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Technology for whom: the nature of western technology

Abstract

Seven principal features are outlined to illustrate the pattern in which technology is shaped in response to social wants, which are themselves shaped by technology. The author points out that spontaneous innovation by the general populace has been replaced by institutionalized research and development programs that tend to serve only those who can afford it and ignore the poor. A sequence of events can be schematically drawn to illustrate the innovative chain. The innovative process is influenced by socio-economic and environmental constraints, which affect decisions along the chain. Consistency with social values will, along with technical efficiency, be a factor in whether a technology is utilized. The pattern emerges in the West as an orientation toward energy-intensive private luxury goods and military applications. This amplifies social and economic inequality and increases both social alienation and environmental damage. The demand for a new world economic order is an effort to modify this pattern.
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1978
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
EPA-04-005111; ERA-03-055248; EDB-78-116100
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Mazingira; (United Kingdom); Journal Volume: 5
Subject:
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION; SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS; APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY; BEHAVIOR; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; ECONOMIC IMPACT; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ETHICS; INCOME DISTRIBUTION; MILITARY EQUIPMENT; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; SOCIAL IMPACT; SOCIAL SERVICES; TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER; EQUIPMENT; 290500* - Energy Planning & Policy- Research, Development, Demonstration, & Commercialization; 290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology; 298000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Consumption & Utilization; 530100 - Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies- Social & Economic Studies- (-1989)
OSTI ID:
6691261
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: CODEN: MAZID
Submitting Site:
TIC
Size:
Pages: 20-27
Announcement Date:
Oct 01, 1978

Citation Formats

Reddy, A K.N. Technology for whom: the nature of western technology. United Kingdom: N. p., 1978. Web.
Reddy, A K.N. Technology for whom: the nature of western technology. United Kingdom.
Reddy, A K.N. 1978. "Technology for whom: the nature of western technology." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_6691261,
title = {Technology for whom: the nature of western technology}
author = {Reddy, A K.N.}
abstractNote = {Seven principal features are outlined to illustrate the pattern in which technology is shaped in response to social wants, which are themselves shaped by technology. The author points out that spontaneous innovation by the general populace has been replaced by institutionalized research and development programs that tend to serve only those who can afford it and ignore the poor. A sequence of events can be schematically drawn to illustrate the innovative chain. The innovative process is influenced by socio-economic and environmental constraints, which affect decisions along the chain. Consistency with social values will, along with technical efficiency, be a factor in whether a technology is utilized. The pattern emerges in the West as an orientation toward energy-intensive private luxury goods and military applications. This amplifies social and economic inequality and increases both social alienation and environmental damage. The demand for a new world economic order is an effort to modify this pattern.}
journal = []
volume = {5}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1978}
month = {Jan}
}