TEC154 2010S, Class 02: What is Technology?

Overview:
* Defining "Technology", Revisited
* Weinberg: Can Technology Replace Social Engineering?
* Berry: Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer.
* Florman: Technology and the Tragic View.

Admin:
* I plan to take attendance today, just so I can start to learn your names.
  * It will take a LONG time.  Sorry.
* We'll experiment with this "lecture style" orientation today.
* EC for ...
  * Attending Thursday's Gene Gaub concert, 11 am Herrick. [Academic]
  * Attending Friday's conclusion to support Haiti week. [Misc.]
  * ...
* I have not had a chance to go over all of your responses to assignment 1.  
  I will try by Friday.  
  Make sure that you did both main parts (one about the class, one about you).
  * I did see some comments to the effect that 
      "I have trouble responding to questions on the fly."  
    If I ask you a question, you should feel free to say 
      "Give me a minute to compose an answer."
    You may also talk to me outside of class to help figure out ways for 
    you to more easily contribute.
  * I also saw a question about a comment on programming assignments.  
    That's part of the "The Course Web will undergo revisions."  
    I cut and pasted a lot of the site from elsewhere.
* Most of the reading questions were, in essence, discussion questions.
  That's fine, but I was expecting more clarification questions.
* We'll take a fairly basic approach to today's readings.  (This IS a 
  100-level course.)
* Readings for Friday:  
  Marx [9th/1; 11th/1]
  Pool [9th/2; 11th/2]
  Winner [9th/14; 11th/6].

Technology: Defining the Term
* Berry listed what *good* technology is, but may not have defined the
  term.
  * And really seems to think about technology as "tools"
* Weinberg says that technology is a means to solving social problems.
  * A potential of technology, not really a definition.
* Florman talks about the *process* of technological innovation.
  "I was impressed by this pattern of progress/setback/renewed creative
   effort."
* "Technology" - "I may not bother to define it, but everyone knows what
  I mean."

Weinberg:
* Thesis/Primary Claim: 
  * Technology can replace social engineering ...  to some extent
  * Technology is more effective than social engineering to alleviate
    social problems, at least in the short run.
  * While technology may not be able to replace social engineering,
    it provides a tool for the social engineer, at least for
    short-term solutions.
    * Implied: Social engineers try to solve social problems
* Question: Can social engineers use technology?
  * Yes, they certainly use existing technologies, like TV
  * But do they use innovative technologies, which seems to be part of
    Weinberg's claim
* Okay we have a dichotomy of opinion about the primary claim
  * To some: Technology is a better solution to social problems than
    policy
  * To others: Technology works along with policy to solve problems
  * To others: Technology is a bandage that buys us time to solve
    the problems in other ways
* Where do we see the primary claim?  p. 29 of 9th edition
  "Technology will never replace social engineering.  But technology ..."
* Additional claims:
  * It is difficult to assess when a problem is solved.
* Back to question of new technologies vs. existing technologies of
  tools of the social engineer
  * Lots of focus on nuclear technology.  Is it new or old?
  * Perhaps adaptation of existing technologies.

How does Weinberg serve as a lense for assessing technologies?
* Perhaps he doesn't.  It certainly isn't a good/bad assessment.
* It is a question about potential.
* Can this technology help me solve some social problems, even if that
  was not it's original intent?
  * Or can I at least make a claim that it solves social problems?

Berry
* "I'm not going to buy a computer because it leads to negative things
  and social ills."
* Technology can be immoral.

Lenses:
* His list of ten or so criteria for a new technology
  * Although it may be impossible to meet all of those criteria
* Consider the indirect effects of technology, as well as the direct effects