TY - JOUR
T1 - The coevolution of society and multimedia technology - Issues in predicting the future innovation and use of a ubiquitous technology
AU - Stewart, James
AU - Williams, Robin
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Multimedia technology is becoming ubiquitous in modern society, and it is having profound effects on institutions and expectations. The technology is very fluid, and development is shaped by a great many social factors. Prediction of the coevolution of multimedia technology and society needs to be informed by a research framework that focuses attention on the key social, psychological, political, and economic influences on technology and technology use as well as on the emergence of stable uses, infrastructures, standards, and development paths. This article criticizes "technologically deterministic" approaches, which simply seek to extrapolate social change from technological potential. It shows how a three-layer model of component, system, and application technologies can be used to integrate findings from the use and development of technology in specific sectors. Three cases of technology-based predictions are examined from education, retailing, and work organization, and lessons for understanding technology futures are illustrated by research in different industry and user sectors.
AB - Multimedia technology is becoming ubiquitous in modern society, and it is having profound effects on institutions and expectations. The technology is very fluid, and development is shaped by a great many social factors. Prediction of the coevolution of multimedia technology and society needs to be informed by a research framework that focuses attention on the key social, psychological, political, and economic influences on technology and technology use as well as on the emergence of stable uses, infrastructures, standards, and development paths. This article criticizes "technologically deterministic" approaches, which simply seek to extrapolate social change from technological potential. It shows how a three-layer model of component, system, and application technologies can be used to integrate findings from the use and development of technology in specific sectors. Three cases of technology-based predictions are examined from education, retailing, and work organization, and lessons for understanding technology futures are illustrated by research in different industry and user sectors.
U2 - 10.1177/089443939801600304
DO - 10.1177/089443939801600304
M3 - Article
VL - 16
SP - 268
EP - 282
JO - Social science computer review
JF - Social science computer review
SN - 0894-4393
IS - 3
ER -