2018, ISBN: 9781681178455

Scitus Academics, 2018. Hardcover. New. 6 X 9 inches. Technology dynamics is broad and relatively new scientific field that has beendeveloped in the framework of the post-war science an… Meer...

Scitus Academics, 2018. Hardcover. New. 6 X 9 inches. Technology dynamics is broad and relatively new scientific field that has beendeveloped in the framework of the post-war science and technology studies field. Itstudies the process of technological change. Under the field of TechnologyDynamics the process of technological change is explained by taking into accountinfluences from "internal factors" as well as from "external factors". Internal factorsrelate technological change to unsolved technical problems and the establishedmodes of solving technological problems and external factors relate it to various(changing) characteristics of the social environment, in which a particulartechnology is embedded.Technology is taking on an increasingly vital anddetermining role in society, and can provide conflicting results: wealth on the onehand, but also unemployment, environmental imbalances and other socialproblems on the other. Manufacturing techniques and production organization arechosen in every country based mainly on the specific needs of the companies,while the real needs of each population are often quite different. Already, in order toprevent all forms of technology from becoming increasingly "invasive", towardsboth the natural supply of resources and the specific - though highly differentiated- needs of humanity, technological paths must be identified and followed which arecapable of making the various needs compatible, from the standpoint of sustainabledevelopment, the conservation and increase in value of natural resources, and thequality of development.The Dynamics of Technology: Creation and Diffusion of Skills and Knowledgefocuses at the dynamics of technological change. It specifically asks whethertechnological change occurs in leaps and bounds, or whether it takes placegradually and continuously. It sets up an analogy between technological progressand biological evolution, and tries to apply the concept of punctuated equilibriumto the analysis of technology. It observes that one concept that has been employedin the economics of growth is the steady state, a form of growth which is itselfconstant and predictable, and thus can be regarded as a dynamic equivalent to theconcept of equilibrium. General framework is proposed to relate strategic optionsand choices to the evolution of technologies, organizations and industry positionsfollowing a technological discontinuity. This Book will be of valuable for a generalreader to understand the inter-relationship between science, technology andsociety and particularly the contribution made by engineers towards technologydevelopment. It easily explains the underlying dynamics that affect allundertakings in the social sector. Printed Pages: 324., Scitus Academics, 2018<