where new systems can be invented or grow,
protected from the established system until they are able to compete.
Black box: the content and consequences of technologies are seen to be common knowledge
Sociotechnical progress: all the important components need to be in alignment in order to make the
innovation successful. The solution of a problem often needs changes in the design or embodiment of
the innovation.

Week 2:
Social constructivism is a sociological theory of knowledge according to which human development is
socially situated and knowledge is constructed through interaction with others
Conventional approach: development of science and technology follows linear, orderly and predictable
process from basic research to applied research and marketing. The technology and the process it went
through is not studied, which leads to an asymmetrical focus to study only successful innovations. The
manifest success of an artefact is often taken as evidence so that no further explanatory work seems to
be needed.
SCOT approach: method of describing technological artefacts by focusing upon the meanings given to
them by relevant social groups. In this approach the success of an artefact is not an intrinsic value but
the result of a process of social construction and there is room for social and political interventions. The
development of a technology is seen as the alternation between variation and selection.
Empirical: derived or guided by experiment or experience, depending on experience or observation
alone, without using a scientific method or theory
Relevant social group: organized and unorganized groups of individuals that share the same set
Interpretive flexibility: there is nothing in principle that cannot be disputed, negotiated or reinterpreted

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– in short, become the subject of a controversy. Social groups can interpret technology in different ways
due to different understandings and logical thinking. Thus the meaning of technology is not pre-given
but socially constructed by designers and the users of the technology.
Problem and solution: social groups encounter problems with an artefact and can have different
solutions in mind to solve the problem: results in a range of designs
Closure: at some point social groups align in their meanings, leading to the diminishing of interpretative
flexibility: the range of designs eventually narrows down to one main design. The metaphor is forming a
“black box”. As a social process, closure may frequently involve the creating or restructuring of power
relationships.
Stabilizations occurs when and if a social group and an artefact meld together.
Rhetorical closure: a controversy ends not when a neat solution emerges but when relevant social
groups perceive that the problem is solved  rhetorical claim that the problem has “disappeared”
Closure through redefinition: evaluation of problem/solution changes: design is seen as the solution for
more than one problem. An artefact stabilized incompletely by one social group is stabilized more
completely through association with a larger or more powerful social group.

Week 3:
Packages: the task of constructing meaning over time, incorporating new events into their interpretive
frames.
Frame: schema of interpretation: the central organizing idea used to make sense of our own
observations and experiences, and through which we filter new information and knowledge we acquire.
They place us in specific roles in relation to the technologies and predefine positive or negative attitudes
towards these technologies. Every actor, depending on the narrative they use, relates to a frame.
Narrative: the way language is used to describe a situation. It loads the concept with a particular
meaning, drawing on frames.
Discourse: use of language in the form of a discussion, “truth” is constructed and with that morals are
implicitly told. It can be seen as a culture that evolves and changes over time, providing interpretations
and meanings for relevant events.
Context: the broader field from where arguments are taken (social, political).
Frame alignment: people agree on social frames
Politicization: the expansion of private problems, becoming larger, multi-actors problems, leading to
politicians being forced to make regulations. With the politicization of the narratives one gets a clearer
view on the cultural context in which the narratives are embedded. The context and politicization
describe the validity of the argument.

Example: the author of the book Silent spring was worried about the intensive use of pesticides being
detrimental for the environment and the biodiversity. She used a powerful narrative accusing the
chemical industry of spreading disinformation and public officials of accepting
industry claims unquestioningly. The book spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy, led to a
nationwide ban on some chemicals for agricultural uses, and inspired an environmental movement.

Week 4
Moral Values: are the standards by which we define right and wrong
Technological determinism: a reductionist theory that assumes that a technology determines the
development of its social structure and cultural values. This shows an one-dimensional view of
technological development, as it implies that a technology acts independently and that there is an easy
cause and effect relationship within socio technological systems.

