1300 187 187
This book crystallizes and extends the important work Wiebe Bijker has done in the last decade to found a full-scale theory of sociotechnical change that describes where technologies come from and how societies deal with them. "Of Bicycles, Bakelites, and Bulbs" integrates detailed case studies with theoretical generalizations and political analyses to offer a fully rounded treatment both of the relations between technology and society and of the issues involved in sociotechnical change. The stories of the the safety bicycle, the first truly synthetic plastic, and the fluorescent light bulb - each a fascinating case study in itself - reflect a cross section of time periods, engineering and scientific disciplines, and economic, social, and political cultures. The bicycle story explores such issues as the role of changing gender relationships in shaping a technology; the Bakelite story examines the ways in which social factors intrude even in cases of seemingly pure chemistry and entrepreneurship; and the fluorescent bulb story offers insights into the ways in which political and economic relationships can affect the form of a technology. Bijker's method is to use these case studies to suggest theoretical concepts that serve as building blocks in a more and more inclusive theory, which is then tested against further case studies. His main concern is to create a basis for science, technology, and social change that uncovers the social roots of technology, making it amenable to democratic politics. "Inside Technology series"
"Bijker has provided a useful text demonstrating the advantages ofopening up technological phenomena to relativist inquiry...a valuablecontribution to the important goal of redefining the relation betweenthe technical and the nontechnical." Steve Woolgar , New Scientist
| Acknowledgments | |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| King of the Road: The Social Construction of the Safety Bicycle | p. 19 |
| The Fourth Kingdom: The Social construction of Bakelite | p. 101 |
| The Majesty of Day light: The Social Construction of Fluorescent Lighting | p. 199 |
| Conclusion: The Politics of Sociotechnical Change | p. 269 |
| Notes | p. 291 |
| References | p. 329 |
| Name Index | p. 355 |
| Subject Index | p. 363 |
| Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780262522274
ISBN-10: 0262522276
Series: Inside Technology Series
Audience:
Professional
For Ages: 22+ years old
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 390
Published: 3rd January 1997
Dimensions (cm): 22.8 x 15.5
x 1.987
Weight (kg): 0.54
9am - 4pm AEST, Monday - Friday
