Society and Technological Change

by Volti

• ISBN13: 9780716787327
• ISBN10: 0716787326
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-07
• Publisher: Worth Publishers

Summary

Technology is a basic feature of all human societies. Virtually every aspect of our lives is affected by technology, while at the same time the development and use of particular technologies are strongly affected by cultural, social, political, and economic arrangements.Society and Technological Changeprovides a comprehensive introduction to the interactions of society and technology. The new fifth edition includes coverage of such timely topics as cloning, stem-cell research, genetically modified foods, terrorism, intellectual property, and the global impact of the internet. This up-to-date revision will be a useful resource for a variety of college and university courses.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Orientations
    1. The Nature of Technology
    2. Winners and Losers: The Differential Effects of Technological Change

Part 2. The Process of Technological Change
    3. The Sources of Technological Change
    4. Scientific Knowledge and Technological Advance
    5. The Diffusion of Technology

Part 3. How Technology Affects the Health of the Earth and Its Inhabitants
    6. Technology, Energy, and the Environment
    7. Medical and Biological Technologies

Part 4. Technology and the Transformation of Work
    8. Work in Nonindustrial Societies
    9. Technology and Jobs: More of One and Less of the Other?
    10.  Technological Change and Life on the Job

Part 5. Communication
    11. Printing
    12. The Electronic Media

 

Part 6. The Tools of Destruction
    13. Weapons and Their Consequences
    14. How New Weapons Emerge—And How They May Be Contained

Part 7. The Shaping and Control of Technology
    15. Technology and Its Creators: Who's in Charge of Whom?
    16. Organizations and Technological Change
    17. Governing Technology
    Index