Frauenforschung und Technik

Sprechstunde in diesem Semester: Di 14.30 - 15.30 und nach Vereinbarung

ab 5. Semester, Voraussetzung für die Teilnahme ist der Besuch des Kurses 800.01

Inhaltliche Lernziele

• Unterscheidung verschiedener Kommunikationssituationen
• Einschätzung der Wirkungen und der Angemessenheit unterschiedlicher Medien und Systeme für Kommunikations- und Kooperationszwecke

Schlüsselkompetenzen

• Fähigkeit zur Erschließung von technischer und sozialwissenschafticher Originalliteratur, eigenständige Recherche in Digitalen Bibliotheken
• Mündliche und schriftliche Präsentation von Inhalten
• Diskussion in Gruppen

Auf der Basis meist techniksoziologischer Studien im Bereich computergestützter Kommunikation und Kooperation werden unterschiedliche Systeme und Konzepte vorgestellt. Die damit verbundenen Visionen, Chancen und Befürchtungen sowie Erfahrungen werden diskutiert: Telefon, e-Mail, mobile Kommunikation, Videokonferenzen, Wikis, virtuelle Gemeinschaften, Information Cities, virtuelle Identitäten, Blogs, Avatare, Vertrauen. In der Veranstaltung selbst wird nach Diskussion eine digitale Plattform zur Materialhaltung und zum Austausch unter den TeilnehmerInnen genutzt.

Reader mit Aufsätzen aus Fachzeitschriften und Sammelbänden; zusätzliche Recherche in Digitalen Bibliotheken

ab 5. Semester. Digitale Medien Modul 608.

Although technosciences are important political, economical and innovative forces in society that help solve various problems and create a high standard of living in present (post)modern western society, on the other hand they cause multiple problems such as pollution, unemployment, breaches of privacy and vulnerability and dependency issues. In this seminar, students will learn a systematic method for exploring future technology developments and assessing possible societal effects. With these insights, undesired societal effects can be prevented by e.g. improving the technology, the processes through which it is developed or by developing societal provisions. Constructivist theories on the co-development of society and technosciences will be discussed, taking issues of power-differences in society and ethical and normative considerations into account.

Inhaltliche und methodische Ziele

• Getting insight into the ways in which technology develops in society (e.g. the evolutionary development, variation and selection processes, software regimes, path dependencies, influences of relevant social actors, Collingridge dilemma and the script approach)
• Learning a systematic four-step method for exploring future scenarios for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developments and its potential (in)direct and (un)desirable societal effects (1. explore technology developments 2. evaluate potential effects 3. normative assessment from various perspectives 4. feedback to technology development and/or policies)
• Learning about the most commonly used methods for Constructive Technology Assessment (Delphi, consensus conference, scenario development and niche management) and the most commonly used techniques such as brainstorming, using analogies, trend extrapolation, consulting experts, stakeholder analysis and the use of primary and secondary sources
• Getting insight in how undesirable effects of ICTs can be prevented by improving the design process and by developing policies to help the implementations and embedding of ICTs in society
• Learning the skills to employ the most common of these methods

Ablauf

• 4 November (6 hours)Lectures- Introduction to theories of development of technology in society- Why technology assessment? - Introduction to CTA: history, reasons for its employment, different forms of technology assessment- Introduction to the first two steps of technology assessment. Workshop- Discussion of literature- Formation of groups (groups of app. 3 persons) and topic-choice
• 11 and 12 November (12 hours)Lectures- Participatory design techniques; societal conditions- Commonly used methods and techniques- Ethical considerations: how to employ norms- Introduction to step 3 and 4 of technology assessmentWorkshop - Student presentations of step one and two of technology assessment - Discussion of literature- Role play based on social map- Practice with methods and techniques
• 25 and 26 November (12 hours)Lectures- Embedding of CTA- Technology assessment in practice: the Danes and the Dutch- Alternative methods of CTA- Rounding up Workshop- Student presentations of step three and four of technology assessment- Discussion of literature

Lectures:

• Constructive Technology Assessment 1
• Constructive Technology Assessment 2
• Constructive Technology Assessment 3
• Literature

Key literature (amongst others):

• Rip, A., Misa, J.A., Schot, J. (1995) Managing Technology in Society; the approach of constructive technology assessment, Pinter Publishers, London/New York.
• Brender, J. (1999) Methodology for constructive assessment of IT-based systems in an organisational context. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 56: 67-86.
• Latour, B. (2002) Morality and Technology: The End of the Means. In: Theory, Culture & Society 19, 56.
• Schwartz Cowan, J. (1987) The Consumption Junction: A Proposal for Research Strategies in the Sociology of Technology. In: Bijker, W.E., Hughes, T.P., Pinch, T.J. (eds.) The Social Construction of Technological Systems, New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology, MIT Press.