Judy Wajcman’s Addressing Technological Change: The Challenge to Social Theory is an illustration on the relationship of technology to modern theories of social, cultural and economic change (Wajcman 350). Social studies of science and technology (STS) developed in the 1970’s and was a direct response to technological determinism, and a new way of understanding society and technology (349). STS believe that technological advancement is capable of being sociologically analysed and explained. Social scientists have seen that technology is shaped social circumstances not just in usage, but in design as well (351). It dismisses the idea that technology is created by technical imperatives; that a technology will triumph because it is intrinsically the best (352). The features of technology are important, however, you first must assess why that specific feature is valued or considered important. STS, shows that social factors affect the selection between technical options, and thus proves that technology is a socio-technical product. Years ago, there was a debate over whether the electric or gas refrigerators were superior, they were equal in performance (352).
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Science, makes technology but it relies heavily on pre-existing technology to help further it. Scientists use super computers to collect data and from there form equations and the sorts. If scientists did not have this technology, a lot of advancements would not have been made. Science is a resource of technological advancements. Technology shapes technology, by providing a basicness that acts as the foundation for further advancement, it is the launching the pad. Technology itself is social, it is created by us and we have social norms, and behaviors, modern day society interaction is heavily shaped by technology. STS focuses on questions such as how we as people create, evaluate, spread, and change scientific and technical
Science, makes technology but it relies heavily on pre-existing technology to help further it. Scientists use super computers to collect data and from there form equations and the sorts. If scientists did not have this technology, a lot of advancements would not have been made. Science is a resource of technological advancements. Technology shapes technology, by providing a basicness that acts as the foundation for further advancement, it is the launching the pad. Technology itself is social, it is created by us and we have social norms, and behaviors, modern day society interaction is heavily shaped by technology. STS focuses on questions such as how we as people create, evaluate, spread, and change scientific and technical