Social Shaping of Technology
We look at the links between the social and the
technical in both directions. In one direction,
technologies impose their own politics on users of
technologies. In the other direction, social
patterns impose themselves in the design and use
of technologies.
Jayden Zullo 305134191 Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
A mobile phone is a long-range, electronic device used for
mobile voice or data communication over a network of
specialized base stations known as cell sites. In addition to the
standard voice function of a mobile phone, telephone, current
mobile phones may support many additional services, and
accessories, such as SMS for text messaging, email, packet
switching for access to the Internet, gaming, Bluetooth,
infrared, camera with video recorder and MMS for sending and
receiving photos and video, MP3 player, radio and GPS.
In 2008 there were 4,100 million mobile cellular subscriptions
in the world. A mobile phone proper typically has a telephone
keypad, more advanced devices have a separate key for each
letter. Some mobile phones have a touchscreen.
-Wikipedia; the free encyclopedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
Nokia 5110
•Display: 5 Line monochrome
•Sound: Monophonic
•Memory: SIM Card Capacity
•Features: SMS, clock, Snake game
•Battery: 3-5 h
•Weight: 170 g
Data sourced from: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_5110-7.php
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
Nokia 3310
•Display: 5 Line monochrome
•Sound: Monophonic, vibration
•Memory: SIM Card Capacity
•Features: Small design, SMS, clock,
Snake game
•Battery: 2 h 30 min to 4 h 30
•Weight: 133 g
Data sourced from: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3310-192.php
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
Nokia 6610i
•Display: 128 x 128 pixels 4096 colours
•Sound: Polyphonic, vibration
•Memory: 4 MB, 500 phonebook
entries
•Features: Small design, SMS, MMS,
clock, games, radio, camera
•Battery: 3 h - 3 h 30 min
•Weight: 87 g Data sourced from: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6610i-742.php
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
Nokia 6110 Navigator
•Display: 240 x 320 pixels 16M colours
•Sound: MP3 quality, vibration
•Memory: 40 MB and 8GB mSD card slot
•Features: SMS, MMS, clock, games,
radio, video-camera, email, GPS,
browser, bluetooth, music player
•Battery: 3 h 30 min
•Weight: 125 g
Data sourced from: http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6110_navigator-1861.php
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Case: The Mobile Telephone
The Future: Iphones, Wristphones and beyond
•Display:
•Sound:
•Memory:
•Features:
•Battery:
•Weight:
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Open Discussion
Name at least one technology that you have a
personal relationship with and try to identify the
different model variants you have owned of it in
the past.
Examples:
•Automobiles •Televisions
•Portable Music Players/Radio •Telephones
•Game Consoles •Household Appliances
•Cameras •Computers
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Open Discussion
Referring to your chosen technology, what
functions do you use the most/least; which new
functions are you most grateful for and which old
functions do you wish they brought back.
Examples:
•Mobile phones: +Smaller size –Software stability
•Cameras: +Digital storage –Lack of physical film storage
•Automobiles: +Remote central locking –Warning bells
•Music Players: +All music in one –Less focus on one band
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Open Discussion
Looking forward to the future, what problems do you
currently have with your technology and what process
do you think will be taken to fix them. What more
could you add to your technology to make it more
useful/efficient.
Examples:
•Television: 2D image, hologram display the future
•Telephones: Still an object, integration with the human body
•Appliances: Power issues, wireless appliances
•Computers: More sensory engagement, touch screen standard
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland

Open Discussion
Is your technology fast replacing another or is it in
threat of being replaced by another?
Examples:
•Watch > Mobile Phone
•Camera > Mobile Phone
•Laptop > Mobile Phone
•Portable Music Player/Radio > Mobile Phone
•Mobile Phone > ??
ARIN 2600 – Social Shaping - Jayden Zullo 305134191; Kathy Cleland