Understanding Technology: Beyond Everyday Electronics

According to the lecture presented by Hutchinson in module four, technology is explained as a system as opposed to our everyday electronics. Many individuals today think of technology in the terms of electrical appliances and the everyday uses of electricity. However, we see that technology is much bigger than that. In the book, Ways of Social Change, technology is understood in three ways. First, technology includes knowledge; we must know how to operate certain things, we must know the skills used for operation, and understand routines. Hutchinson simply puts it as knowing “how” to do things. Secondly, we must understand technology as a technique; it is simply knowing the “why” of how we do certain things the way we do. Lastly, technology

In chapter four, the book explains technology as a social phenomenon. “Technology includes a social network of creators, suppliers, adapters, users, and the much larger number of people whose lives it affects” (pg. 140). For us to gain a better understanding of technology as a system we must look at the electrical grid example. In the lecture Hutchinson provides us with the example of the controversy between Edison and Tesla. Edison was the founder of DC electricity – the direct current from batteries, Tesla founded AC electricity – the alternating current. At the time the alternating current was not safe and effective. In Hutchinson’s example of the electric grid, he explains that you can feed power into anywhere and draw power out of it. Electricity is the “underlying technology that makes all other kinds of technology possible because it relies on electric power” (Hutchinson). With the example of Edison and Tesla, today Tesla’s invention became what is used today the AC system. However, Edison is the real winner because of his business sense, he laid down the regulations so to

Corporations feed off of power, money, and competition. “These people and their organizations operate in a network of resources, skills, applications, economic and political supports, and cultural understanding” (pg. 140). When we think of technology as a system we must look at the production aspect of it which include regulations and laws. Companies and corporations are competitors for profit which easily leads to conflict. According to Hutchinson technology as a system cannot be understood without power. To America, technology is everything that makes life easier; we are always using things that allow better quality and faster service. However, America is quick to forget about the underlying aspect of technology. The social nature of technology is emphasized throughout the chapter, including the social content from which new ideas, devices, and skills emerge (Hutchinson). So what does it really take to gain this power? One example I thought was appropriate from the book is on page 140, the railroad. The book goes into detail that the invention of the railroad is much more than just wood, steel, tracks, etc. There is an entire legislation behind the scenes that is creating the funding for the railroad to be functional. This is a perfect example of how corporations and state work in technology systems. Companies are the backers, putting in time, money, experience, development,