Demotech, design for self reliance


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Description

The perspective of SCOT is that technological change is not a simple matter of good inventions but emerge because of social needs. A SCOT analysis explains success and failure of technological artifacts by means of social factors.

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SCOT in Action
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Idea on paper Reduction till nill by replacing a product by a service To be used in a modern economy Research Research Rural as well as urban.



Why
SCOT in Action as an applied sociological theory should uncover the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the development of technology. With insight in this process, it becomes possible to optimize the development and diffusion of products.


The focus of the SCOT analysis is to uncover the ways in which social groups participate in the development of technology. Knowing that these social groups are in fact Decision Making Units and understanding how they make there decisions should steer the design proces of Appropriate Technology. With insight in this process, it becomes possible to optimize the development and diffusion of products. It helps to highlight all aspects that are relevant for the researchers. -Pinch & Bijker 1984.

How
The first step is to separate the different social groups and appoint the characteristics of the different groups in relation to the artifact. Then compose the for wellbeing optimal devision of tasks in the way that a specific need can be met by a socially constructed artifact or method.


A SCOT-analysis explains success and failure of the chronological artifacts by means of social factors. The first step to do this is to separate the different social groups and appoint their characteristics in relation to the artifact. The next step is to describe how artifacts are socially constructed, thus tracing the stability of that artifact.

Additional information
According to the SCOT theory, first proposed by Pinch, T. & Bijker, W.E. (1987), technologies are socially constructed. This in contrast to the standard image of technology being 'technological determinist'. According to the SCOT-theory various social groups give shape to technology. These groups can contest the meaning of the technology since different groups can have different opinions, thoughts and interpretations. They can also challenge the design of the technology since there is not just one possible or best way.



Planned progress

  • Check this text with Jaakko and Luke, see paper attached to this item with comments Jaakko
  • Make text and links relevant for action research and social marketing
  • Clarify link between Demotech ideas and SCOT in action



  • Internal links



    External Links

  • A report about the process of innovation
    ?http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/content/pdfs/sdech9.pdf
  • The Social Construction of facts and artifacts: Or how Socialaty of Technology might benefit each other.
    ?http://tecnologiaysociedad.uniandes.edu.co/200520/BijkeryPinch.pdf
  • SCOT answers: Other Questions! A response to the critics of Nick Clayton
    http://137.120.191.229/public/websites/bijkernieuw/TandCSCOT.pdf
  • Democratization of Technology, Who are the experts?
    ?http://www.angelfire.com/la/esst/bijker.html
  • Philosophy of the technology meets social constructivism
    ?http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/SPT/v2_n3n4html/brey.html
  • What is the Social Shaping of Technology?
    ?http://www.rcss.ed.ac.uk/technology/SSTRP.html
  • Democratisering van de technologische cultuur (dutch)
    ?http://137.120.191.229/public/websites/bijkernieuw/oratie.pdf
  • Een kwestie van beheersing; over de rol van planten dieren en mensen in technologische systemen (dutch)
    ?https://dspace.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/8956/1/Eenkwestievanbeheersing.pdf
  • Reframing Social Groups, Closure, and Stabilization in the Social Construction of Technology
    ?http://www.asc.upenn.edu/usr/lhumphreys/SCOT3-15-04.doc
  • Technology and Politics, Langdon Winner, NY/USA
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langdon_Winner


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