2. -ARE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND FRAMEWORKS THAT
EXPLAIN HOW TECHNOLOGY SHAPES SOCIETY AND HOW SOCIETY
SHAPES TECHNOLOGY.
-THE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF THEORIES OF TECHNOLOGY
INCLUDE:
TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY
ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY
POSTMODERNISM
CRITICAL THEORY
3. THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT TECHNOLOGY DRIVES
SOCIAL CHANGE AND DETERMINES THE WAY SOCIETY IS
ORGANIZED. IT HOLDS THAT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ARE
THE PRIMARY DRIVERS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
4. THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS SHAPED
BY SOCIAL FORCES AND VALUES, AND THAT IT IS NOT A
NEUTRAL OR INEVITABLE FORCE. ACCORDING TO THIS
THEORY, TECHNOLOGIES ARE CREATED AND ADOPTED IN
RESPONSE TO SOCIETAL NEEDS AND VALUES.
5. THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT AN
INDEPENDENT FORCE, BUT RATHER EMERGES FROM COMPLEX
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN HUMANS AND NON-HUMAN ACTORS, SUCH
AS MACHINES, SOFTWARE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. ACCORDING TO
THIS THEORY, TECHNOLOGIES ARE SHAPED BY THE SOCIAL
NETWORKS OF PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT MAKE THEM POSSIBLE.
6. THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE
REALITY, AND THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD IS
SHAPED BY LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER. IN THE
CONTEXT OF TECHNOLOGY, POSTMODERNISM SUGGESTS
THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DIGITAL TOOLS IS SHAPED BY
THE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC FRAMEWORKS IN WHICH
THEY ARE USED.
7. THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT SOCIAL STRUCTURES, SUCH AS POWER AND
OPPRESSION, SHAPE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, AND THAT SOCIAL
CHANGE CAN BE ACHIEVED BY CHALLENGING THOSE STRUCTURES. IN THE
CONTEXT OF TECHNOLOGY, CRITICAL THEORY SUGGESTS THAT OUR DIGITAL
TOOLS ARE SHAPED BY POWER RELATIONS, SUCH AS THOSE BETWEEN USERS AND
COMPANIES, AND THAT CHALLENGING THOSE POWER STRUCTURES CAN LEAD TO
MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST USE OF TECHNOLOGY.
8. TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM ARGUES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS THE
PRIMARY DRIVER OF SOCIAL CHANGE, WHILE THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
OF TECHNOLOGY ARGUES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS SHAPED BY SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL FACTORS. ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY HIGHLIGHTS THE
COMPLEX SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS THAT SHAPE TECHNOLOGY.
POSTMODERNISM SUGGESTS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS SUBJECTIVE AND
SHAPED BY CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC FRAMEWORKS. CRITICAL THEORY
EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRUTINIZING TECHNOLOGY'S USE TO
PREVENT PERPETUATING DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUALITY.
Editor's Notes
These theories help us understand the complex relationship between technology and society and the ways in which technology is used, designed, and developed.
it argues that technology is the primary driver of social change.
Examples of this include the Industrial Revolution, the rise of internet and social media, and the impact of smartphones on our daily lives.
Social media is an example of this theory as it has transformed the way we communicate and socialize.
Examples of Actor-Network Theory include the development of smart cities that integrate various technologies such as sensors, cameras, and data analytics.
another example: the development of self-driving cars is an example of actor-network theory as the technology is shaped by the interactions between humans, machines and infrastructure and that these interactions are constantly evolving.
Examples of postmodernism include the use of memes in online communication, where the meaning of a meme can change depending on the cultural background of the user.
another example: the use of emojis in digital communication, as the meaning of emojis can vary based on the context in which they are used and the cultural background of the user.
These theories offer unique perspectives on the role of technology in society and can inform the design, development, and use of technology in a more exclusive, equitable, and sustainable way.
By understanding these theories, we can better understand how technology shapes our world and make informed decisions about how to use it.