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Classical engineering assumption: humans have values, technologies are neutral tools and ethics
determine how these are used.
Politics of Artifacts: certain technologies are political phenomena in their own right. Artefacts can be
highly political in the way they settle a political issue intentionally or unintentionally or suggesting or
requiring a certain type of power relations strongly compatible with a political structure. A given device
might have been designed and built in such a way that it produces a set of consequences logically and
temporally prior to any of its professed uses. Technologies can be used in ways that enhance the power,
authority, and privilege of some over others. In that sense technological innovations are similar to
legislative acts or political foundings that establish a framework for public order that will endure over
many generations.
Intentional: the designer intends to influence the political structures and power relationships with its
artefact
Ex. Moses’ bridges designed strong, low overpasses in New York. There is some plausibility: busses could
not pass, excluding some people from the island. This can be seen as an in-built political aim to keep
black and white people segregated
Unintentional: the design contains characteristics that are in favour with certain social interests.
Ex. The revolving door was designed to keep the warmth inside the building. However, some groups
were filtered out, as they could not enter.
Authoritative structure: requires authoritative decision making and strict regulations
Democratic structure: decentralized in technical and political sense.
Scripts: artifacts can be inscribed, they can prescribe the actions of the actors involved, it can evoke
certain kinds of behavior. This makes the value of an artifact more than just if it is functional.
Ex. Speed bump makes you drive slower.
Ex. Safety belt sign makes you put on your safety belt.
Ex. Plastic coffee cup, you throw away after one use
Mismatch: the intended usage and real usage might differ

Week 5
Inscription: Designers can inscribe scrips in artefacts, to evoke certain behavior.
Description: The interpretation and appropriation of a technology by its users.Users are always free to
use an artifact how they like. Some artefacts can be used differently than intended or ‘descripted’.
Ex.
Delegation: Designers delegate specific responsibilities to artefacts.
Ex. The seat belt sign and sound is getting a responsibility to get a driver to put on its seatbelt -> drivers’
safety
‘Ready-to-hand’: Tools that are used for doing something typical withdraw from people’s attention.
Ex. Glasses, you don’t notice you are wearing them
‘Present-at-hand’: Only when an artifact malfunctions or breaks down, it asks for attention again.
Ex. Glasses in the rain/ when they fog up or when they break, suddenly you notice you are wearing them
Mediation: Technological artifacts are not neutral but actively co-shape people’s being in the world:
their perceptions, actions, experiences and existence. There are two kinds of mediation that we identify.

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Mediation of perception: How artifact mediate human experiences and interpretations of reality.
Artifact become extensions of the human body. The artifact itself is not of much attention, but it changes
how we perceive our surroundings. It transforms the perception.
Ex. Glasses, helps getting a clear look on the world for people who need them.
Ex. Thermometer, gives a representation of reality on the temperature.
Ex. Microscope, helps us see things, that the naked eye can’t.
Ex. Ultrasound, gives a view of fetuses in the womb.
Amplification- Reduction: Amplifies some aspects and reduces others.
Ex. Infrared camera: most aspects visible to the naked eye gets lost when looking through it, but new
aspects become visible.
Technological intentionality: Technologies have intentions, they are not neutral instruments but play an
active role in the human-world relationship.
Ex.?
Multistability: A technology can have several stabilities, depending on the way it is embedded in a use
context.
Ex. Typewriter and telephone were introduced to help the blind and hard of hearing to type and hear.
But in their use contexts, they were interpreted differently.
Mediation of action: how artifacts mediate people’s actions and the way they live their lives. It
translates the action.
Ex. Speed bump, will make you slow down.
Ex. Revolving doors make it a lot more difficult for people with disabilities to enter a building.
Ex. A gun mediates action from a ready-to-hand position, translating “express my anger” or “take
revenge” into “kill that person”.
Invitation-inhibition: Specific actions are invited and others are discouraged.
Ex. An hourglass for in the shower, invites you to shower for a smaller period of time.
Ex. A tourniquet at a subway station inhibits (or at least discourages) you to enter without scanning your
ticket.

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