Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship

Stephen Harwood; Sally Eaves

Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship

Stephen Harwood, Sally Eaves

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract / Description of output

Man’s relationship with technology dates back many thousands of years. However, it is only relatively recently that scholarly attention has been given to this relationship. Whilst recent conceptualisations of the socio-material or socio-technical have given rise to such metaphors as ensemble, entanglement, and assemblage, these offer limited insight into the dynamic nature of this relationship. The concept of homeostasis offers an alternative perspective focusing upon how stability is achieved, it being assumed that technology exists in a stable relationship with man. This paper examines homeostasis, drawing upon relevant literatures as well as evaluating the case-study of use of a laptop. The findings demonstrate that
the notion that homeostasis in terms of homeostatic mechanisms, provide a valid and useful epistemological device to explain the stable nature of relationship between man and (information) technology. Moreover, that homeostasis underpins the resilience of such relationships.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	22nd UK Academy for Information Systems International Conference
Subtitle of host publication	Ubiquitous Information Systems: Surviving & Thriving in a Connected Society
Editors	Marie Griffiths, Rachel McLean, Maria Kutar
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publication status	Published - 5 Apr 2017
Event	22nd UKAIS Annual Conference, St Catherine’s College Oxford, UK, 4th-5th April 2017 - St Catherine’s College Oxford, UK, United Kingdom Duration: 4 Apr 2017 → 5 Apr 2017

Conference

Conference	22nd UKAIS Annual Conference, St Catherine’s College Oxford, UK, 4th-5th April 2017
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Period	4/04/17 → 5/04/17

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

cybernetics
homeostasis
theory
socio-materiality
information systems
cyborg

Cite this

@inproceedings{09fba48991714b18aab93262987cd13f,

title = "Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship",

abstract = "Man{\textquoteright}s relationship with technology dates back many thousands of years. However, it is only relatively recently that scholarly attention has been given to this relationship. Whilst recent conceptualisations of the socio-material or socio-technical have given rise to such metaphors as ensemble, entanglement, and assemblage, these offer limited insight into the dynamic nature of this relationship. The concept of homeostasis offers an alternative perspective focusing upon how stability is achieved, it being assumed that technology exists in a stable relationship with man. This paper examines homeostasis, drawing upon relevant literatures as well as evaluating the case-study of use of a laptop. The findings demonstrate thatthe notion that homeostasis in terms of homeostatic mechanisms, provide a valid and useful epistemological device to explain the stable nature of relationship between man and (information) technology. Moreover, that homeostasis underpins the resilience of such relationships.",

keywords = "cybernetics , homeostasis , theory, socio-materiality, information systems, cyborg",

author = "Stephen Harwood and Sally Eaves",

note = "COMMENDED PAPER; 22nd UKAIS Annual Conference, St Catherine{\textquoteright}s College Oxford, UK, 4th-5th April 2017 ; Conference date: 04-04-2017 Through 05-04-2017",

year = "2017",

month = apr,

day = "5",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780956027269",

editor = "Marie Griffiths and McLean, {Rachel } and Kutar, {Maria }",

booktitle = "22nd UK Academy for Information Systems International Conference",

}

Harwood, S & Eaves, S 2017, Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship. in M Griffiths, R McLean & M Kutar (eds), 22nd UK Academy for Information Systems International Conference: Ubiquitous Information Systems: Surviving & Thriving in a Connected Society. Oxford, 22nd UKAIS Annual Conference, St Catherine’s College Oxford, UK, 4th-5th April 2017, United Kingdom, 4/04/17.

Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship. / Harwood, Stephen; Eaves, Sally.
22nd UK Academy for Information Systems International Conference: Ubiquitous Information Systems: Surviving & Thriving in a Connected Society. ed. / Marie Griffiths; Rachel McLean; Maria Kutar. Oxford, 2017.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Homeostasis

T2 - 22nd UKAIS Annual Conference, St Catherine’s College Oxford, UK, 4th-5th April 2017

AU - Harwood, Stephen

AU - Eaves, Sally

N1 - COMMENDED PAPER

PY - 2017/4/5

Y1 - 2017/4/5

N2 - Man’s relationship with technology dates back many thousands of years. However, it is only relatively recently that scholarly attention has been given to this relationship. Whilst recent conceptualisations of the socio-material or socio-technical have given rise to such metaphors as ensemble, entanglement, and assemblage, these offer limited insight into the dynamic nature of this relationship. The concept of homeostasis offers an alternative perspective focusing upon how stability is achieved, it being assumed that technology exists in a stable relationship with man. This paper examines homeostasis, drawing upon relevant literatures as well as evaluating the case-study of use of a laptop. The findings demonstrate thatthe notion that homeostasis in terms of homeostatic mechanisms, provide a valid and useful epistemological device to explain the stable nature of relationship between man and (information) technology. Moreover, that homeostasis underpins the resilience of such relationships.

AB - Man’s relationship with technology dates back many thousands of years. However, it is only relatively recently that scholarly attention has been given to this relationship. Whilst recent conceptualisations of the socio-material or socio-technical have given rise to such metaphors as ensemble, entanglement, and assemblage, these offer limited insight into the dynamic nature of this relationship. The concept of homeostasis offers an alternative perspective focusing upon how stability is achieved, it being assumed that technology exists in a stable relationship with man. This paper examines homeostasis, drawing upon relevant literatures as well as evaluating the case-study of use of a laptop. The findings demonstrate thatthe notion that homeostasis in terms of homeostatic mechanisms, provide a valid and useful epistemological device to explain the stable nature of relationship between man and (information) technology. Moreover, that homeostasis underpins the resilience of such relationships.

KW - cybernetics

KW - homeostasis

KW - theory

KW - socio-materiality

KW - information systems

KW - cyborg

UR - https://ukais.wildapricot.org/Member_Resources

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780956027269

BT - 22nd UK Academy for Information Systems International Conference

A2 - Griffiths, Marie

A2 - McLean, Rachel

A2 - Kutar, Maria

CY - Oxford

Y2 - 4 April 2017 through 5 April 2017

ER -

Homeostasis: From metaphor to mechanism in the tech – human relationship

Abstract / Description of output

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Cite this